Meet Jenna Madden | Actor/Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenna Madden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenna, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind my career has been my support system. You always hear about people who have a strong drive and never stop working but I don’t think we talk enough about having a good and supportive team to back you up. Being an actor is a very challenging career. It’s a great way to express your art but it’s also a career that judges you for being yourself and the way you look. When I first came to LA I didn’t know anyone and struggled with myself many times if I had made the right choice. And when I started out I didn’t have a lot of success. Especially after the pandemic started and we weren’t sure what was going to happen to the acting industry.There were so many auditions I never heard back from and so many agencies that turned me away. After about a year I found some great roommates that are some of my bestfriends to this day and push me to be my best when I am feeling down and I am now backed by a great agent who encourages me to be myself and who inspires my art and love of acting.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been working in the acting industry for about five years now. It has been very difficult but very rewarding. I never thought I would be an actor, I was actually planning to work in the women’s Stem field, but after working in one play I realized that I had found my calling. I was immediately addicted to bringing joy to people in the form of my characters. My goal in acting is not to be famous or rich but I hope I can continue to put words and emotions on stage and film that give people some comfort and remind them that they are not alone. We all have a TV or book character that we like because we feel that we relate to them and I hope to be that someone for at least one person. I love being able to put emotions and characters to people’s writing and I think after the pandemic started artists finally got some of the recognition that they deserved. You could clearly see how much people rely on the arts (TV, Movies, Music, Painting, etc) has a form of support and reassurance. I want people to know that although your dreams can be very hard to achieve and sometimes feel impossible, if it’s what is going to make you happy it is worth fighting for! There were so many times I wasn’t sure if I was making the right career choice, but when I took a step back I could see that it was a decision of fighting for the life I wanted, or just surviving with a job and lifestyle I didn’t care for and I think when you simplify it like that, you know the choice you need to make

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My all time favorite spot is The Last Bookstore in downtown LA. I love reading and this place is huge and has so many varieties for different people. I bring everyone here. I also love going to the Grove. I love the food stands and the scenery. I haven’t been since this pandemic started but I am excited to go back one day with my friends and see the water fountain and eat at the cheesecake factory. Beyond that you can never go wrong with going to the beach. The Santa Monica boardwalk holds a lot of memories for me so I love being able to share that experience with others. I am still new to LA so when people visit me I always try to find a place we both have never been to before. The best part about LA is that it’s almost impossible to see everything so you can never be bored

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to give a big shout out to Crescent Hurley, Samantha Mendoza, and Maniah (Lanita) Williams. When I first moved to LA I was living out of my car for a short while and working multiple jobs. They befriended me and took me in when I really needed some support. To this day they are the best roommates and friends I have. I definitely wouldn’t have had so much success if it wasn’t for their kindness and generosity

Website: https://www.jenna-madden.com/

Instagram: @jenna_madden_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenna.madden.58760

Image Credits
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts