Jesse Leigh is Proving Themself
⤏ IN CONVERSATION WITH VIVIEN ADAMIAN
⤏ PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL HERMOSILLO
⤏ STYLING BY BRANDEN RUIZ
⤏ MAKE-UP BY JESS RING
⤏ HAIR BY CAITLIN KRENZ FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS
I call actor Jesse Leigh in Los Feliz from the neighboring city of Glendale, my hometown and Junior High’s current headquarters. In an interview that should have — like all Jr Hi interviews, been conducted at the Americana — Jesse and I talk about their show Rutherford Falls, performance as a healing process, and — perhaps most important of all — becoming a dog parent.
VIVIEN ADAMIAN: Congrats on your second season of Rutherford Falls! How do you spend your time between filming?
JESSE LEIGH: After we wrapped season one, I started fostering a dog. After two weeks of having her I failed — I foster failed — and I adopted her. Her name’s Moochie. She’s about five years old and she’s a chihuahua/herding-dog mix. I’ve become a full dog parent,
VA: That sounds so wholesome. I’ve heard having a dog brings a lot of love in your direction when you’re walking around and interacting with people.
JL: Oh, yeah for sure. I bring her everywhere. I bring her to cafes, to the grocery store, to the beach, and everyone else who has a dog loves to stop by and say hey. I get a lot of attention and everyone loves to get some Moochie time. Whenever we pass by strangers they’re always like, “She’s smiling, she’s smiling at me!”
VA: Wow, she’s a naturally happy dog. I love to hear that about a chihuahua.
JL: She's a cool chihuahua. She’s like a very chill chihuahua.
VA: The chihuahuas I’ve met have been very warm and lovely. I want to ask you about the show a little more and your character, Bobbie Yang. I’ve heard they take a lot of influence from you and your background but they’re also different from you in many ways. How do you find the balance between being authentic and allowing the character to flourish as themselves?
JL: Bobbie Yang is 18-years-old, a child of immigrants, and non-binary in a small town called Rutherford Falls. The non-binary part comes naturally of course, but the character itself was originally written with he/him pronouns. I went into the audition bringing myself. I wanted to make them super stylish and authentic to me. I wore to the audition what I would wear on a regular Tuesday and gave myself a cute makeup look. When I got the role, I sat down with the writers and told them about growing up non-binary, and my experiences in grade school. Bobbie is very business driven which I very much relate to. I’ve always been focused on having a job, wanting to be successful, and wanting to make a name for myself. I relate to BobbieYang in that way.
How did they flourish? By being a stand out from the other kids in the town, and the other characters in the show. Bobbie wants to prove themself and make a name for themself. Similar to me.
VA: I love that you have this influence and relationship with the character that way. You also have a more in depth relationship with the writer’s room! It’s a really diverse and largely indigenous writers’ room, how has your relationship with the writers inspired you?
JL: It’s not so common that writers invite actors to share their thoughts, so I feel really lucky that this writer's’ room was all ears. They want to know my story and how I feel about certain experiences. With previous projects that I’ve been in, it’s been: “Here’s the script, just recite the lines.” Being on Rutherford Falls has been a total blessing. Our show was created by Sierra Teller Ornelas, Mike Shur, [and] Ed Helms, so all these big names in the comedy world. It’s inspired me to be as open as they are and when I do start producing my own content or getting my own scripts created, I do want to invite actors from all backgrounds — not just non-binary actors — to share their stories and influence their characters. That way the character’s are so much more meaningful and relatable. I’ve received a lot of messages from the non-binary community about how amazing it is to see a character like Bobbie Yang, who is so confident and so powerful and flourishing.
VA: That’s incredible. Is it healing when you perform? Whether it be for television or with your background in community theater, do you find it to be a healing process or a self-soothing process?
JL: Yes, for sure. In high school I was pretty shy and pretty reserved. I’m also an Aquarius so I keep to myself a lot and have my own ideas and thoughts that may be more outside of the box. Playing Bobbie feels like a redemption to those years in a way. Where I can be confident and voice my opinions and talk to other adults like they’re my colleagues. Having a bigger say in things and a larger voice in general definitely feels like therapy in a way. I’m getting to say things that I would've been too timid to say in the past or express myself in ways I maybe missed out on when I was younger.
“Having a bigger say in things and a larger voice in general definitely feels like therapy in a way. I’m getting to say things that I would've been too timid to say in the past"
VA: It’s like a tool of self-expression, using a character. Do you feel like it’s easier to disappear into another character who is very different from yourself? Do you find freedom in that process of transforming into another character?
JL: In previous roles I've done in theater, I’ve definitely been more transformative in the role. Because there’s so much that goes into wardrobe and makeup. The theatre world is definitely different from the worlds I’ve been a part of in television. I’ve mostly done contemporary television, modern day scripts. Theater is more transformative. Playing Bobbie Yang is a lot of fun and so similar to myself in the fashion and in the makeup. It feels — playing Bobbie Yang — feels like a second skin almost.
VA: Do you see yourself returning to theater?
JL: Yes! Yes, I’d love to do an off-Broadway play or musical.
VA: You’ve said you want to try more dramatic roles à la Nicole Kidman HBO kind of thriller. What character do you see yourself playing because I love the trope of returning to your hometown to uncover dark secrets. Do you have a vision or fantasy?
JL: Yes! I love dark phycological character study type of thrillers. Thrillers are also my favorite genre. I would love to be in a show where I’m playing one character but then as the season progresses we find out that the character is not as they seem, something shocking. I’ve done comedy for most of my professional career, so I’d love to play something darker like a witch or a teen that has serious angst problems or a villain. That would definitely be a lot of fun to dive into.
VA: Cool! I just saw the Elvis movie recently so I have budget and production on my mind. As an actor or creative consumer do you like big, maximalist productions or do you prefer small community projects? Or do you want to explore the whole range?
JL: Since I come from more of a community background, I love creating smaller projects and more hands-on collaborative projects, working one on one with directors and being able to have a say in my character like on Rutherford Falls. That being said, I would love to join a huge production like a Marvel or DC film and explore how they run their sets. I know there are a lot more complexities to a big budget film, but as an actor I want to be stretched in different directions. It would be interesting to join in on a vessel like that.
VA: Like a big franchise with its own moving parts?
JL: Yeah, they’re almost like running trains. They’re going full force ahead and to join in on that would be exciting and completely new to me.
VA: I hope you get to! That sounds exciting. Do you experiment with other creative mediums? Writing, music, photography, or drawing?
JL: I love music. I’ve recently started learning guitar and I’ve been playing mostly soft rock music. I’m also into photography. Recently, I purchased a few film cameras and have been exploring taking them out into nature and the city. Also, taking photos of fashion and clothes.
VA: Do you use your friends as models for your creative visions?
JL: Yes. Yes. All my friends are beautiful, so I try to photograph them as much as possible.
VA: Have you been teaching yourself?
JL: For guitar I have a wonderful teacher, but for photography I've mostly been teaching myself. YouTube tutorials are very helpful.
VA: Have you developed the film yourself? Have you been in the dark room?
JL: No [laughs] no, no. I’m not that advanced yet. I found a nice family-owned studio near me.
VA: It’s intense for sure. I definitely feel like a detective when I’m developing my own film. How do you find new music? Do you use your friends or rely on the algorithm gods to guide you?
JL: I get a lot of — well I mostly find my own music. I’m a sucker for pop music so I’m always up to date on the pop girlies and when they release their latest singles or latest albums. When it comes to older music — like stuff from the 60’s or 70’s — I’ll rely on the algorithm. If I like them I’ll do a deep dive on YouTube and watch their music videos and live performances. Yeah, it’s kind of a mix of both.
“I love dark physiological character study type of thrillers. I’ve done comedy for most of my professional career, so I’d love to play something darker like a villain".”
VA: Are you a vinyl person? Do you go to record shops?
JL: No. But I want to be a vinyl person.
VA: Do you make playlists?
JL: Yes! Yes, mostly for working out. I want to get that adrenaline rush and get all the bangers back to back to maximize the best work out.
VA: Do you have any projects coming up or anything you’re working on in the meantime between filming?
JL: I just shot a commercial — a Vitamin Water commercial with Lil Nas X so that was super random and fun to act opposite a pop star as big as he is. Also, he’s just super queer and fun to be around, so the whole set very colorful, very pink, very glamorous and it turned out great.
VA: I love absorbing the queer energy in a Vitamin Water commercial. You’re in the wider LA area. Do you have any favorite theaters or music venues, hang out spots?
JL: I’m right by the Greek Theater, and that was also my first concert venue. I saw Hilary Duff on her Metamorphosis tour. The Hollywood Bowl is amazing, too! As far as theaters I’m right by the Pantages, which is iconic. And the Geffen Playhouse which is right by UCLA, where I went to school!
VA: I went there too!
JL: You did?
VA: Yeah, graduated just last year.
JL: Nice! I graduated 2020 so I had that awkward year of no graduation [laughs].
VA: I transferred so I was stuck in the quarantine years. Go Bruins [laughs]. Gotta respect it.
JL: What did you study at UCLA?
VA: I was an English major. Were you in the theater and television?
JL: No, I was in Communications.
VA: Wow, very different from what you ended up doing. I feel like it helped you in a way.
JL: Yes! I wanted to choose a major that was separate from acting and art, so that it could help me in the more professional world. I’d say it has!