Jenna Kanell has gained recognition for her multifaceted talents as an actress, stuntwoman, writer, producer, and director. She rose to prominence for her standout performances as Tammy in ‘Demonica’s Reign’, Anna in ‘Sassy Pants’, and Kim in ‘The Bye Bye Man’.
Kanell is also skilled in Krav Maga and made her debut on screen in 2010 with a role in the comedic family movie ‘The Wizard of Agni’.
Family & Childhood
Jenna Kanell was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA on November 12, 1991. She has a younger brother, Vance, who has been diagnosed with both autism and epilepsy, as well as cerebral palsy.
Kanell serves as a source of inspiration for her brother, and she holds a strong belief in his ability to overcome any obstacles, regardless of his limitations. She actively supports the idea of neurodiversity, which aims to acknowledge and value diverse neurological variances as a natural part of human diversity.
She comes from a Jewish family, with a long line of ancestors hailing from the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Before the age of 12, she had already mastered cursive and conversational Hebrew, both spoken and written.
Jenna Kanell Movie Career
Jenna Kanell made her acting debut in 2010 in the mockumentary film ‘The Wizard of Agni’. That same year, she starred in two short films, ‘Love Transcends’ and ‘Alone’, and also appeared in Jack Lawrence Mayer’s comedy ‘A Girl Named Clyde’. Her performance as Tammy in the 2011 horror film ‘Demonica’s Reign’ gained her some recognition.
Following her appearance on the third season of Lifetime’s legal comedy fantasy show ‘Drop Dead Diva’, she later appeared in the music video for Kid Cudi’s track ‘No One Believes Me’.
In 2012, she portrayed the character of Anna in the comedy-drama movie ‘Sassy Pants’. The film, written and directed by Coley Sohn, tells the story of a homeschooled teenager who breaks free from her overbearing mother and goes to live with her father and his partner.
In ‘Blood Type: Unknown’ (2014), Kanell starred as Caitlyn Landale, a young writer hoping to break free from her overbearing parents. It was her first leading role in a film. Two years later, she took on the role of a fighter in the highly praised action drama ‘Vici’.
In addition to her other projects, she was also featured in ‘Misfortune’, a crime drama directed by Desmond Devenish. She also starred in the horror film ‘Terrifier’ that same year, portraying one of the three women who are tormented by a deranged clown.
In 2017, she also starred in the supernatural horror movie ‘The Bye Bye Man’ directed by Stacy Title. The film follows the terrifying curse that haunts three friends, with Kanell playing the role of Kim. As the characters conduct a seance to uncover the truth behind the curse, Kim ultimately falls victim to its deadly consequences.
In 2018, she appeared alongside Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga, and J.K. Simmons in the biographical drama ‘The Front Runner’. She is scheduled to take on roles in the soon-to-be-released short films ‘Dandelion’ and ‘The Yellow Woman’, as well as the feature films Summer Gold and Killing Games’ and the TV movie ‘Cipher’.
Having received training in Krav Maga, Jenna Kanell takes on the majority of her own stunts in the movies she stars in. Additionally, she has been involved in the production of several films, including ”No Postage Necessary’ (2017), ‘Burnt Offering’ (2018), and the upcoming ‘Reckoning’, serving as a second unit director and assistant director. She also contributed as the art director for the 2016 short film ‘Basic Witches’ during filming.
In 2015, Jenna Kanell created ‘Bumblebees’, a short film about a boy with disabilities who achieves success on his own terms. The film was written, produced, and directed by Kanell and was inspired by his brother, who also has a role in the film.
It received praise from critics and won the Best Film award at The Disability Film Challenge. During its festival run, Kanell gave a TEDx Talk titled ‘A Bee’s Lesson: Limits Can Be Overcome’.
After the triumph of ‘Bumblebees’, Jenna Kanell took on the roles of writer and director for ‘Void’, a science fiction short that explores the story of an extraterrestrial who faces an internal struggle after her spacecraft crashes on Earth. Jenna Kanell’s subsequent project, ‘Civil’, was a film she both created and oversaw in production.
In 2015, a brief western drama was unveiled which chronicles the decline of a well-off individual into destitution and his frantic efforts to cling onto his last remaining possession.
Jenna Kanell is also credited as the writer and director of multiple short films including ‘The Refuge’ (2016), ‘Max & the Monster’ (2017), ‘Support Group’ (2018), and ‘Produce the Vote’ (2018). Her direction of the highly praised short film ‘#SLUT’ in 2018 further solidified her talent. From 2018 to 2019, she helmed various episodes of the web series ‘Fear Haus’.