Jessy Hodges

We came across Jessy Hodges on one of our days of Insta-stalking and asked ourselves ‘who is this seemingly warm-hearted and upbeat woman?’ The answer is theatrically-trained actress Jessy Hodges! You may recognize her from her run on the NBC show Indebted or from Barry, PEN15 and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

With her determination and talent, Jessy has evolved in the film and comedic community by doing the work. She began by enrolling in NYU’s Experimental Theatre Wing and subsequently wrote and acted in indie shorts while networking, waitressing, and taking one step forward, little by little.

We recently caught up with Dandy lady Jessy to reflect on this insane year, what it was like growing up in a highly performative family, and the worst job she’s ever had.

We're almost coming to a close on this crazy year. We honestly can't believe we've been experiencing this reality for as long as we have. How are you actually doing?

I’m so incredibly grateful and lucky and constantly trying to figure out how to use that privilege for some semblance of good. I also really miss my friends and family.

What's the sentiment in Los Angeles right now? It's such a complicated time; on one hand it's understandable that the most infected county in the most infected state in the U.S. has to shut down. On the other hand, we feel so bad for all of these businesses that are struggling to keep afloat.

I've been in New York with my husband since September for his job, so I feel a little distant from the LA scene right now. It’s obviously devastating and I feel really sad about it. My husband and I are big foodies, so my focus has really been on restaurants. I can't believe what little support they've received. I think of my favorite restaurants in LA as being community spaces. Places where I look forward to seeing my favorite servers, eating my favorite food, inevitably running into someone I love or even better someone I have some good gossip about. It's the best! I'm just shocked that the government is not doing more to protect them.

There's no doubt that this year has been heart-wrenching, but we honestly can't wait to see a comedy sketch that depicts people blaming 2020 on literally everything that goes wrong in their life. Can you and your husband Beck work on that?

No. I will never speak the word 2020 again, but thank you for asking!

You're a Jewish actress from Michigan and we love to see it! We read you grew up in a very performative family. Can you paint a picture of what dinner was like at your house growing up?

Picture this: angel hair spaghetti with turkey meat sauce, some lackluster raw cucumbers and carrots or what we call "salad" with a side of my mom, my sister and I singing the 1951 hit “The Lullaby of Broadway” in three part harmony. I take melody because I'm not as musical as the others and it's still pitchy. Inevitably, I get upset with my performance. By this point, my dad has left the building.

You most recently starred in Indebted on NBC. What was it like the act alongside icon Fran Drescher?

She's everything you want her to be: hilarious, gorgeous, warm, smart and Jewish as hell. Sometimes she'd bring us homemade chopped liver. It was perfect.

What was one of the worst jobs you had while living in New York City in the early days of your acting career?

I used to work at a restaurant in Park Slope that shall remain nameless. It was my first job waiting tables and every night when my shift was finished, the manager would have me sit at a table with him and he would talk or yell for up to an hour about anything and everything. He would proselytize about restaurants, the world, and what I was doing wrong while serving people disgusting burgers and punching orders into their disgusting computers. A month later he was fired for being a raging cocaine addict. I lied to get the job so I guess it all evened itself out.

What character personality types are the most intriguing for you to take on?

I'm a sap for a person with a tough exterior masking a well of emotion and vulnerability. We're all mush on the inside!

Are you working on writing/acting in anything right now?

I just shot a part in a very sweet pilot for Fox written by Liz Heldens called The Big Leap and I'm working on two writing projects that are TOP SECRET. Just kidding, but let's not put the cart before the horse.

Something you love about yourself:

I love that I laugh easily and that I assume people are innately good. I also have an excellent head of hair.

What's something you learned the hard way?

You need high quality dental care during all stages of life—no skimping here. Also, if you're resistant to or highly critical of something, you should interrogate it because you’ll probably glean some valuable information about yourself.

Your 5 essential beauty products:

Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Violets Are Blue Ultra Violet Facial Serum
Kosas Tinted Face Oil
Glossier Boy Brow
Davines OI All in One Hair Milk

What cultural trend annoys you the most? For us, it might be the word "self-care,” but not the act of it.

The wellness industry's pernicious messaging that the individual is to blame for any discomfort or illness. Also their idealizing of suffering for purity, wellness and the elusive “perfection.” When you find it, let me know! Until then, I'll be over here eating gluten.

How have you been managing your moods throughout the past year? What usually helps you feel better?

I talk to friends and family all the time; it's essential. I've been doing guided meditations on the Ten Percent app, walking and exercising a lot, and cooking up a storm. When I'm in a real state, I must snuggle. I try to crawl inside of my husband to shut out the darkness.

In a past-life, you were probably a:

A very loud woman in the shtetl with delusions of grandeur.

Your vices:

Takeout and spliffs. I repeat: Takeout and spliffs. Play it again, Sam!