Action Magazine: Jessica Ross Dishes Exclusively

Action Magazine had the opportunity to catch up with Jessica Ross to get to know her better and we are glad that we did! Check out her exclusive interview.

What are five things that you can't live without?

My phone, computer, concealer, coffee, and sunshine.

What's your life's motto or advice that you live by?

“ Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”. Go after your dreams, take risks, live your life to its fullest. You will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did.

What's your favorite color?

Turquoise because it’s the color of the beautiful ocean at my favorite beaches.

What is your favorite movie?

It’s difficult to pick just one, I love The Joker, Mean Girls, The Devil Wears Prada and Jurassic Park to name a few.

What is your favorite TV show?

I rarely have time to watch TV until quarantine.Lately I have been watching reruns of Friends. It never gets old!

Do you have any pets? If so, what kind and what's their name?

I don’t have any pets now, but growing up I had dogs, a cat, a bunny, birds, a turtle, a hamster and fish .. Not all at the same time!

What is your favorite place that you've traveled to?

Bondi Beach, I was supposed to have gone there to shoot Malibu Crush until production was halted due to the coronavirus and already can tell I am going to love it. One of the most popular beaches in the world, Bondi Beach is known for its aqua-colored water, beautiful weather, friendly people, and oceanside events.

What is your favorite food?

Vegan Blueberry pie from Whole Foods or Trader Joes.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be with and why?

Karl Lagerfeld, I would be fascinated to learn about how he worked with some of the most iconic brands. Plus I could only imagine the stories he had!

What made you want to start acting?

I believe I always wanted to be an actress deep down, and my interest was sparked in my early childhood by my cousin , director Emile Ardolino. It was so long ago, but I remember him sharing stories about the films he worked on and what inspired him to create them. Also I had the opportunity to watch TV shows being filmed live and afterwards visit the set, and meet with the cast. I really didn’t realize it until much later in life but I felt at home despite being so young. I am drawn to how acting gives you the ability to inspire and influence people throughout the world.

What is the most difficult thing about being an actress?

At the beginning, I felt the most difficult part about being an actress was finding an agent,most only want to sign people with credits on their resume, even if you have a referral. Right now it’s trying to adjust to all of the changes that the world is going through. As it is acting is an unstable career, with the coronavirus it’s going to be even more so. I am worried that there will be less work and most film / tv production won’t start again for a long time.

How do you prepare for auditions?

First, I review the script several times. Then I take notes to help make the character a person and about the setting of the scene. The location, mood, situation that’s going on , I try to imagine as if I am on the set of the show or film and what it would look like. Every day before my audition I spend time practicing my lines so by the time of my audition, I barely need to look at the script. Not only knowing your lines but understanding your role, the details of what’s going on in the scene, and how it fits into the big picture. Even if you forget a few words, if you understand the big picture, you will still be able to convey the message of your scene.

How do you handle rejections?

Rejection is part of the process and I learned I have to be able to deal with it in order to achieve my goals. Any career that’s as rewarding as acting is going to have a lot of competition. I find ways to distract myself so I don’t think about it. Some things that help me are making plans with a friend even if it’s just to take a walk or having lunch together, exercising, or calling someone I haven’t spoken to in a while. Rejection forces you to really focus on your strengths so that you can do better next time.

Out of all of your characters whom you have portrayed, which is the most similar to you? Which is the most different and why?

The character I was most different from was my role in Missed Connections. I played the shy, quiet girl that convinces my best friend not to go to the biggest formal of the year. In reality, I am an extravert, socializing helps me feel inspired and energized. The character that was most similar to me was in That Was Then, a short film where I portray an only child which I also am in real life.

Tell us about your upcoming project, Malibu Crush?

Set for release December 2020, Malibu Crush has a story centered on two best friends from Pasadena, Michael Chase, and Duey, who pretend to be highly acclaimed film school students in order to declare their love to a stunning former highschool girlfriend Bridget Van Ryan, who’s now living in Sydney, Australia. I play Bridget Van Ryan and cannot wait to begin working on the film once quarantine is finally over.

In addition to acting, what other things are you are passionate about (charities, organizations, etc)? Can you tell us about this work and why do you feel that it is it important?

I am passionate about helping animals. As anyone that has pets can attest, animals are intelligent, sentient beings with their own unique personalities and do not deserve to be abused or treated unfairly. Sadly, billions of animals are forced to endure endless cruelty for their entire lives. We have to be their voice because they can’t speak for themselves. I have volunteered for several local charities including Mercy For Animals, The Women Like Us Foundation, Farm Sanctuary, and Have A Heart Ranch. In the near future I want to start a foundation that’s involved with rescuing animals, and create a fashion brand for petite women.

Who is your favorite actor/actress and why?

One of my favorite actresses is Blake Lively. She is incredibly versatile, I admire that she has the ability to lead both comedic and dramatic films.

How would you describe your fashion style?

I have always considered myself a fashion chameleon, I dress according to the occasion and change my look often. My style can be described as elegant, glam, and understated depending on the day.

Who are some of your favorite actors that you have worked with?

Some of my favorite actors I have worked with or interviewed as a host are Ashley Tisdale, Bai Ling, James Pratt, Gilles Marini, and Christine Devine.

What advice would you give kids that want to break into acting?

I would tell them to begin acting classes, if there is a specific area you prefer such as commercials,choose a class which focuses on that, then take headshots and start building your resume by working on student films.

Who would be your dream on screen collaboration and why?

Sam Heughan, I think he's a very talented actor and not to mention quite handsome.

What is one thing that nobody knows about you?

I am terrified of bugs. I remember once, I woke up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water and there was some type of insect I couldn’t recognize hopping on the kitchen counter. I screamed so loud, my roommate at the time thought someone had broken into our apartment and almost called 911.

Have you ever been bullied?

Yes, I didn’t like how my front teeth looked in fifth grade and just my luck they were bad enough to need the traditional metal braces. I was one of the first to get braces so I stood out and people said some mean things. I remember it made me feel awful.

What is your advice to kids that are suffering from bullying?

Always tell a trusted adult what happened. It has nothing to do with you, most bullies have low self esteem so they put people down in order to feel better about themselves. People are going to step on you if you act like a doormat. Always carry yourself with confidence and either walk away or stand up to them.

If you could talk to your 14-year-old self, what would you tell her to remember about the person you are today? What advice would you give her for the future?

I would like for her to remember that while I am a completely different person now, the lessons I learned then still shape who I am today. My advice to my 14-year-old self is to not worry so much, most of the things that are bothering you now, you won’t even remember in 6 months or a year, study more, go out less and eat all the junk food you want while you still can.

Published on Action Magazine

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