Jackie Tohn
New York native Jackie Tohn is a renowned actress and writer. Jackie’s path to stardom started from her charismatic personality both on and off the screen. She is known for her roles in A Futile and Stupid Gesture, GLOW, and Sisters.
Jackie has been nominated for numerous awards. At FilmQuest 2022, the cast of Give Me An A was nominated for the Best Ensemble Cast - Feature. In 2018 and 2019, she was nominated for the Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Comedy Series for her role in GLOW. At the 2018 Gold Derby Awards, the GLOW cast was also nominated as the Ensemble of the Year.
Even as a young star, Jackie was a striking star. In 1995, she was a nominee for the Best Performance By A Youth Actress - TV Guest Star for her feature in The Nanny.
Jackie, from a young age, has been ecstatic about pursuing her creative passions and utmost authenticity. Reflecting upon her career and personal background, Jackie confides in relying on her instincts, trusting the process, and building relationships.
Jackie is currently promoting Nobody Wants This and The Floaters, engaging audience members into the comedic world.
Since a young age, you’ve been singing and acting. You’ve also been a semi-finalist on American Idol. Are there any early influences that inspired you to pursue singing and acting?
My mom is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met and a born performer. My dad is an incredible musician and singer /songwriter. That said, they were both physical education teachers in Brooklyn when I was growing up. But the artists inside each of them really shaped me into the person I am. As far as my movie/TV/stage idols, I was always very drawn to the overall entertainers like Bette Midler, Cher, and Gilda Radner - the women who could do it all.
How do you proceed in developing a new character or starring in a new role?
I don’t really have a set process that I repeat with each new job. With Nobody Wants This, I would say that Esther came to life for me during my audition. Because I was trying different things and then I landed on what felt the most authentic to me. And then once you get the part and talk to the creatives and the director, the character gets more solidified.
What is the process of approaching different genres, such as comedy versus drama?
I approach most things pretty much the same. And I feel the least anxious when I am the most prepared. So that’s a big part of it for me. Because I can play around and make choices more freely in the moment when I know the scene like the back of my hand.
And I think often, even when I do drama, there is a bit of a wink and a nod to what I’m doing, so I like to be able to play within the scene.
One big difference I guess is that in comedy, the creatives generally encourage or at least allow you to improvise. And it’s one of my favorite things to do. But with drama, of course, you’re not gonna improvise on the season premiere of NCIS when you’re playing a divorce attorney. You’re just gonna show up and do the work. They’re both very gratifying experiences in such different ways.
What was the experience of filming the Netflix hit, Nobody Wants This?
It was a wild ride for sure! So much laughing. So much friendship. And it felt very collaborative. If I had an idea for Esther, I felt very comfortable bringing it to the table. I felt very heard, which doesn’t happen on every show.
Do you have any memorable moments when filming on set?
There are so many incredible memories from filming, but I especially loved making the Bat Mitzvah episode. I had a Bat Mitzvah when I was 13 years old and attended countless others. So to be a part of one that was going to be on television, representing my culture in that way just felt really cool.
You’ve worked alongside Kristen Bell before on Do Re & Mi. How did it feel to collaborate with Kirsten again for Nobody Wants This?
Fabulous. I know this is probably a pretty unique take, but Kristen is a funny, generous, delightful, kind, and brilliant woman. So working with her is a treat and a dream.
Out of all the characters you’ve played, which one do you feel the most connected to?
I think it’s a toss-up between Melrose on Glow and Esther on Nobody Wants This. They both have so much of me in them. But I am also so different from both of them in so many ways. But I was definitely able to pull from my personal life quite a bit in each of those roles.
How was hosting Best Leftovers Ever on Netflix?
I love hosting so much and doing Best Leftovers Ever was an absolute joy. I do really love people - so getting to interact with three contestants each episode and do bits with them and joke around with my fellow judges was a dream. The tone of the show was very quirky and funny so we had a blast!
What was the most monumental moment when playing Joan Rivers on Epic Rap Battles of History?
The most monumental thing about that experience was just getting to embody Joan Rivers! She is one of my all-time favorites! Putting on the wig and the leopard blazer and all the QVC jewelry and shaping my body the way she did and moving my hands the way she did. It was second nature, and honestly, what an honor to get to do.
Do you have any advice that has stuck with you during your career?
A piece of advice that I heard a lot as a kid actor, and well into my 20s as I struggled to get work, is that if there is anything else you can do or want to do or are equally as passionate about, do that! I know we hear it all the time, but this business can be so cutthroat and the rejection is unimaginable. But if you have to do it – like me – then you have to do it. And here we are.
What legacy do you want to leave behind?
Oh, hm, I don’t know. Probably that I loved really hard and that laughing, for better or worse, was undoubtedly the most important thing in my life.
CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Jackie Tohn
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Photographer: Jaime Pavon
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Hair: Luis Guillermo using Oribe
Makeup: Romana Lai using @hourglasscosmetics
Assistant Fashion Stylist: Atėnė At
Retouching: Karla Cevallos
Location at Angelo David Hair Salon
Flowers by MadisonAvenueFlorist
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Anna Yim, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
*Special Thanks: Ann Lawlor
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