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Salome Jens
Jens in a publicity photo for Stoney Burke (1962)
Born	(1935-05-08) May 8, 1935 (age 89) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actress, dancer
Years active	1956–present
Spouse(s)	Ralph Meeker ​ ​(m. 1962; div. 1964)​ Lee Leonard ​ ​(m. 1966; div. 1973)​

Salome Jens (born May 8, 1935) is an American dancer and actress of stage, film and television. She is also known for portraying the Female Changeling on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1994–1999).

Early years

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jens briefly studied at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Northwestern University, majoring in acting, then moved to New York, worked as a secretary, became a dance student of Martha Graham, and studied acting at HB Studio.

Career

Jens appeared in the role of the thief in the New York premiere production of Jean Genet's The Balcony. She earned excellent reviews playing Josie in A Moon for the Misbegotten at New York's Circle in the Square Theatre in the late 1960s, and she appeared in Antony and Cleopatra with the American Shakespeare Theatre company in 1972.

Jens first appeared on film as the titular character in Terror from the Year 5000 (1958), which was later featured in the eighth season of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Her other notable film roles occurred in Angel Baby (1961), The Fool Killer (1965), Seconds (1966), Me, Natalie (1969), Savages (1972), The Boy Who Talked to Badgers (1975), Diary of the Dead (1976), Cloud Dancer (1980), Harry's War (1981) and Just Between Friends (1986).

Jens appeared in the April 7, 1962, episode of The Defenders as a stripper. In 1963, she appeared in The Untouchables and The Outer Limits. Other guest roles in the 1960s included those on The Rat Patrol and I Spy episode. In 1967, she joined the cast of the soap opera Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, playing the role of Audrey Hurley for 500 episodes until 1973.

During the 1970s, Jens appeared in episodes of television shows such as Bonanza, Gunsmoke (S18E23 -“Talbot”), McMillan and Wife, The New Land, Gibbsville and Medical Center. In 1976–77, Jens played the role of Mae Olinski on 43 episodes of the soap spoof Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

In the 1980s, Jens appeared in episodes of shows including The Colbys, Cagney & Lacey, MacGyver, Falcon Crest, The Hogan Family and The Wonder Years. She played Clark Kent's mother Martha Kent in several episodes of the TV series Superboy (1988-92), and in 1992-93, she appeared in a three-episode arc of the seventh season of L.A. Law. She appeared as Joan Campbell in several episodes of Melrose Place in Season 1 (1992-93) and again later in an episode of Season 6 (1997).

Jens appeared in the 1993 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation titled "The Chase" as a member of the race responsible for populating the galaxy with humanoid life forms. She appeared in a recurring role spanning five seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as the totalitarian Female Changeling (1994-99).

Jens narrated a number of documentaries including The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century and voiced the female Guardian in the Green Lantern (2011). In 2018, Jens lent her voice to the video game Star Trek Online, reprising her role as the Female Changeling.

Awards

• Back Stage West Garland Awards, 2007 award for her role in the play Leipzig

Filmography

Film

Television

References

1. Ward, Jack (1993). Television Guest Stars. McFarland. p. 258. ISBN 9780899508078.
2. ^ "Jens, Salome 1935–". Wisconsin Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 17, 2024.
3. "ralph meeker salome jens 1962". Asbury Park Press. October 30, 1962. p. 6 – via newspapers.com.
4. "Salome Jens' one-woman play focuses on life of poet Anne Sexton". November 19, 2010.
5. "Salome Jens - Turner Classic Movies". tcm.com. Turner Classic Movies, Inc. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
6. Miller, Daryl H. (February 22, 1998). "She's Salome, Queen of L.A.'s Smaller Stages". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
7. "Salome Jens Will Star In 'Virginia Woolf'". The Herald-News. New Jersey, Passaic. February 9, 1970. p. 20. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "HB Studio - Notable Alumni | One of the Original Acting Studios in NYC".
9. Bains, Yashdip S. (1999). Antony and Cleopatra: An Annotated Bibliography. Routledge. p. 466.
10. "Salome Jens". tv.apple.com. Apple, Inc. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
11. "Salome Jens". rottentomatoes.com. Fandango. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
12. "The Final Four Cast Members Join Victory is Life!". arcgames.com. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
13. Rosky, Nicole. "Salome Jens Returns to La Stage with ... ABOUT ANNE, 11/19-20". broadwayworld.com. Wisdom Digital Media. Retrieved July 31, 2022.

External links

• Salome Jens at IMDb 
• Salome Jens at the Internet Broadway Database
• Salome Jens at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
• Salome Jens at AllMovie

• 1935 births
• Actresses from Milwaukee
• American film actresses
• American stage actresses
• American television actresses
• Back Stage West Garland Award recipients
• Living people
• 20th-century American actresses
• 21st-century American women