Jessica is a professionally trained actor from Cork. She trained at The Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin (2015 - 2017) and was mentored by Screenwriter & Author Stefanie Preissner (Can’t Cope Won’t Cope). Jessica has been writing and creating her own work since graduating from The Gaiety in 2017. Her debut play ‘Two Of Clubs’ ran for two weeks at Theatre Upstairs, Dublin in December 2017 and went on to play at the 2018 Listowel Writers Week, and Cork Arts Theatre for the Cork Jazz Festival 2018. Her second play ‘Waiting For Wifi’ was part of CorcaDorca’s SHOW 2019 at the Triskel Development Centre, and was originally commissioned (pre- pandemic) to debut at the 2020 Cork Midsummer Festival before opening finally at Cork Arts Theatre in August 2021. Jessica has also trained with Theatre Lovett, as well as with Raymond Keane in Clowning.

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Jessica wrote, directed, produced and starred in her debut short film, ‘Bronagh’, in 2020. The film has played at over 20 festivals internationally and nationally, including prestigious the Irish Film Festivals; Cork International Film Festival; Kerry International Film Festival, and Foyle Film Festival. The debut film has won four awards; Best First Time Female Director, Best Narrative Short, Best Short Film, and Best Editing. Jessica’s second short film, ‘Not My Sister’, supported by Cork City Arts Council, has just entered into the international film festival circuit for 2022/2023. Her most recent TV acting role was ‘Cassie’s Mum’ in the BBC Dublin Murders. In 2020 Jessica also wrote, directed and produced four concept music videos for Irish artists Emma Langford, Rowan and James Or. In 2021 Jessica was commissioned by Cork Midsummer Festival to write ten theatrical monologues for an online performance in the 2021 virtual festival. This also included three new songs and concept music videos written, directed and performed by Jessica – the songs are now available on her Spotify under her music artist profile Jess Leen. In October 2021 Jessica received a 1:1 in her Master’s Degree in Screenwriting for Film & Television at The National Film School (IADT), her proudest moment to date.

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Jessica also has a BA in Journalism & New Media from the University of Limerick. She spent a year in

Budapest in Hungary in 2014 as part of her degree where she studied Hungarian Film & Radio. She currently works as a news broadcaster with Cork’s 96Fm & C103 on the weekends. She also works with The Law Society of Ireland Blackhall Place, and Kings Inn College, as a roleplaying actor. Jessica also has vast experience in teaching. She has facilitated Leaving and Junior Certificate Shakespeare workshops both freelance and with The Mill Theatre, Dundrum. She taught performance and improvisation to Transition Year Students as Santa Sabina Dominican College in Sutton, as well as being a Children’s Drama, Dance & Singing instructor at the Brennan Academy of Performing Arts. She currently works as a head drama tutor at West End House School of Arts in Killarney.