Creator / Jess McLeod

Jess McLeod (born January 25, 1997 in Victoria, British Columbia) is a Canadian actor. They have acted since childhood, while also having formerly competed in swimming competitions, getting to British Columbia's top level for young athletes. McLeod is nonbinary, with they/them pronouns, and had previously been credited as Jessica McLeod but goes by simply Jess McLeod at present. They've stated their role as Janae on One of Us is Lying (who is genderfluid) led to their own self-realization as a nonbinary person. McLeod has won two Leo Awards for their acting, while they have produced and also written screen works as well.

Selected filmography:

• Almost Actors (2015-16) as themself (main role, 16 episodes, also producer and writer)
• Everfall (2017) as Eva Saint (lead role)
• The Hollow Child (2018) as Samantha (lead role)
• You Me Her (2018-20) as Sasha (supporting role, 12 episodes)
• A Typical Fairytale (2018) writer (short film)
• Shall We Play? (2021) as Jess (main role)
• The Unforgivable (2021) as Hannah Wehlan (supporting role)
• One of Us is Lying (2021-22) as Janae Matthews (main role, 16 episodes)
• A Little Vacation (2022) as Jess (short film, lead role, also producer and writer), a work based on their own experience in a psych ward at age 17.
• It’s a Wonderful Knife (2023) as Bernie Simon (main role)
• Sight Unseen (2024) as Jewel Corson (1 episode)

Tropes in their work include:

• The Danza: In Shall We Play? and A Little Vacation they play characters also named Jess (the latter is based on their own life).
• Deadpan Snarker: Several of their characters are very ready with sarcastic remarks on all and sundry.
• Dyeing for Your Art: They have dyed their hair a variety of different colors ranging from blonde to dark brown for various roles they've performed.
• Fake American: They've played Americans, in You Me Her, One of Us is Lying and It's a Wonderful Knife (2023) most prominently.
• Ms. Fanservice: Some of their roles, such as in Everfall and Shall We Play? are as characters who often wear outfits that emphasize their figures, for instance form-fitting tops which show off their rather large bust, along with shorts displaying their shapely legs. In The Unforgivable they also played Hannah, who is shown briefly topless while having sex with a man, shot from the side and back.
• Queer Character, Queer Actor:
  • In One of Us is Lying they play Janae Matthews, who is genderfluid and a lesbian.
  • Bernie in It's a Wonderful Knife (2023) it turns out is a queer girl.

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