Today we’d like to introduce you to Bess Jane.
Hi Bess, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Maryland, with both my parents working in theatre. Theatres were my playground and from a young age, I loved creating different characters and doing voices. I started acting classes at Imagination Stage when I was eight years old and fell in love with performing and making people laugh.
Throughout my adolescence, I continued to do plays and musicals, always playing comic relief roles. After graduating high school, I knew I wanted to study acting, so I applied only to top acting schools and chose the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After graduating in May 2023, I found Zombie Joes Underground Theatre, where I felt a sense of belonging. I also joined an improv group and discovered my love for improvising. My goal is to climb the Groundlings ladder and make it to the company and hopefully SNL. Something that’s important to me is Body Positivity, a movement to fight against the oppression of people who live in marginalized bodies.
I’m going to be directing my first show ever this May at Zombie Joes — it’s a Waiting for Gadot style comedy and I hope to incorporate influences of Brecht and John Waters. It’s about a miscellaneous group of people discussing the large asteroid that’s about to destroy earth. I hope to showcase queer, LGBT and BIPOC talent, though it is yet to be cast.
If you’d like you can catch me in Grandsons recent music video “Eulogy” as a goth teen smoking out an apple bong, or you can come see me in person at LA Connection every other Saturday.
One thing I want people to know is that you don’t have to look a certain way to follow your dreams. I think a lot of people give up on their dreams bc they think Hollywood is for beautiful people. And in a lot of ways, it is, but it’s changing. I truly believe in a future where everyone can see themselves represented on screen and not just as a joke the way it was when I grew up. Everyone deserves to see themselves on screen, portrayed as a three-dimensional person worthy of love, friendship, and a meaningful life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As an actor, I have faced my fair share of obstacles and challenges. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is being overlooked for leading roles because of my looks, even though I know I am more talented than many who were given those roles. Instead, I have often found myself playing comic relief roles or supporting characters. While these roles have allowed me to showcase my talents, they have also been frustrating at times, as I know I am capable of so much more. However, I have been fortunate to have an advantage in the industry – both of my parents work in the Arts and have their own theatre. My mother specifically worked at a children’s theatre where I began taking classes at the age of 8. This early exposure to theatre and the Arts has helped shape my career and has given me a strong foundation to build upon. Despite the obstacles I have faced, I remain determined to push forward and prove my worth as an actor.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an actor and comedian, and I specialize in doing voices, dialects, horror, physical comedy, classical language like Shakespeare, and scare acting. One of my strengths is my ability to create original characters, which has helped me stand out in the industry. I am particularly proud of a challenging project I took on during my time in acting school, where I performed two plays in repertory for my finals. I played Kitty in “Pride and Prejudice” and also took on the role of Shirley in “Fifth of July,” working a total of 8 hours a day for six weeks. This experience was incredibly rewarding and taught me the importance of dedication, hard work, and the ability to adapt to different roles and styles. Overall, I feel fortunate to have a career that allows me to express my creativity and make people laugh, and I’m excited to see where my skills and passion will take me next.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As a child, I was a fashion-loving, dress-wearing, and very girly girl. Pink was my favorite color, and I always gravitated toward anything that sparkled or shimmered. I also loved singing, and any chance I got, I would belt out my favorite songs, often at the top of my lungs. Being the center of attention was something I thrived on, and I loved performing in front of family and friends. My pop music idols included Avril Lavigne, Hannah Montana, and Selena Gomez, whose music I listened to on repeat. Looking back, I see that I was a vivacious and expressive child who loved to showcase my personality and interests.
Pricing:
- Remote self-tape coaching: first session free
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/bessjane_
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bessjaneepstein/
Image Credits
Personal photo: Deidhra Fahey, photo 1: Bess Jane as The Cowardly Lion, photo 2 creds: Laura Van Yck, Zombie Joe, Bess Jane as Mickey in The Circus of Values at Zombie Joes Underground, photo 3: creds Elliot Dash, photo 4: Bess Jane as Lisette in On The Razzle, photo 5: Bess Jane as Shirley in Fifth of July, photo 6: Bess Jane performing at The Battle of the Bands; photo 7: Bess Jane as Lilith Morningstar in She Kills Monsters, photo 8: Bess Jane
