Jesse James Keitel is an American actress, writer, and artist,[2] known for starring in Asher Jelinsky's award-winning short film Miller & Son (2019), the ABC crime drama Big Sky (2020) and on Queer as Folk (2022).
Jesse James Keitel | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Alma mater | Pace University |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, writer, artist |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Relatives | Harvey Keitel[1] |
Early life
editJesse James Keitel is from Manorville, New York and was involved in local theater as a performer during her childhood.[1] She graduated from Pace University with a BFA in Acting in 2015.[3] After college, she was a drag performer in New York City with the stage name Peroxide.[1]
Career
editIn 2019, Keitel starred in the world premiere of Martin Moran's play Theo at Two River Theater.[4] She also starred in Miller & Son (2019), which won the BAFTA Student Film Award and gold medal for "Best Narrative" (Domestic) at the 2019 Student Academy Awards.[5][6] Keitel played the leading role in the 2020 MadRiver Pictures sci-fi series, Forever Alone.[3] Keitel also appeared in Linda Yellen's 2019 Showtime feature film Fluidity, starring Nico Tortorella.[2] In 2022, Keitel debuted the role of Ruthie in Peacock's Queer As Folk.[7]
Keitel has performed in drag under the stage name Peroxide,[1] a member of the House of Femanon.[8] As Peroxide Femanon, she has appeared in Logo TV's Fill In The Blank docuseries and in Sasha Velour's NYFW SS19 collaboration with Opening Ceremony.[9][8][10]
Beginning in 2020, Keitel starred as Jerrie Kennedy in the David E. Kelley-created crime thriller Big Sky, which made her one of the first non-binary actors to play a non-binary series regular on primetime television.[1][11] In 2022, she appeared in an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, playing a non-binary villain. In an interview, she said of the role: "I understand that queer people have had a really long and complicated history with TV and film, and they’ve been very mistreated in the media....That being said, I think it’s high time we let queer people be villains, you know?"[12]
Awards and accolades
editKeitel was honored in Out magazine's OUT100 in 2018 for her portrayal of queer characters in the Ben Stiller-produced Netflix film Alex Strangelove, as well as playing TV Land's first non-binary character on Younger.[13][14]
Personal life
editIn 2020, Keitel identified as non-binary and used they/them pronouns.[15][1] In 2022, she came out as a trans woman and began using she/her pronouns.[16][17]
According to NBC News, Keitel is a "distant relative" of Harvey Keitel.[1]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Celebrity Ghost Stories | David | Episode "Coco/Craig Kilborn/Diana DeGarmo/Tommy Davidson" |
| 2016 | What Would You Do? | Closeted Gay Teen | Episode: #12.3[a] |
| 2018 | Alex Strangelove | Sidney | Film |
| 2018 | Younger | Tam | Episode #505: "Big Little Liza" |
| 2019 | Miller & Son | Ryan Miller | Film |
| 2019 | Fluidity | Kevin | Film |
| 2019 | Like Glass | Zion | Film |
| 2020 | Forever Alone | Adrian | 6 episodes |
| 2020–2022 | Big Sky | Jerrie Kennedy | Main role (2020–2021), special guest star (2021–2022) |
| 2021 | This Is Me: Pride Celebration Spectacular | Herself | Special |
| 2022 | Queer as Folk | Ruthie O'Neil | Main role |
| 2022 | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | Dr. Aspen/Captain Angel | Episode: "The Serene Squall" |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Gao, Max (December 1, 2020). "Nonbinary actor Jesse James Keitel on groundbreaking 'Big Sky' role". NBC News. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ a b Petski, Denise (March 10, 2020). "'The Big Sky': Jesse James Keitel To Co-Star In David E. Kelley's PI Drama Series For ABC". Deadline. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ a b "PaceCast with Marvin Krislov: Episode 8 - Pace University's Podcasts". Himalaya. September 16, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ Levitt, Hayley (February 1, 2019). "Martin Moran's Theo Announces World-Premiere Cast". TheaterMania. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ "BAFTA Announces Winners Of The 2019 Student Film Awards". BroadwayWorld. July 10, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ Wheat, Lorraine (October 20, 2019). "Rory Kennedy, Gregory Nava Celebrate Films Creating Social Change at 2019 Student Academy Awards". Variety. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ Brown, Evan Nicole (June 9, 2022). "'Queer as Folk' Star Jesse James Keitel on Playing a One-Time Party Girl Navigating Adulthood". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
- ^ a b Regensdorf, Laura (September 10, 2018). "All the Drag Star Makeup Tips From Backstage at Opening Ceremony". Vogue. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ "Fill In The Blank: Drag Relationships - Fill In The Blank (Video Clip)". Logo TV. February 28, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ Yotka, Steff (September 10, 2018). "Opening Ceremony Spring 2019 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show". Vogue. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 17, 2020). "ABC Sets Fall Drama Premiere Dates; 'For Life' Replaces Canceled 'Stumptown' On Schedule, 'The Rookie' Pushed". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ Joest, Mick (June 20, 2022). "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Jesse James Keitel Explains Why Playing Angel Was 'Refreshing'". Cinemablend. Future US Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ Besanvalle, James (June 24, 2018). "Genderqueer actor Jesse James Keitel is the new star of Younger". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ "OUT100: 2018". Out. November 14, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ Nicole Brown, Evan (June 9, 2022). "'Queer as Folk' Star Jesse James Keitel on Playing a One-Time Party Girl Navigating Adulthood". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "'Queer as Folk' Star Jesse James Keitel on Playing Trans Role That's Not Villainized". June 9, 2022.
- ^ Millman, Zosha (June 18, 2022). "How Strange New Worlds built the next great Star Trek villain". Polygon. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
