Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Madden.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jenna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I never thought I would be an actor. I was a huge science nerd and thought I would end up in physics of some sort working in New York. Then when I was 16, I ended up working for a children’s musical theater company as a babysitter. It turned into me playing acting games with them and telling stories and I knew right then I wanted to be an actor. Inspiring someone with a great story or just simply making them laugh with a comedy sketch brought me so much joy. Less than a year later at 17, I moved to Hollywood and since then, I have been living my dream.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was definitely hard at first. I didn’t know a single person and had no clue where to even begin. In my first year out here, I was accepted to The American Academy of Dramatic Arts where I got some training and that really launched me to the point I am at now. If I could give advice to anyone, it would be to get training or some knowledge of the career before jumping in. After that, I worked day and night submitting for hours on end. I can’t say I had great success at first but persistence, determination, and my large amount of stubbornness helped me to finally get seen and get the jobs I needed. I think the best part about this career though is that there’s no real ending point. It feels like everyone wants to be this big famous rich star but I love exploring new sides of myself and bringing entertainment to others. The more I act, the more I get to learn about myself and those around me. So I don’t see me ending anytime soon.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an actor here in Los Angeles. I work on a lot of comedy specials and do stand up but I still love tearjerker scripts the most. I think what sets me apart from others in this industry is my intense personality and fire red hair, it makes me hard to miss in a room. I’m most proud of the characters I’ve gotten to create over the years. I’ve worked on everything from a feature horror film set to Shakespeare and I feel I can always bring something new and exciting to each script.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Persistence or what I like to call my stubbornness. I am always trying to showcase my best work and work on new projects. When I was summiting for jobs, I would stay up all day and night putting my headshot in every basket so I could get seen. I would call agencies left and right to get representation. I am very determined to be in this industry so I wasn’t going to back off without a fight. Don’t get me wrong I don’t go banging down people’s doors demanding jobs. But I was always told that when one door closes, there are many more to open and I was determined to find them all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jenna-madden.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @jenna_madden_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenna.madden.58760

Image Credit:
@American Academy of Dramatic Arts, For headshots @Photosbybvb
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
