Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Jacoby.
Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I like to say filmmaking runs in my family. My grandfather was Woody Allen’s cameraman, my mom’s a producer, and my dad was an assistant director — so I literally grew up on film sets. While other kids were in playgrounds, I was on set watching the monitors, listening to actors work, completely mesmerized by it all.
I started acting young — commercials, smaller shows, and a lot of theater throughout school. Performing on stage taught me discipline, timing, and how to really connect with an audience. Those early years made me fall even deeper in love with the craft and confirmed that being in front of the camera was exactly where I belonged.
Now I’m leading indie features streaming on Amazon Prime and starring in over twenty vertical-format soap operas. It’s been a wild evolution — from growing up behind the camera to finding my own voice in front of it — but it’s all part of the same story I’ve been surrounded by my whole life: storytelling that feels alive and real.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve always known I would be an actress — that part was never in question. But the road definitely hasn’t been completely smooth. One of my biggest struggles has been learning to let go of control, especially with some of the vertical projects I’ve done. I’m such a perfectionist when it comes to storytelling — I want every project to be the best it can be, to have meaning and creativity behind it.
But not every company sees it that way. A lot of vertical platforms are run by tech-driven teams, not creative ones, so their focus is on numbers, not nuance. They’re thinking about algorithms and monetization, while I’m thinking about performance, truth, and artistry. Finding that balance — doing good work while realizing I can’t control every creative decision — has been one of my biggest challenges.
It’s taught me to focus on what I bring to the screen. Even when I can’t change everything around me, I can always give an honest, grounded performance — and that’s ultimately what matters most to me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an actress, and I love exploring complex female characters — women who are strong, layered, and unpredictable. I’ve always been drawn to roles that sit in that gray area between heroine and villain. I can flip at any moment, and I think that duality has become something I’m known for — the ability to shift energy on a dime and keep the audience guessing.
Whether I’m playing a romantic lead, a woman on the edge, or someone morally complicated, I like finding the truth underneath the surface — the vulnerability that makes even the “villain” human. I think that’s what sets me apart: I’m not afraid to play both light and darkness in the same breath.
I’m proud of the range of stories I’ve been able to tell so far — from indie features on Amazon Prime to over twenty vertical-format soap operas. Each one has challenged me in a different way and helped me grow, not just as an actress but as a storyteller. I want my work to make people feel something real — whether it’s empathy, discomfort, or understanding — because that’s what great storytelling does.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think taking risks is essential — especially in this industry. Acting, by nature, is a constant leap into the unknown. Every role, every audition, every project is a risk, because you’re putting a piece of yourself out there and trusting that it connects.
I’ve learned that the biggest growth happens when I step outside my comfort zone. Whether that’s taking on darker, more vulnerable characters or saying yes to indie films and new formats like vertical storytelling, each risk has shaped me as an artist.
There have been moments where I wasn’t sure how something would turn out — where the budget was small or the concept felt unconventional — but those projects often ended up being the most creatively fulfilling. I’d rather take a chance on something bold and real than play it safe and never evolve.
To me, risk-taking isn’t about recklessness — it’s about trusting your instincts, following curiosity, and believing that even if you fall, you’ll land closer to who you’re supposed to be.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesssjacoby/
- Other: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm7791382/
Image Credits
Please look at IMDB:
https://m.imdb.com/name/nm7791382/
