Bio

Jen grew up just outside of Chicago, Illinois with a dancer/choreographer mother and a father who worked in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Throughout her childhood, Jen took countless dance classes in her mother's studio but discovered her passion for acting after performing in a play at the age of 13. She attended the distinguished Theatre School of DePaul University, earning her BFA degree. After graduation, Jen worked extensively with highly respected theatres in Chicago, such as The Court Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and the Writers' Theatre. Her work received critical acclaim, with the Chicago Tribune stating, "While all the acting is truly extraordinary work here from Jen Dede. In a fiendishly difficult role, the elegant Dede offers a performance of great richness, capturing both Alison's strength and her emotional dependence on her brutish and hurting husband.” She landed her first speaking role in the film “Payback," opposite Mel Gibson. After working steadily in Chicago and soaking up the one-of-a-kind theatre scene, Jen headed to Los Angeles. 

Jen has played various roles throughout her career, showcasing her versatility and range as an actress. Some of these are a comedic mobster's wife with a heart of gold in "Who the F Is B, a desperate ex-addict in "The Mending," and the sweet earth girlfriend in "Somebody Marry Me," which was the first-ever 'one-shot' feature-length romantic comedy. Jen learned to speak Czech for her role in the film "My America." Additionally, she starred in the West Coast Premiere of "Mr. Kolpert," Variety Magazine praised her performance as a "tour de force... the acting equivalent of a star exploding into a supernova.”

Jen has expanded her career into producing and writing. Together with her close friend and co-collaborator on welcometowhatweare.com, Nikki DeLoach, she co-executive produced “Reunited at Christmas" for the Hallmark channel. Jen also starred in and produced the comedic short "B-positive" and produced a feature film. She is currently working on several independent films and television projects. Jen is a member of the prestigious classical theatre company Antaeus. Her roles include the cunning Regan in "King Lear" and the innocent Valerie in "Cousin Bette," adapted by Jeffery Hatcher.

Jen has served as a Senior Teacher and Acting Coach for over 15 years at Warner Loughlin Studios, teaching beginner to advanced scene study classes and the Warner Loughlin Technique Intensive to new students. She loves coaching professional actors to reach new heights in their work, connecting to what makes them unique, and having a blast playing pretend.

She is a founding member of iWe (Industry that Works for Everyone), a gender balance organization to empower and support women.

In 2023 Jen and her dear friend and creative co-collaborator founded The Creative Collective Studios. They have an education and a production arm of the studio and are commited to helping creatives tap into their deepest creative spirit and create.

Jen is a certified Life and Health coach and is currently in pre-production for "The Unexpected Way" podcast, sharing different ways to build a family inspired by her own experiences.

Jen lives with her husband, Thomas Vincent Kelly, and their sweet toddler, Bailey, in Los Angeles. They regularly visit their hometown of Chicago.