AMBASSADORS OF HOLLYWOOD – LIONESS

Jill Wagner is a North Carolina native who has established herself as one of Hollywood’s most versatile actresses and producers. Best known to audiences as the host of ABC’s hit game show “Wipeout” and for her extensive work in Hallmark films, Wagner took a remarkable creative leap when she co-created the concept for “Lioness” for Paramount, starring alongside Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman.

On the show, she plays Bobby, the no-nonsense leader of the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) Quick Reaction Force team. Wagner is an executive producer on “Lioness” and pitched the show to Taylor Sheridan, her former acting coach. Wagner’s performance is grounded in conversations with “real-life” lionesses, and in basing her character, “Bobby,” on authentic soldiers.

Dawn Olivieri is an American actress known for her versatile work across television and film. Over a career spanning more than two decades, she has built a reputation for portraying strong, complex characters in popular series including Heroes, where she played Lydia, The Vampire Diaries, House of Lies as Monica Talbot, 1883, and Yellowstone. Her performances have made her a familiar face to audiences across drama, action, and genre television. [en.wikipedia.org], [imdb.com]

More recently, Dawn Olivieri joined the cast of Paramount+’s Lioness (also known as Special Ops: Lioness), portraying Amber Whalen, a CIA intelligence officer involved in supporting high-stakes covert operations. The role continues Olivieri’s successful collaboration with creator Taylor Sheridan, whose projects have also included 1883 and Yellowstone. Through her commanding screen presence and ability to bring depth to authoritative characters, Olivieri has become one of the standout supporting performers in Sheridan’s television universe.

David Lemanowicz is a former professional hockey player who transitioned into a distinguished career as a U.S. Army Major in the Army Reserves. He worked with his wife, Jill Wagner, on the concept that became “Lioness” and spent five years developing and pitching it before landing the series at Paramount+ with Taylor Sheridan. Lemanowicz serves as executive co-producer, lending authentic military credibility to every aspect of the production.

Thad Luckinbill is an Oklahoma native and actor-producer who joined “Lioness” as a series regular in Season 2, playing CIA paramilitary officer Kyle McManus, a field operative who frequently goes head-to-head with terrorists, drug cartels, and enemy combatants.

To prepare for the role, Luckinbill underwent intensive military training alongside the cast, working with U.S. Navy SEALs to authentically portray the men and women who serve our country. He is best known for playing J.T. Hellstrom on CBS’s “The Young and the Restless” (1999–2023). Luckinbill is also known for “Just Married,” “8 Simple Rules,” “CSI,” “Nikita,” “Devotion,” “Sicario,” “Only The Brave,” and “12 Strong.”

Dave Annable is a New York native who played Justin Walker on the ABC drama “Brothers & Sisters” alongside Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, and Sally Field. In 2008, he won a Prism Award for Best Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline for his work on the show. The series ran for five seasons, 2006–2011. In 2016, Annable landed a recurring role as Teddy Grant on Fox’s comedy, “The Mick,” alongside Kaitlin Olson. In 2017, he was cast as cowboy Lee Dutton, the right-hand man to Kevin Costner’s character in the pilot episode of Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone.” He later appeared as Dr. Ian Harris in Netflix’s social thriller “What/If.”

Annable currently stars in Lioness as Neal McNamara, a pediatric oncology surgeon and the devoted but stressed husband of CIA station chief Joe (played by Zoe Saldaña). His portrayal brings emotional depth to the series, exploring the toll that military and intelligence services take on families at home.