About Me — Jena Ziomek

Who are you?

My name is Jena Ziomek! I’m a SAG-eligible actress and performer based out of Los Angeles, California. I do any and every type of performing I possibly can: film, theater, stand-up, event entertainment, tourism; any outlet to connect with others and tell stories.

Stories are the exact reason I got into acting in the first place. When you get to see a story— be that in a movie, a show, a play, anything —that story is the only thing that matters. For a little while, every little annoyance, every stressor, every problem in your life can fade away, and you truly live in the moment. There is nothing I love more than being able to help bring that to others.

Besides acting, though, I’m also super passionate about animals, music, and people! I love to sing, and I’ve been teaching myself to play piano. As for my other hobbies, I tend to find a new one every week! I’ve found myself trying everything from baking to wig styling to antiquing. Most recently, however, I’ve been learning to sew. It’s going pretty well considering I’ve been teaching myself almost exclusively through trial and error.

Photography by Val Tannuzzi

What do you do?

I first began acting in 2013, in a local YMCA production of the musical Anything Goes. Apparently, my debut as “Photographer #1” truly affected me, because I haven’t stopped performing since. Recently, I was super excited to appear as a Theater Patron in the AppleTV+ limited series, Manhunt. My favorite short film roles that I’ve played so far are Ava in A Faded Star, and Bella in Surreal Stories of the Subconscious Mind. As for theater, I really enjoyed playing Mame in Auntie Mame, and Madame in Cinderella.

I studied at Savannah College of Art and Design, where I got a B.F.A. in Performing Arts, with a Minor in Acting for the Camera. This is definitely when my passion for film really took off.

I currently work as a character performer, where I perform at parties, fundraisers, parades, and similar events. You can usually see me as Sleeping Beauty or the Ice Queen; As cheesy as I know this sounds, I love having the opportunity to help children’s dreams come true. I also work as a tour guide for Ghost City Tours, and I truly appreciate the opportunities I get to connect with people through stories.

Where are you from?

I grew up in South New Jersey with my parents and one older brother, Rob. He used to perform in musicals with me when we were kids, but now he’s pursuing a law degree! Both of our chosen career paths were a bit of a surprise to our parents, who are both ex-military airline pilots. This meant that I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time traveling as a child!

Though we did love New Jersey, my family moved to a ski resort in Colorado when I came to Savannah for college, so that’s where I get to spend my holidays! They currently live with my pets, a springer spaniel named Zoë, a cat named Lucy, and a bunny named Mason. Now, I’m in Los Angeles!