Inspirational Women In Hollywood: How Jocelin Donahue Is Helping To Shake Up The Entertainment Industry
… Advocate for yourself on set. A moment of tension or misunderstanding is temporary, but the film is forever. Lead with kindness and respect, but if something doesn’t feel right, speak up. If you are unhappy with your performance, ask for another take when appropriate.
As a part of our series about Inspirational Women In Hollywood, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Jocelin Donahue.
Jocelin Donahue is an American actress known for her breakout role in Ti West’s critically acclaimed The House of the Devil, turning in what IndieWire called “one of the all-time great final girl performances.” In the years since, Donahue has appeared in many popular studio, independent, and genre films. Her lead performances in The Frontier, Offseason, and Summer Camp are roundly praised by critics and audiences alike. Donahue has worked with preeminent directors like James Wan on Insidious: Chapter 2 and Terrence Malick in Knight of Cups, playing opposite Christian Bale and Antonio Banderas. In 2019, Jocelin appeared in Warner Bros. Doctor Sleep, the much anticipated sequel to Stephen King’s The Shining, directed by horror impresario Mike Flanagan.
Her TV credits include a memorable role as a rookie FBI agent and partner to Martin Freeman on the crime series StartUp and guest starring roles on episodes of Lethal Weapon, The Affair, and CSI, among others.
Thank you so much for doing this with us Jocelin! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us your “Origin Story”? Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up in Bristol, Connecticut, a quiet suburb of Hartford, known mostly as the headquarters of ESPN. I spent much of my youth with my nose in a book. I loved art and making my own clothes, but I was also an athlete. I played basketball and soccer through adolescence, and ran cross-country and track in high school. I’m very close with my family and I’ve always been inspired by my younger sibling Michael, a broadly talented artist and musician who performs under the stage name, Phemale.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
When I moved to Manhattan to study Sociology at New York University, an acting career wasn’t in the realm of possibilities I had ever considered. I thought I would go into teaching or social work. But one of my roommates, a student in Tisch School of the Arts, asked me to be in a few of her films. I was also enamored by NYU’s incredible library and their cinema collection, and would spend my downtime watching classic films there. I started working as a stylist’s assistant and modeled for a few photo editorials in fashion and culture magazines. I learned that I really enjoyed the collaborative working environment on set.
After college, my husband and I moved to Los Angeles, trading the Northeast winters for a milder climate and a new perspective. A friend brought my small portfolio to his commercial agent and within weeks I landed a national TV commercial. That agent started a theatrical management company and asked to represent me. It was great luck and timing, and we still work together! I never expected to have a career as an actor, but I’m so grateful it became both my vocation and the way to channel my interests in storytelling, human behavior, and visual arts.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Every job brings a new set of experiences, so there have been many times I’ve pinched myself while at work. Working in commercials, I had a dance party with Snoop Dogg, worked with kangaroos, alpacas, giant snakes, and swam with the Aflac duck. I also love when I have an opportunity to pick up a new skill, like learning to drive stick on a 1950’s classic car on the Paramount backlot, taking scuba-diving lessons in an olympic-sized pool, or learning how to fight, fall, and fly from talented stunt coordinators.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When a “mistake” or an accident happens while shooting, it can often lead to surprising and interesting moments on screen. For instance, there have been times when I tripped or dropped a prop, but reacted in character, and it became an endearing beat in an otherwise straightforward scene. There are also many times when I think I’ve blown a take, but others don’t see the performance in the same way. We are our own worst critics, so I try not to fixate on any regrets I may have after a shoot or an audition.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Acting is an exercise in empathy and the most empathetic person I know is my mom. Before I ever attempted acting, she taught me how to listen to others, consider their feelings, and put myself in their shoes.
You have been blessed with great success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but are intimidated by the prospect of constant rejection?
It’s true. The grind of Hollywood can be demoralizing and there’s always a level of uncertainty, no matter where you are in your career. To be a working actor means that you are auditioning constantly and only booking a small percentage of those roles. Try not to take the rejection personally. Despite the familiar narratives, Hollywood is not a zero sum game. Your individuality is actually your greatest asset.
Since all you can control is your own mindset, my advice would be to focus on learning and improving; take the knowledge that you gain from each experience and apply it to your next project. Make the most of every win and shake off the disappointments. Most importantly, keep perspective by cultivating your interests and relationships outside of the industry.
You have such impressive work. What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? Where do you see yourself heading from here?
I’ve been preparing for a juicy role in a crime thriller with a really talented ensemble cast. We’re in the inspiring phase of pre-production– rehearsals, table reads, fittings and trading film recommendations. I love that each job brings a chance to expand my frame of reference and continue my film education.
Last year I worked on a fascinating full motion video game from Sam Barlow called Immortality which was recently released. I’d love to continue working in genre and sci-fi films, and expand into more drama, action, and episodic projects.
You’ve done a lot of really amazing work in the horror genre. Why do you think horror films have such a strong following?
Thank you for saying that! Horror is a safe but heightened arena to explore our fears and anxieties, whether they be personal, societal, or existential. It’s a really rich genre because it investigates the unknown and our subconscious in a cathartic way. This can lead to great art with complex themes or thrilling good fun!
This is our signature question that we ask in nearly all of our interviews. What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? If you can, please share a story or example for each.
- A career in this industry is a process, not a destination. For most people, there’s no such thing as one “big break.” There will be turning points, ups and downs, upheavals in the industry at large. If you can outlive them with persistence and lots of luck, hopefully your efforts will add up to a body of work that you are proud of.
- Watch the tape like an athlete. A lot of actors have a hard time watching dailies or playback because it can lead to self-judgment or “getting in your head.” But you can make adjustments much more efficiently by watching the tape to dial in your performance and identify what you can improve, especially for stunt or action sequences.
- When deciding whether to accept a role, think both practically and creatively. There are risks and rewards to every offer.
- Bring life, energy and abandon to your work when you are on set. The best way to feel relaxed and fluid on set is to put in the time and preparation beforehand.
- Advocate for yourself on set. A moment of tension or misunderstanding is temporary, but the film is forever. Lead with kindness and respect, but if something doesn’t feel right, speak up. If you are unhappy with your performance, ask for another take when appropriate.
Can you share with our readers any self-care routines, practices or treatments that you do to help your body, mind or heart to thrive? Please share a story for each one if you can.
I’m a passionate cook and I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I love that cooking is both a useful skill which can continually be learned and improved on, and a meditative practice that requires you to be present in the moment. It’s my creative outlet and my way of nurturing the people I love.
Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have a power lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!
I’m a huge fan of Karyn Kusama and it would be a dream to work on one of her projects. She brings such pathos and grit to her storytelling. Jennifer’s Body and The Invitation are two of my favorite modern horror films and I devoured the first season of Yellowjackets (no pun intended!). I’d be happy to cook Karyn her favorite meal!
Are you on social media? How can our readers follow you online?
Yes I am on social media and people can find me on Instagram and Twitter @jocelindonahue. If you’re interested in food and cooking, folks can follow me @primopezzo.
This was so informative, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Appreciate it! Thanks so much, Yitzi.
