Jill Wagner may now be recognized by Lioness viewers as tough operative Bobby, but she has a very different TV past that recently left fans stunned. The 47-year-old actress spent six seasons co-hosting ABC’s Wipeout before taking on roles in shows including Teen Wolf and Lioness.
Jill Wagner co-hosted ABC’s Wipeout for six seasons before joining Lioness
Wagner addressed fans’ surprise in an Instagram video after posts about her Wipeout past began circulating.
“I’m getting sent this video from all my friends. There is this video out that says I was this many days old when I figured out that the host on Wipeout, that Jill, was Lioness Bobby Jill.”
She also highlighted her other roles. She said, “What about if I told you that Lioness Bobby Jill and host Wipeout Jill was also Teen Wolf Kate Argent Jill, is also Christmas movie Jill? I know, it’s crazy.”
Wagner co-hosted Wipeout during six seasons between 2008 and 2014, interviewing contestants after they tackled the show’s obstacle course.
She considers fans’ failure to recognize her a compliment.
“But here’s the thing. Guys, it is our job as an actor to fool you. To make you think we’re the characters that we’re playing. So, first of all thank you. That’s like the biggest compliment, is that you people don’t know who I am.”
“I actually kind of prefer it like that,” she added.
Fans reacted with comments including, “My mind is blownnnn!!!” and “No way I can’t believe this.”
Wagner now stars as Bobby in Lioness, the Paramount+ thriller created by Taylor Sheridan. Speaking to PEOPLE, she recalled Sheridan changing a scene’s direction just 10 minutes before filming.
While rehearsing with Laysla De Oliveira, Sheridan told Wagner to switch her weapon to her left hand. “And I was just like, ‘Hmm … okay. Help me,’” she recalls.
Although she had little time to adjust, Wagner said the scene became one of her favorites.
She said of Sheridan, “He forces you to run into the fire.”
Lioness Season 3 is streaming on Paramount+, with its finale arriving on Sept. 20.
