About Jenna Phoa
Jenna Phoa (she/her) is a Canadian actor of mixed Southeast and East-Asian descent. Born and raised in Richmond Hill, Ontario, she initially discovered performing as a form of therapy while battling several congenital health issues. She is a graduate of the Acting for Camera & Voice program at Seneca College and continues her training at LB Acting Studio in Toronto. Jenna recently made her professional on-screen debut as the lead in the second season of Gay Mean Girls, a web series that premiered at TIFF Next Wave and has since earned numerous accolades at festivals around the world. As an intersectional minority, representation in film & television greatly strengthened Jenna’s sense of identity. She hopes to encourage this in others by telling stories that highlight marginalized communities. When she isn’t chasing the acting dragon, Jenna can be found drawing, playing the ukulele or in the circus studio practicing aerial silks tricks!
What Inspired you to pursue acting?
I was taught that to be successful, a person has to meet certain standards of beauty and social acceptability. Standards that, as a queer Asian person, I would never achieve. I went through life deeply discouraged and ashamed and watched friends and family do the same. It wasn’t until I began to see Asian performers on screen that I realized there was nothing wrong with us. Sandra Oh, Ming-Na Wen and Ke Huy Quan (among others) helped me find pride for our strength and experiences as a community and proved that we are capable of being anything we wish – heroes, romantic figures… and, of course, actors. Just like these artists did for me, I became inspired to pursue acting in the hopes of showing young Asian people (including past Jenna) that our stories are worth telling and that we are limitless.
What is your dream role?
We have been extremely fortunate to see an increase in Asian casts and characters recently, but I would love to take on a role that provides more queer Asian representation in TV and/or film. I’d also love to be in a thriller/horror or tragicomedy project – I am especially drawn to characters that feel grounded and human, but I hope to have the opportunity to play someone whose character is really tested. My initial answer to this question was a much longer list though, so maybe an easier question would be, “what ISN’T your dream role?”!
Demo Reel
Headshots
Other Resources
Ethnic Origins:
Features:
Playable Age: 17-27 / Hair Colour: Dark Brown / Eye Colour: Dark Brown / Height: 5’5″
Skills:
Swimming (Advanced), Aerial Silks (Beginner-Intermediate), Kayaking, Snorkeling, Running, Hiking, Painting, Drawing, Ukulele, Longboard. G2 Driver’s License
Booking Information
Agent: Daryl Schwartzberg
Phone: (647) 404-7529
Email: daryl@playmgmt.com