Meet Jennifer Grimes | Actor, Producer, & Executive Assistant

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

Hi Jennifer, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Art is transformative. It has the power to change our hearts and minds. And what is art other than a form of storytelling?

I have written and deleted so many paragraphs on why I finally decided to pursue an artistic and creative career. And while its all true, it all boils down to love, the human condition, and my inability to repress my artistic expressions in pursuit of a more “responsible career.” In short, acting sets my soul ablaze; I love it.

I’d do this for free every single day and be happy, so thank God for agents who make sure we can all make a living. I love films and television; especially those inspirational moments when, as an audience member, your heart breaks for the characters before your eyes, or you’re swept up in the romance before you, or you laugh so hard you forget all about the rent that’s due, or the ex-husband that left you, or the step kid that screamed you’ll never be like their mother. Films speak to the loneliness in all of us. They allow a peak at our most vulnerable and intimate moments when our world shatters and we literally don’t understand how our bodies haven’t shut down on us since it feels as though our hearts have already. And in sharing these stories, stories of triumph, of love and loss, of inspiration, of rage and injustice, of loneliness and the human condition, of what it is to be human, we feel less alone. And I love that it takes SO many people to make a movie! I mean every end credit scene is miles long. So even in creating this sliver of a story of the human condition we are forced to come together and figure it out, to collaborate on this beautiful piece of art.

As a child, films and books were my escape from a life I wouldn’t have chosen. I picked up acting through school and church plays and couldn’t put it down. I got to be someone else! I told incredible stories, and in so doing, I lived incredible fantasies. But somewhere along the way I bought into the idea that an artistic career wasn’t “responsible” and so I ran from it for a long time. I took a job as a travel agent straight out of college and put performing down. I dismissed my days of acting, singing, and dancing as something to leave in the past like all my other friends had in pursuing their “grown up” careers. I chased that dollar in a cubicle chained to a phone and computer monitor and soon caught depression instead, since I hadn’t quite learned that artists get depressed when they don’t create.

Then my father died suddenly and unexpectedly and it threw me in the deep end. I took it on myself and spent the next two years unknowingly chasing those blues away through parties, cruises, and nights out, avoiding the pain instead of dealing with it.

Eventually a friend of mine, posted on facebook that he needed someone to play a small supporting role in his short film and before I knew it, I was taking every chance I could get to work for free in creating and collaborating with my friends on film, rather than putting in extra hours climbing that “responsible” corporate ladder.

Three lessons hit me at once. 1: Tomorrow is never promised; my dad’s sudden death drove that home for me, so I’d better spend my time pursuing what lights our souls on fire! I didn’t want to look back on my life with regret that I’d let fear and others’ expectations stop me from pursuing my passions, and there’d be no guarantee that I’d have time to “figure it out later” like I’d always thought. 2: You can fail at what you don’t want; so you might as well go all out pursuing what you DO want. I was miserable working as a travel agent, even though that job checked all my “grown up” boxes and even provided ample travel (which I loved). It was time to re-evaluate. And 3: If I was happier than ever working for free creating films with my friends, then maybe I’d better figure out how to make a living acting after all. I’d tried the “responsible” route and was miserable. It was time to completely change direction and pursue a career in acting. I couldn’t keep it as a hobby any longer; the amount of time and dedication it would require left me with a single clear choice: “get it together” to tell the world stories. Because it all comes down to love honestly. The need of it, the lack of it, even when we want to inspire and change the world for good, its because of our love for humanity! My brand (and baseline of my story) is: You are loved, You are enough, and the world is better with You in it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart from others is the compassion and love I bring to every role, and not just as an actor, but as a producer, and executive assistant as well. I have a strong sense of self after everything I’ve healed through and the decisions I’ve made. My acting, my art, is deeply personal. I’ve survived the suffocating heartbreak of being blind sighted by my father’s death. After something like that, making the decision to move to the other side of the country to pursue my love of acting didn’t feel so impossible. I’ve experienced the unbridled joy of promising forever to the man I was in love with who also promised his future back. I rebuilt myself after the crushing identity crisis that comes from a heartbreaking divorce. And I bring all of this life experience, my life experience, to every role, script, and film I act in and produce. But I am not limited to it either. I am definitely still learning, and very excited to produce and take more creative control of the films in which I act.

I’m also a communicator which comes in amazingly handy when problem solving and managing personalities to get a film made by a deadline.

I’m most excited for the premier of my short Fan Film Star Wars Sabers at Dawn. This fan film is a literal labor of love. The idea for the short was born when my younger brother and I were fighting with our lightsabers and drilling choreography just for the fun of it. Our father always loved Star Wars and shared his love of the franchise with my brothers and I. I remembered that my older brother mentioned years ago how he never truly saw himself represented in any of his favorite films or franchises because there’s never any openly gay characters. And it struck me, that this was something I could contribute; something within my power to bring to the world. So yes, my short is a love story. It’s also a story of familial bonds, good vs evil, and the complicated questions we must all ask ourselves about who we want to be. Most of all, It’s a love story to my family.

I still have a long way to go, but it wasn’t easy even getting this far professionally. No man is an island, and so I’ve been blessed with supportive friends and an incredible employer turned mentor who provides the flexibility I need to pursue these last minute auditions and film shoots. No one prepares you for what it really takes to live in Los Angeles, CA without someone else financially supporting you. Figuring out how to stay out here and pay the bills is half the battle. It’s not easy but having a strong support system of friends and family helps to keep me grounded and remind me to view obstacles as challenges. When something doesn’t work, you don’t always need to throw out the blueprint, just pivot. This industry is a marathon not a sprint after all.

I’ve learned SO many lessons in pursuing this passion. Your job/career will never replace your family, so don’t let it. It’s important to have a personal life outside of the entertainment industry, so keep those hobbies and foster those friendships that aren’t in the industry. Your self-worth isn’t tied up in what you produce! You are an artist whether someone is paying you to make art or not. Trust your gut; God gave you those artistic instincts and passions for a reason, and no one has your unique experience to bring to your role like you! What is for you can’t miss you; there’s enough success to go around.

The main thing I want people to know about me (and probably the way I approach every role) is that I approach everything and everyone with love. Your mental health is SO important! You are loved, You are enough, and the world is better with You in it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’d start with Brunch at Cici’s café in Westlake because they have these Souffle pancakes that are so light and delicious, you can hardly believe they’re real! Plus, I love a good mimosa and Cici’s pairs them well with their array of souffle pancake flavors. Then we’d drive down Kanan rode in a convertible so they could take in those gorgeous mountain views on our way to Point Dume in Malibu.
Once at Point Dume, we’d walk the little trail to the top where, depending on the season, we could spot sea lions and migrating whales right from the vista point at the top overlooking the Pacific ocean.
Then we’d drive the convertible down the PCH to Santa Monica and grab a quick lunch at Duke’s by the water.
Once at Pacific Pier in Santa Monica, we’d grab a malted shake to sip while we rode the Ferris wheel at sunset, which is of course the best time to ride the Ferris wheel.

I’d also make sure they saw the walk of fame, an awesome movie at the Chinese Theater, and took an easy hike with me at Griffith park to see the Hollywood Sign. I’d also take them to my favorite look out spot at night over Mulholland Drive, where the city looks like its all lit up just for you; a million little twinkling lights dancing over the dark horizon.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are too many people to list as “no man is an island.” But I’d to say that I’d have to thank my friend group and “chosen family” out here in Los Angeles. They aren’t all actors; we have writers, producers, cinematographers, executive producers, directors, accountants, hair stylists, sales agents, models, I mean I have been blessed to be surrounded by the MOST supportive, diverse, creative, and encouraging community! Because of them, I’m able to re-charge, re-group, bounce off ideas, create, and rest. They are pivotal in my journey. “When I rise, you rise” is a phrase that always comes to mind when I think of them, because we are all constantly building each other up, including each other in projects and performances, and fixing each other’s crowns. I cannot emphasize the importance of a good friend group filled with genuinely loving hearts.

Website: imdb.me/jennifergrimes

Instagram: @jenniferanne.grimes

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenni-grimes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferAnne.Grimes/

Other: ActorsAccess: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/JenniferAnneGrimes