Jessica Stanley is an actor, writer, producer, voice artist and intimacy coordinator (in training) from Naarm/Melbourne. She is the Co-Artistic of independent theatre company Spinning Plates Co.
Jess was awarded a scholarship to study at Monash University, where she gained her Bachelor of Performing Arts and was recognised as Outstanding Year Level Achiever. As well as completing the Full-Time Program at the Howard Fine Acting Studio, Australia and a Bachelor of Psychology, Jess has studied extensively at 16th Street. She is currently training with Key Intimate Scenes to become a qualified intimacy coordinator.
In early 2025 Jess will co-star on the big screen in feature film Ancestry Road. Other screen credits include The Doctor Blake Mysteries and Glitch. In 2021, Jess won the Art Unbound Award at Melbourne Fringe for her show JSMR: an ASMR & Storytelling Experience, and was also awarded Best Actor for the Howard Fine Performance Project for her short film, Jafar. In 2016, she was nominated for Best Performance Award for her solo performance in Ménage at Melbourne Fringe. Other stage credits include Rhinoceros (fortyfivedownstairs, 2024), The Crocodile (fortyfivedownstairs, 2023), Medea (Victorian tour, 2024), The Crucible (Victorian tour, 2019-24), Shut Up I’m a Vampire (Butterfly Club, 2022), Ross & Rachel (Theatre Works, 2018), Extinction (Victorian tour, 2019-22), and It's Alright, Sid it's Alright (La Mama, 2013).
Jess works with Complete Works Theatre Company, touring to schools across Victoria to perform classical texts for VCE students. She is an authorised marriage celebrant, audiobook narrator, and host of the podcast Do It Again But Better, where she chats to fellow actors about their audition experiences. Jess loves a hobby, and in her spare time enjoys archery, pole dancing and reading.