Samantha scaffidi

American actress Date of Birth: 12.11.1991 Country: USA

Content:

1. Jenna Kanell: A Multifaceted Artist in the Film Industry
2. Film Career
3. Filmmaking and Advocacy
4. Acting Breakthrough
5. Personal Life
6. Present Day

Jenna Kanell: A Multifaceted Artist in the Film Industry

Early Life and Education

Jenna Kanell, born November 12, 1991, in Brookline, Massachusetts, grew up with a strong Bostonian accent. However, after moving to the Southern United States, she effortlessly shed the dialect. At the age of 12, she became proficient in speaking, reading, and writing Hebrew, while also developing a passion for the Israeli martial art Krav Maga. After graduating high school, Kanell opted out of college, believing she could forge her path without a formal education. To compensate for this choice, she became an avid traveler and self-taught renaissance woman. Despite her American roots, Kanell proudly traces her Mediterranean and Middle Eastern heritage.

Film Career

Kanell's acting career took off in 2010 with her debut in the family comedy "The Magic of Agni." She went on to appear in several short films before landing a role in Jack Lawrence Mayer's comedy "A Girl Named Clyde." Kanell continued to secure small roles in films and television shows, including an episode of Brooke Elliott's comedy-drama "Drop Dead Diva" and The CW's popular vampire saga "The Vampire Diaries."

Filmmaking and Advocacy

While awaiting Hollywood stardom, Kanell remained driven by a mission to partake in socially conscious projects. In 2015, she made a significant stride in this direction by writing, directing, and producing her own short film, "Bumble." The film was inspired by her younger brother, Vance, who starred in the lead role. Vance lives with cerebral palsy, autism, and epilepsy.

"Bumble" garnered immense success, screening at over 40 film festivals and events worldwide and winning numerous awards, including the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge's "Best Film" honor. Inspired by the triumph, Kanell gave a TEDx Talk and spoke at Harvard Medical School. Since then, she has written and directed several other short films spanning genres from witches' fantasy to horror to Western drama to the dark comedy "Max and the Monster," which premiered at the 2018 Austin Film Festival's opening night. Kanell's "hashtag #SLUT" also received critical acclaim, earning her the Papaya Films Bursary Award.

Acting Breakthrough

In addition to her directorial recognition, the Massachusetts native also achieved fame as an actress. In 2016, she played the lead role in Damien Leone's slasher "Terrifier," which, despite initial criticism upon its Netflix debut, has become a cult classic. The film is based on a short film of the same name from 2011, and features David Howard Thornton as the terrifying clown Art, a role he embodied so well that he would scare passersby off-camera. Kanell also insisted on keeping her hands tied between takes to heighten the suspense.

A year later, Kanell added another notable horror film to her resume with "The Bye Bye Man," starring Douglas Smith and featuring a cameo by "The Matrix's" Carrie-Anne Moss. Despite receiving negative critical reviews, Kanell's performance was praised, and the film quadrupled its budget at the box office.

Kanell's filmography expanded with guest appearances in "NCIS: New Orleans," the dance drama "Step Up: High Water," and a brief role in the medical drama "The Resident" with Matt Czuchry. Notable feature films include Jason Reitman's biographical drama "The Front Runner," where she worked alongside Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga, and J.K. Simmons.

In 2019, Kanell took the lead in her own comedy web series, "Jenna Misconstrues Everything," playing a character named Dave for 35 episodes. Two years later, she caught the public's attention again with an appearance in Marvel's fantasy-themed series "WandaVision."

Personal Life

Kanell identifies as queer and maintains a private family life. On her Instagram account, she shares photos of herself and her film projects while promoting online courses for educators that cover anti-racism and working with mentally distraught children. In interviews, Kanell has expressed her adherence to ecofeminist principles. She has been a vegetarian for many years, citing her concern for both animal welfare and her own physical health. The petite actress (5'4") has a lean frame adorned with tattoos and is a cat owner, often featuring her feline companion in her social media posts. As an avid environmentalist and equality advocate, she enjoys roller skating in her spare time.

Present Day

2022 has been a busy year for the American actress, who has added several memorable roles to her growing list of screen credits. After appearing in the 10-minute thriller "Abducted," which earned a Tribeca Film Festival nomination, she landed an unnamed role in an episode of "The First Lady," working alongside Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Gillian Anderson.

Additionally, Kanell appeared in two episodes of the comedy "Young Rock" and had her character from "Terrifier" reprise her role in the sequel, "Terrifier 2." Damien Leone returned to direct the film, which began production in fall 2019 but faced release delays due to the pandemic. The horror film was positively received by audiences, opening in U.S. theaters on September 22.