Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Nolen.
Hi Jenna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Well for starters, I grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and being from Philly it’s great but there really wasn’t a lot of opportunities for me to become an actor. I found myself often traveling to New York for auditions and that became really stressful managing school and my career. I owe my parents everything because they would take me to New York at the drop of a hat to get to that audition because they believed in me so much. After I graduated high school, there was the talk of “college” and not going to lie that didn’t excite me at all. When I was there, I fell into a deep dark depression and I quickly made the decision to leave college after the first semester to move to California to pursue my dreams. I told my parents college will always be there, I can go back, but chasing my dreams this young, I never wanted to say to myself “Ah I wish I did that when I was younger.” So I did. I left with only about $700 thanks to my aunt and the support of my parents and a dream, and it was the best decision I’ve made to date. I got to California when I was about eighteen turning nineteen years old and for some that may have been scary, but I was so used to going to New York alone, California was going to be a breeze in my head, and it was for a bit. The industry has its ups and downs, I would feel like I was on the right track and then I wouldn’t work for months. I just stuck with it and I’ve been out here for about five years now and the last two years, I finally feel secure here, in myself, and in my career.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth ride at all. At all. When I moved out here, I moved into a three-bedroom apartment with four people and I shared a room. That was a bit different for me but I was going to do anything just to get out here. I had many jobs, retail, restaurant, catering, and of course acting. Los Angeles alone is very expensive just to live, there would be times where I didn’t have enough money to eat because I had a bill that was due. There were times that people would invite me out and I had to come up with a crazy excuse why I couldn’t go but it was really money, so you need to be strong during those times, and if its eating ramen and some bread then hey, you got to do what you have to. I think the absolute biggest challenge I faced was believing in myself. I often thought if I didn’t book the job, I wasn’t good enough but there’s a million reasons why you don’t book a job. When I moved, the first couple of years were very rough because I was alone practically. I had friends yes, but were they the right friends, no. I think the industry itself is never a really smooth road because there’s ups and downs, you will go out on a million auditions and only book one, so you really have to just love it with everything you’ve got and it’s a journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an actress in Los Angeles, California. The past projects I’ve done were Animal Kingdom, Millennials, A House Divided, Christmas Eve, and I have a new show coming out on the allblk network in the spring called “A La Carte”. I’ve come far since I’ve moved out here but I still have lots to do. I’m proud of myself for my dedication, you know when you get so close to a role and they go with someone else that can get really discouraging but I’m proud of myself because that rarely gets to me, and I look at it as an opportunity because of the fact that I even got that far is a win to me. I think what sets me apart from others is my will and perseverance. I don’t let up lightly and I will keep going for my career and also, I look at everyone equal. I mean look, if you’ve booked a ton of jobs, on network, on film, etc., everyone is equal to me and no one is above anyone. I’ve worked behind the scenes, in front of the camera, catering, retail, restaurant, you name it, so I find myself when I’m on set always making sure everyone is okay and no one feels less than.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is down the shore. My family has a beach house in Toms River, NJ and we always used to go down there and go on the boat and have a great time. Family is everything to me and the house we have is so special because we would go on the boat, go swimming in the bay, come back and eat spaghetti and just sit and talk. It would be my cousins and I, my aunts and uncles, my mom and dad, and my grandmother and my godmother who sadly passed. It would just be so relaxing and the room was just filled with love and laughter and anytime I think back to my childhood, I instantly go there because it warms my heart.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennanolen_/?hl=en
- Other: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm5927774?ref_=hm_prof_name
Image Credits
Stephanie Girard Photography Sharon Marie Wright
