Lani Desmonet "Desi" Lydic(born June 30, 1981) is an American actress who currently stars as guidance counselor Valerie Marks on the MTV comedy-drama series Awkward.. She got her start in the 2001 parody film Not Another Teen Movie. She has also starred in the Spike mini-series Invasion Iowa alongside William Shatner, and the parody series The Real Wedding Crashers. She starred as Shea Seger in the 2011 film We Bought a Zoo alongside Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson, and in the 2013 film The Babymakers with Olivia Munn.



Early life

Lydic was born in Summit, New Jersey and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. As a child, she enrolled in the Young Actors Institute at the Youth Performing Arts School and starred in a Kroger commercial. She later moved to Los Angeles, California and became an improvisational actor, performing at The Groundlings and Improv Olympic.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes
2001 Not Another Teen Movie Cutie Uncredited
2003 Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde Delta Nu Sister
2004 Adventures in Vegas Desi/Skyler Short film
2007 Stand Up Veronica
2007 Out at the Wedding Jeannie
2008 Screw Cupid Betty
2008 Big Heart City Rita/Jane
2009 As Advertised Ronnie TV film
2009 Stan Helsing Mia
2010 Darnell Dawkins: Mouth Guitar Legend Helena
2011 Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury Diana Torres
2011 We Bought a Zoo Shea Seger
2012 The Babymakers Julie
2012 Something Like a Butterfly Joyce Humphrey Short film
Television Year Title Role Notes
2003 What I Like About You Becky Episode: "No More Mr. Nice Guy"
2004 Complete Savages Woman #1 Episode: "Savage XXX-mas"
2005 CSI: NY Elaine Curtis Episode: "Recycling"
2005 Invasion Iowa Gryffyn Greene 5 episodes
2006 Pepper Dennis Melinda Episode: "Poker Clubs and Boob Cams - Film at Eleven"
2010 The League Waitress Episode: "The Marathon"
2010 Two and a Half Men Veronica Episode: "Chocolate Diddlers or My Puppy's Dead"
2011 Traffic Light Renee Episode: "Where the Heart Is"
2011–present Awkward Valerie Marks Main role
2012 Raising Hope Uma Episode: "Sabrina's New Jimmy"
2012 The Client List Dee Ann 7 episodes
2012 How to Be a Gentleman Chelsea Episode: "How to Be Shallow"
2013 Dads Joan Episode: "Dad Abuse"