Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Jenrette.
Hi Kelly, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
There are two very specific moments that stand out to me when I think about how I got started. The first is when I was in the 5th grade and we were going to put on a play, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I was to play the lead, Charlie! My teacher, Mr. Hornsby, asked me if I wanted to change the character’s name to Charlene. I quickly replied, “No! I can play a boy!!” The second is when my daddy took me to see The Five Heartbeats. I instantly fell in love with that film. I remember sitting in front of the tv and writing down the lyrics to the song No Matter How Hard It Gets. I would perform that song over and over again. Yep, I was a girl in love with acting. I continued to be in love with acting and singing although I was initially afraid to fully pursue it after graduating from high school. So, I went to Xavier University in New Orleans. I was planning on becoming a Forensic Psychologist but after seeing all the science classes I would have to take I thought it would be better to just play one on tv. I transferred home and got my B.A. in Theatre from Ga State University. I was also very fortunate and blessed to be a part of the Freddie Hendricks Youth Ensemble of Atlanta. I am a person who believes in the proverb: it is not good to have zeal without knowledge. I wanted my zeal or excitement for the craft to be matched with my knowledge or preparedness of the craft.
After college, I spent some time in upstate NY (Auburn) working with an amazing theatre company, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. Shortly after wrapping up my time there I moved to Los Angeles. I came out here ready to be famous. HA! My naivete still makes me chuckle. Seven years after moving to Los Angeles I booked my very first co-star role on Happy Endings! SEVEN YEARS to say three lines! But during those seven years, I was working on my craft. Attending classes and workshops, praying, watching tv and films with a critical eye, more praying, working and networking with other actors, even more praying and then doing whatever else I could to just stay in L.A. I honestly feel like when I took the focus off of me and wanting to simply be famous that my career really took off! I booked my first national commercial for Kmart, which ended up being 12 spots in total! Then a year later, I booked my first series regular role as Annelise on Grandfathered, opposite John Stamos. That was the beginning of the beginning! From there, I went on to work as a recurring guest star on several shows, did a film with one of my favorite actors of all time, Jeffrey Wright and got nominated for an Emmy® Award for my role as Annie on The Handmaid’s Tale. The journey continues and I’m still in class, still seeking for my knowledge to match my zeal!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. Sitting here in 2021 and being able to reflect on what the struggles have been is enlightening. Many years ago, I probably would’ve said the struggles were: not having an agent/manager or not being able to get auditions or not being able to book auditions… but the more I reflect on that the more I can be honest with myself and say that I was the biggest struggle; Particularly the mindset I had for so long. How I defined success was always predicated on someone else validating me. When I understood that the only constant in all of those aforementioned “struggles” was me, it was like a lightbulb went off in my head! I struggled with understanding my worth and accepting the power that was already inside of me. I can’t profess to believe in God and then doubt, dismiss and/or think poorly about His beautifully and wonderfully made creation: ME! Are there still struggles? Heck yeah! But now I know how to quickly shut that mess down!!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an actor, a writer, an author, a teacher, a producer and one of the founding members of Black Rebirth Collective. I’m probably most known for being nominated for an Emmy® Award for The Handmaid’s Tale and for playing Annelise on Grandfathered. There are quite a few things that I’m proud of but I’ll just name a few. I’m proud of the theatre collective that I helped to start: Black Rebirth Collective. It was through BRC that I received my first commission to write a stage play. I shared my vision with them and they said, “Then write it!” So, I’ve been doing just that! I’m proud of the book my husband and I authored together, The Adventures of Jimmy the Fly which can be purchased on Amazon! I’m extremely proud of being the first African American married couple to be nominated in the same year for an Emmy® Award. Both my husband, Melvin Jackson Jr. and I were nominated back in 2018. He was nominated in the Short Form category for a webseries that he wrote, directed and produced: This Eddie Murphy Role Is Mine Not Yours. I’m most proud of my ability to simply be me and I think that is what sets me apart from others. There is no other Kelly Jenrette!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can work with me or collaborate with me by simply reaching out to my team (MKS & Associates or Robyn Bluestone Management) or DM me on my socials. I will be honest and say that I am terrible at checking my DM’s on all social platforms so reaching out to my team first would probably yield better results. People can support me by being kind to themselves and others!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @kellymjenrette
- Facebook: Kelly Jenrette
- Twitter: @kellymjenrette
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KellyMJenrette/featured
Image Credits:
Johnathon Jenrette (1st two pictures) Jerrika Hinton (last two pictures)
