Jessica Pohly

Be of service to your friends, to your community; to people, you don’t know, to your audience, to the task at hand and to your loved ones.

The entertainment industry isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for those willing to go the extra mile, break out from their comfort zone, and push their limits. Jessica Pohly embodies that drive. From former comedian to film and television actress, her involvement in philanthropic work such as with the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care, and with animal rights, has led her to wear many hats, which she has accomplished effortlessly. Pohly’s background is deeply rooted in theatre. She gained a liberal arts degree in Art History and studied with The Atlantic Theater Acting School in New York City, toured with a Shakespeare Company, and ended up in Paris working as a Corporeal Mime.Yes, a mime! Having a brave heart and being dedicated ultimately paid off for Pohly as she emerged as a guest-star in several television roles including Stalker, Rake, Modern Family, Super Fun Night, Bella and the Bulldogs, and Welcome to the Family. In her most prominent role to date, Pohly will co-star opposite Paul Reubens and Joe Manganiello in Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday, premiering on Netflix in March. Pohly stars as Pepper, the head of an all-girl gang of bank robbers. Jessica Pohly has claimed the noteworthy position as “TV’s Fresh Face” and the “One to Watch”. We can’t wait to see what lies ahead for this budding starlet.RAINE: We are excited to see you in Pee Wee’s Big Holiday as “Pepper,” what was it like working alongside Paul Reubens?POHLY: It was pretty rad. Paul is incredibly kind and generous. He went out of his way to help me get my footing on set because I was sort of the newcomer of the bunch. He is an extraordinary talent and it was a privilege to watch him work. I would go to set on days I wasn’t working just to watch him create amazing Pee Wee moments. And I have to admit it was surreal at times to find myself in scenes with him because he has been a comedic hero of mine for as long as I can remember. I grew up watching Pee Wee’s Playhouse with my Dad so Pee Wee was always sort of part of our family.RAINE: Would you call this your most memorable role to date?POHLY: Many of the roles I’ve played are memorable to me on a personal level but this is certainly my most high profile job to date and I’m so excited to be a part of it. So, yes probably the most memorable to the general public but some characters like Caliban and Lady Macbeth—characters I played for weeks and weeks on end in theater performances—have been quite formative for me as an actor. I feel connected to each of my characters in a special way. Including Pepper!RAINE: Acting can be a tough business, was there ever a moment that you thought about giving up, and what helped to change your mind? POHLY: Like many actors I’ve had mentors and teachers say ‘if there is anything else you can do, do it.’ And it’s true: this is a very tough business and if you are not 100% sure you want to do it you may be very unhappy. There is a lot of disappointment and rejection. You are asked to be raw and open but also tough and guarded. It’s a crazy balancing act. Personally, I recommit to this business every single day. I’ve found it’s important for me to stay current with the pursuit and present with my passion in this way. When I start to take any part of it for granted or forget what I have to be grateful for, it negatively affects my work and I can’t have that. So, the second I don’t want to do this anymore I won’t. Thus far it is all I have ever wanted to do and every opportunity I get to do it is a joy.RAINE: Talk about the creative process that you went through, to develop your character?POHLY: I immediately got a strong sense of Pepper just from the page. Reading the script I felt like I could see her clearly because the writing was so fantastic. I might say this is a character I approached from the outside in. From the first audition I had a specific idea of how I wanted her to look and sound. Her cadence of speech and posture are very different than my own so I started there and built inward. It’s not how I always create character but sometimes the task at hand tells you where to start.In general we all drew from the vibe of the women in Faster Pussycat Kill Kill which is one of Paul’s favorite movies and was a point of inspiration for our gang of bank robbers when he was writing.RAINE: What is one piece of advice you have received, that has served you best over the years?POHLY: Be of service through your work. Be of service to your friends, to your community, to people you don’t know, to your audience, to the task at hand and to your loved ones. This business can create a scary level of narcissism and navel gazing and for me it is very important to strive to be of service through my work. I find a lot of relief and purpose in that idea. It reminds me that I’m only ever one small part of a much bigger picture.