Her career in the performing arts began at age 4 and persisted through her study at Spelman College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and in The Shakespearean Tradition at The Royal National Theatre and The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. While at RADA, Jen was blessed to be tutored by Ian McKellen, Alan Rickman, Judi Dench, and Fiona Shaw as she prepared for what she still feels was the leading role of a lifetime: Titania/Hippolyta in A Midsummer Nights Dream at The Van Brugh Theatre in London and remounted here in the states for The Southern Shakespeare Festival in Florida. Other stage credits include: multiple roles for Jomandi, Horizon, Seven Stages the Alliance Theater, Theater in the Square, The Springer Opera House and Theatrical Outfit over the past 25 years. Her Television and Film work began as a featured extra in “Driving Miss Daisy” and led to a recurring co-star role, Dr Winona Day on “In the Heat of the Night” (14 episodes) along with recurring roles in the television series “I’ll Fly Away” and “Savannah”. Later, encouraged by then Director and friend, Carole Mitchell-Leon, she served as Assistant Director of “The New Jomandi Theater Co.” and taught “On -Camera Acting” in the Jomandi Academy of Dramatic Arts (JADA). She and her partner teach “Acting for the Camera” workshops in Atlanta and Fort Valley, GA. Recent TV/Film credits include: The Vampire Diaries, Kill The Messenger, Drop Dead Diva, Survivors Remorse, Bound 2014 and is recurring as: Kelly’s Mom, Linda, in “Born Again Virgins”, Pat, in “Here We Go Again, Deacon Connie Sykes in Seasons 1 and 2 of the HARPO Studios Production, “Greenleaf”. She will be seen in Tyler Perry’s, “A Madea’s Family Funeral” as Vianne; “Nappily Ever After” and as Judge Delores Mitchell in”Saints and Sinners”. Jen is dedicated to: her craft as an Actor, her life as a Physician, striving for spiritual/physical fitness, and above all, she remains devoted to her Faith and Life Partner.
