1. Overview
Jessica Harmon (born December 27, 1985) is a Canadian actress and director recognized for her versatile contributions to both film and television. Her career spans significant roles in science fiction and supernatural drama series, alongside a notable transition into directing television films and episodes. Harmon has been a prominent figure in several popular series, including her portrayal of Esrin in the Syfy web series Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy, FBI Agent Dale Bozzio in The CW's iZombie, and Niylah in The CW's The 100. Beyond acting, she has garnered recognition for her directorial work, including episodes of The 100 and numerous television movies for television networks like Hallmark Channel and Lifetime. Her work reflects a dedication to the craft, contributing to the rich landscape of contemporary popular culture.
2. Early Life
Jessica Harmon's early life was deeply rooted in a family immersed in the entertainment industry, which significantly shaped her path into acting and directing.
2.1. Childhood and Education
Jessica Harmon was born on December 27, 1985, in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. She comes from a family with strong ties to the film and television industry. Her father, Allan Harmon, is a director, and her mother, Cynde Harmon, is a producer. She also has a brother, Richard Harmon, who is an actor; they later co-starred in the CW science fiction series ''The 100''. Information regarding her formal education is not publicly detailed in available sources.
2.2. Early Activities
Harmon began her professional acting career at a young age, securing her earliest credited roles in television series. Her initial appearances included playing Tali in two episodes of ''The Outer Limits'' between 1997 and 1998, and a juvenile delinquent in the episode "Wednesday Leaves Home" of ''The New Addams Family'' in 1998. These early roles marked her entry into the industry and laid the groundwork for her extensive career.
3. Major Activities and Achievements
Jessica Harmon has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry through her extensive work as both an actress and a director, showcasing her versatility across various genres and mediums.
3.1. Acting
Harmon's acting career is characterized by a wide array of roles in both feature films, short films, and numerous television series, often in the science fiction, horror, and drama genres.
3.1.1. Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Agent Cody Banks | Natalie's Friend | |
| 2006 | Hollow Man 2 | Heather Dalton | |
| 2006 | John Tucker Must Die | Girl at Party | Uncredited |
| 2006 | Black Christmas | Megan Helms | |
| 2008 | The Ambassador | Nina | Short film |
| 2012 | A Christmas Story 2 | Female Shopper | |
| 2013 | The Marine 3: Homefront | Teller | |
| 2013 | And Now a Word from Our Sponsor | Car Saleswoman | |
| 2013 | The Goodbye Girl | Sylvia Rose | Short film |
| 2013 | If I Had Wings | Mrs. McVie | |
| 2014 | Body Language | Oleander | Short film |
| 2014 | Deeper | Beth | |
| 2015 | Reset | Natalie | Short film |
| 2015 | Outside the Lines | Trish | Short film |
| 2015 | Bona Fide | Celeste | Short film |
| 2016 | PLAN b | Tracy | Short film |
| 2016 | Dead Rising: Endgame | Jill Eikland | |
| 2017 | Heart of Clay | Justine | |
| 2018 | The Age of Adulting | Jill |
3.1.2. Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-1998 | The Outer Limits | Tali | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | The New Addams Family | Juvenile Delinquent | Episode: "Wednesday Leaves Home" |
| 2001-2002 | Pasadena | Mona | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | The Days | Trish | Episode: "Day 1,403" |
| 2004 | Life As We Know It | Zoe Cresswell | 6 episodes |
| 2006 | Killer Instinct | Jennifer Crossland | Episode: "Love Hurts" |
| 2006 | Whistler | Danni Bender | Episode: "The Burden of Truth" |
| 2007 | Supernatural | Lily Baker | Episode: "All Hell Breaks Loose: Part 1" |
| 2007 | Passion's Web | Lynn | Television film |
| 2008 | Whistler | Natalie Webley | 2 episodes |
| 2008-2009 | Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy | Esrin | 10 episodes |
| 2009 | Trust | Kelyn | Television film |
| 2009 | Kyle XY | Gretchen | Episode: "Life Support" |
| 2009 | Encounter with Danger | Monique | Television film |
| 2009 | Everything She Ever Wanted | Debbie | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Fear Island | Ashley | Television film |
| 2009 | Wolf Canyon | Samantha | Unsold pilot |
| 2012 | Choose Your Victim | Katrina Schneider | 8 episodes |
| 2012 | Anything But Christmas | Faith | Television film |
| 2013 | Emily Owens, M.D. | Diana | Episode: "Emily and... The Leap" |
| 2013 | Arrow | Nancy Moore | Episode: "Home Invasion" |
| 2013 | Romeo Killer: The Chris Porco Story | Reporter #2 | Television film |
| 2013 | Animism | Mel / Boy (voice) | Unknown episodes |
| 2013 | Chupacabra vs. The Alamo | Jenny | Television film |
| 2013 | Supernatural | Olivia Camrose | Episode: "Dog Dean Afternoon" |
| 2013 | Christmas Bounty | Jessica / Bartender | Television film |
| 2014 | Signed, Sealed, Delivered | Donna | Episode: "Time to Start Livin'" |
| 2014 | Stolen from the Womb | Vivian | Television film |
| 2014 | Motive | Maya Bureen | Episode: "Abandoned" |
| 2014 | Along Came a Nanny | Cookie | Television film |
| 2015 | Backstrom | Nurse Brittany Gottman | Episode: "Give Til It Hurts" |
| 2015 | Love Under the Stars | Amy | Television film |
| 2015 | The Returned | Janelle | Episode: "Peter" |
| 2015 | '''''Tis the Season for Love'' | Eileen | Television film |
| 2015 | Wayward Pines | Woman #1 | Episode: "Where Paradise Is Home" |
| 2015 | Olympus | Chalciope | 4 episodes |
| 2015 | The Whispers | Team Member 3 Willa | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Proof | Samantha Glenn | Episode: "Tsunami: Part One" |
| 2015-2019 | iZombie | Dallas Anne Bozzio | Recurring role; 32 episodes |
| 2016-2020 | The 100 | Niylah | Recurring role; 31 episodes Also director; 1 episode |
| 2016 | Stranger in the House | Dr. Harding | Television film |
| 2016 | The Magicians | Mackenzie | Episode: "The Mayakovsky Circumstance" |
| 2017 | Final Vision | Colette MacDonald | Television film |
| 2017 | Hard Days, Wet Nights | Jill | Unsold pilot |
| 2017 | Taken | Gretchen Lareau | Episode: "Hail Mary" |
| 2017 | Somewhere Between | Mimi | Episode: "Fate Takes a Holiday" |
| 2018 | The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco | Lydia Nolan | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | The Murders | Alicia Bennett | Episode: "Toxic" |
| 2019 | Tempting Fate | Clair | Television film |
| 2019 | V Wars | Jessica Swann | 2 episodes |
3.2. Directing
In addition to her acting career, Jessica Harmon has established herself as a director, primarily in television. She made her directorial debut on an episode of ''The 100'', the same series in which she held a recurring acting role. Her directing credits include:
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | The 100 | Episode: "A Sort of Homecoming" |
| 2020 | My Best Friends Wedding | Hallmark Channel movie |
| 2020 | The Angel Tree | Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie |
| 2021 | The Vows We Keep | Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie |
| 2021 | Fixing Up Christmas | UP TV movie |
| 2021 | Serving Up the Holidays | Lifetime movie |
| 2021 | A Christmas Star | Great American Family movie; Also co-producer |
| 2022 | Girl in the Shed: The Kidnapping of Abby Hernandez | Lifetime movie |
| 2022 | Rip in Time | Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie |
| 2022 | My Mom Made Me Do It | Lifetime movie |
| 2022 | Game, Set, Love! | Hallmark Channel movie |
| 2022 | Fit for Christmas | CBS movie |
| 2023 | A Paris Proposal | Hallmark Channel movie |
| 2023 | Dream Moms | Hallmark Channel movie |
| 2023 | Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New | Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie |
| 2023 | Joyeux Noel | Hallmark Channel movie |
| 2024 | Tipline Mysteries: Dial 1 for Murder | Hallmark Mystery movie; co-directed with Cynde Harmon |
| 2024 | Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Lesson In Murder | Hallmark+ movie |
| 2024 | Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Death at the Diner | Hallmark+ movie |
4. Awards and Recognition
Jessica Harmon has received professional accolades for her performances. In 2010, she was awarded a Leo Award for Best Performance in a Music, Comedy, or Variety Program or Series for her role in the television pilot Wolf Canyon.
5. Personal Life
Jessica Harmon's personal life is notably intertwined with her professional career through her family connections. Her parents, Allan and Cynde Harmon, are both active in the film industry as a director and producer, respectively. Her brother, Richard Harmon, is also an actor, and they have collaborated professionally, notably in the television series The 100.
6. Assessment
Jessica Harmon's career has been marked by consistent work and a successful transition into directing, earning her recognition within the industry.
6.1. Positive Assessment
Harmon's acting career has been widely recognized for her recurring roles in popular science fiction and supernatural series such as iZombie and The 100, which have garnered dedicated fan bases. Her ability to portray diverse characters across various genres, from horror to drama, has been noted. Her directorial work, particularly for Hallmark and Lifetime, showcases her growing influence behind the camera, contributing to the production of numerous television films. The Leo Award she received for her performance in Wolf Canyon further underscores her talent and positive reception within the Canadian entertainment industry.
6.2. Criticism and Controversy
No significant criticisms or controversy related to Jessica Harmon's professional career or personal life are widely documented in the available public information.
7. Impact
Jessica Harmon's work has had a discernible impact on popular culture, particularly within the science fiction and supernatural genres. Her recurring roles in long-running series like iZombie and The 100 allowed her to contribute to narratives that explored complex themes and built loyal fan communities. As an actress, she has been part of several projects that resonate with younger audiences and contribute to the ongoing popularity of genre television. Her transition into directing, particularly for prominent television networks, reflects a positive career evolution and demonstrates her growing influence in shaping visual storytelling. Her work behind the camera, often on films with family-friendly or holiday themes, contributes to a popular segment of television programming, showcasing her versatility and commitment to different facets of the entertainment industry.