Jenn Colella
Jenn Colella
Broadway Actress, Tony Award nominee
"Come From Away" marks Jenn’s fifth Broadway show.
Jenn has earned Best Featured Actress Awards in every city in which she has performed the show.
Her Broadway debut was in 2003 as Sissy in Urban Cowboy. She went on to star in High Fidelity and Chaplin.
Jenn graduated from Columbia College with a dual degree in speech and drama.
She went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of CA, Irvine on scholarship.
Q&A
What inspired you to pursue a career in acting and musical theater?
Growing up I watched a lot of Carol Burnett, Lily Tomlin, Goldie Hawn, Barbara Streisand. Those women were very, very influential for me. I always wanted to be an actor first. I also liked singing, but acting in comedy was something I really enjoyed.
What are some of the challenges you faced along the way?
Artists get told “no” a lot more than they get told “yes.” So, developing a sense of self and a sense of confidence in the face of all those “no’s” became a life-long challenge. I’m just now starting to get the hang of the idea that I am enough. I’m starting to release that worry about what others think of me or how they judge me.
What has been your greatest reward as your career has developed?
Truly, it’s all the friendships I have gained from doing shows for so many years.
All of my dearest friends are part of the theatrical community and they feel like family to me. Being able to spend time with such vibrant, intelligent, incredible people is definitely the best reward.
photo sources: The Iterval
more about me...
i began my career...
in Los Angeles as a comedian and later branched out to musical theater.
something I've noticed from being a performer is...
it’s fascinating for an individual to go through the audition process when you’re still trying to figure out who you are, not only as a person, but as an artist.
my hobbies include...
yoga, weight lifting and boxing, traveling and going to hear live music.