Janina Gavankar has been in the entertainment industry only a few short years, and she feels "very fortunate" to be working regularly, while earning her performance degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

In commercials, she's played everything from a McDonalds counter girl to Britney Spears' personal assistant.

As a classically trained vocalist, percussionist and pianist, she has put her training to use while touring for two years with her pop/rock group, Endera, as well as with other recording artists around the world.

She's has also worked in India, where she did a Bollywood film, and VJ'd for MTV.

Her latest film, Dark won the Mecca Award for Best Film at the 2003 Urbanworld film festival.

In June, Janina was one of the 17 Chicago actors chosen for the ABC talent showcase, and was also in the Jeff recommended musical The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds her Chameleon Skin at the Apple Tree Theatre.

For the past two years Janina has produced and directed the Illinois Junior Miss Scholarship Program, a program that recognizes and rewards outstanding high school seniors with more than $20,000 in college scholarships.

You can see her in the new Gateway commercials, television's LoftWise and the upcoming movie Barbershop 2.