Jess has always wanted to be an actress. From lunch time plays as a kid, to entertaining her family, Jess carried this love of performing into her early 20s but found she was no closer to her dream. Working as a cinema usher, Jess began writing a role for herself - a frustrated, lost, broke and desperate to be heard girl in her twenties. Thus Twentysomething was hatched which Jess wrote, directed and performed in.
The series began on Channel 31 before being pick up for two seasons on ABC2 and is now airing on Netflix. It was through this experience Jess found a love of telling stories, through writing, directing and acting.
Jess spent time in LA teaming up with experienced producers Eric and Kim Tannenbaum (Two and Half Men) for a spin-off series of Twentysomething titled Last Call to the US cable network FX. In collaboration with showrunners, Jennifer Crittenden (Seinfeld, The Simpsons) and Gabrielle Allen (Scrubs) she wrote and delivered a pilot script to the cable channel in late 2015.
Her other credits include writing and performing on It’s a Date and Rove and appeared as herself on the Agony series for the ABC.
Most recently Jess completed two Film Victoria Directors attachments on ABC’s Ronny Chieng International Student, with Jonathan Brough, and the second series of The Wrong Girl with Mat King.
Jess credits Big Girls Blouse and Absolutely Fabulous as major influences in her life. In the real world, observing and working with her brother in-law and Director Paul Currie, taught Jess a lot as did Twentysomething Producer Nicole Minchen who mentored, supported and guided Jess through her career.
The launch party for the first episode of Twentysomething was a career highlight for Jess. After years of work it had all finally come together, and she could celebrate with a room full of family and friends. The response to the show was amazing, with a write up in the paper every week and a nomination for two ACCTA awards for Best Comedy and Best Performance.
Jess loves what she does and constantly looking for new ways to be creative, seek challenges … and pay her rent.