Jess is an accomplished actress, writer and director, best known for creating and starring in the hit comedy series twentysomething (ABC). Across two acclaimed seasons, she wrote, co-produced, directed, and performed in the show, earning two AACTA Award nominations for Best Comedy Series and Best Performance in a Comedy Series.

Her television career began on Channel 31’s Studio A, where she wrote and performed her own weekly segments for two seasons, helping the program win an Antenna Award. This work led to opportunities on Network Ten’s ROVE, where she first contributed as a segment writer before graduating to regular cast member, writing and performing her own sketches.

In 2009, the concept for twentysomething was selected for development through Film Victoria and ABC’s STITCH initiative, leading to its eventual commission and broadcast in 2011 and 2013. Jess’s versatility has also seen her appear on Hamish & Andy’s Real Stories, Lowdown, and the ABC’s Agony series, while contributing as a writer and performer on It’s A Date and Foxtel’s Open Slather.

Her international experience includes time in Los Angeles, where she collaborated with leading producers Eric and Kim Tannenbaum and co-wrote a pilot, Last Call, with veteran showrunners Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allen for the US cable network FX.

Expanding into directing, Jess has worked on Ronny Chieng: International Student, The Wrong Girl, and Princess Pictures’ hit web series WINE. She received an Australian Directors’ Guild nomination for her work on Mustangs FC, and directed episodes of Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries and Celebration Nation.

In 2020, Jess joined Impact Australia, developing her original series The Bloomers. Most recently, she appeared in Binge’s High Country and co-created Lynne & Sal, which premiered at the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Television

HIGH COUNTRY
Role: Rachel Griggs. Dir: Beck Cole, Kevin Carlin, Foxtel / Curio Pictures, 2024
BLUEY (Series 3)
Role: Lila’s Mum (Voice), Bluey Animation Three Pty Ltd 2021
SPICKS AND SPECKS (Series 11)
Guest. Dir: Jon Olb , ABC TV 2021
CELEBRITY NAME GAME
Guest | Fremantle Media Australia Pty Limited 2019
TALKIN’ ‘BOUT YOUR GENERATION (Series 6)
Guest. Network Ten 2019
SHOW ME THE MOVIE (Series 2)
Guest | Network Ten 2019
BACK IN VERY SMALL BUSINESS
Role: Anna. Dir: Robyn Butler, Gristmill 2018
TRUE STORY WITH HAMISH & ANDY (Series 2)
Role: Kaz. Dir: Various. True Story Season 2 Pty Ltd 2018
SHOW ME THE MOVIE (Series 1)
Guest. Network Ten 2018
WINE, A BOTTLE SHARED IS A PROBLEM HALVED (Web Series)
Role: Harry. Dir: Jess Harris, Princess Pictures 2018
ABOUT TONIGHT
Guest. Dir: Shane Dunlop & Bridget McNamara, C31 Melbourne 2015
IT’S A DATE (Series 2)
Role: Virginia. Dir: Jonathan Brough, ABC TV 2014
COMMUNITY KITCHEN
Guest. Dir: Cat Commander, Dunlopedia Productions 2014
THE AGONY OF THE MIND
Guest. Dir: Adam Zwar, ABC TV 2014
THE AGONY OF MODERN MANNERS
Guest. Dir: Adam Zwar, ABC TV 2014
THE 2014 ANTENNA AWARDS
Guest Presenter. Dir: Jason Annesseley & Tony Zajko, C31 Melbourne 2014
IT’S A DATE (Series 1)
Role: Virginia. Dir: Jonathan Brough, ABC TV 2013
TWENTYSOMETHING (Series 2)
Co-Creator / Co-Producer / Role: Jess. Dir: Jess Harris, ABC TV 2013
THE AGONY OF CHRISTMAS
Guest. Dir: Adam Zwar, ABC TV 2013
LOWDOWN (Series 2)
Role: Jane. Dir: Amanda Brotchie, ABC TV 2012
TWENTYSOMETHING (Series 1)
Co-Creator / Co-Producer / Role: Jess. Dir: Paul Currie, ABC TV 2011
ROVE LIVE
Guest. Roving Enterprises 2009
STUDIO A
Guest. RMITV 2008

Writing

RESTING PITCH FACE
Dir: Claudia Pickering, Grumpy Sailor 2018
WINE, A BOTTLE SHARED IS A PROBLEM HALVED
Dir: Jess Harris, Princess Pictures 2018
OPEN SLATHER
Open Slather Productions Pty Ltd 2015
IT’S A DATE (Series 1)
Dir: Jonathan Brough, ABC TV 2013
TWENTYSOMETHING (Series 2)
Dir: Jess Harris, ABC TV 2013
TWENTYSOMETHING (Series 1)
Dir: Paul Currie, ABC TV 2011

Producing

TWENTYSOMETHING (Series 2)
Dir: Jess Harris, ABC TV 2013
TWENTYSOMETHING (Series 1)
Dir: Paul Currie, ABC TV 2011

Directing

CELEBRATION NATION (Web-Series)
Screen Australia 2021
MS FISHER’S MODERN MURDER MYSTERIES (Season 2)
Every Cloud Productions 2021
MUSTANGS FC (Series 2)
Matchbox Pictures 2019
WINE, A BOTTLE SHARED IS A PROBLEM HALVED
Princess Pictures 2018
THE WRONG GIRL (Series 2)
Director’s Attachment, Playmaker 2017
RONNY CHIENG: INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
Director’s Attachment, Sticky Pictures 2017
TWENTYSOMETHING (Series 2)
High Wire Films 2013

Awards & Nominations

MUMBRELLA PUBLISH AWARDS Nominated, Best Use of Video for REA Home Loans Web Series (2019)
AUSTRALIAN DIRECTORS’ GUILD AWARDS Nominated, Best Direction in a Children’s TV or SVOD Drama Program for Mustangs FC (2019)