All Eyes on Jarry Lee; the Multi-Talented Icon Triumphing in the Entertainment Industry
It is simply impossible to sufficiently describe the amazing Jarry Lee in one word. From appearing in Netflix’s Dating Around to walking in a New York Fashion Week show, the model, actress, musician, and influencer truly does it all. She is a force in the entertainment industry well on her way to becoming a megastar. Equipped with a monumental resume, an extensive list of accomplishments, and undeniable talent, Jarry Lee is leading the future of Hollywood, one project at a time.
“I grew up in Wales and England and moved to live in the United States when my parents traveled here for post-doctoral work,” Lee says. “My childhood dream job was to become a screenwriter or poet, but I was oddly obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe, so my writing was quite morbid!”
Moreover, while screenwriting was not necessarily Lee’s calling, the world of creativity certainly was.
“My family encouraged my creativity and passion for the arts by investing in private tutors for classical piano, violin, and painting and drawing,” Lee shares. “I also became fascinated with the internet from an early age and started coding basic websites in the 2nd grade.”
Lee’s aptitude for coding was only the beginning of the ways in which she was inclined to excel. She attended Choate Rosemary Hall, a private school in Connecticut, where she learned a great deal about herself. “At Choate I experienced a fair bit of cyberbullying, which taught me to feel more comfortable with myself as an individual,” Lee explains. “I learned to listen to my own feelings and thoughts rather than the opinions of others.” Next it was off to New York University, where Lee continued to learn about herself and prepare for her future. “Most of my time at NYU was spent working at internships for book publishers,” Lee says. “I finished seven internships before graduating early, so the biggest takeaway there was time management.”
It was also at NYU that Lee got her first taste of the acting world. “I had previously taken a few acting classes in school and had also written for and performed in a playwriting festival,” Lee shares. “I started acting as a hobby in late 2017 and quickly realized how much I enjoyed it.” This love for acting came at the perfect time for Lee, who was experiencing fatigue in her other job as a writer. “I discovered that writing professionally actually took away from my love of creative writing, which contributed to my burnout,” Lee says. “Turning your passion into a job can make it feel like work in a draining way.” Enter: acting, an exciting and inspiring new venture for Jarry Lee. “The stark contrast between the exhaustion I felt from my career in media vs. the passion I felt at these early acting gigs fueled my desire to switch industries,” Lee explains.
In her new line of work, Lee found herself appearing in music videos, New York Fashion Week, and Netflix shows. “My first major music video role was for the song ‘Ignite’ by Alan Walker,” Lee says. “As for modeling, I was asked to walk in a NYFW show in honor of the #MeToo movement in early 2018. I had spoken with the director of the show about my experience being stalked, and it felt empowering to share my story alongside brave women opening a public conversation about sexual abuse and harassment. A photograph of me from the show made the cover of AM New York the next day.”
Whether it’s on a runway or on a screen, Jarry Lee is an inspiration. Her first major television role was portraying herself on the Netflix series Dating Around. She came out as bisexual on the show, and subsequently inspired viewers everywhere. “I tried not to think too much about it before the show’s release because it made me a bit nervous,” Lee recalls. “I’m grateful that the response was overwhelmingly positive, and it’s funny that people often still recognize me on the street from it. I’m also grateful for having had the opportunity to speak openly about the stigmas around bisexuality that still exist today.”
In addition to acting and modeling, Lee’s sensational career also includes music, an art form that she finds incredibly soothing. “Music is extremely cathartic for me,” Lee says. “I find playing piano and singing deeply relaxing and fulfilling.” She reflects fondly on originally getting into music. “I became interested in writing music after taking a music theory course at a Johns Hopkins summer program in 2006,” Lee recalls. This course, coupled with her eight years of classical training in piano, made for a successful career in music creation. Lee has over 1 million-plus streams on Spotify in over 78 different countries, and has no plans to stop anytime soon. “I’m currently working on writing and recording a new single to be released this year,” Lee shares. “And then hopefully a new album.”
With such a successful and multi-faceted career in many different creative pursuits, Lee seems to be able to accomplish anything she sets her mind to. From acting to singing, Lee explains how each endeavor of hers requires a distinct skillset. “It definitely does feel like they each tap into a different energy,” Lee says. “Switching it up keeps me refreshed.”
Furthermore, Jarry Lee’s wide variety of projects also contribute to an ever-changing schedule for her. “I’m fortunate that I don’t really have a typical day so it never gets boring,” Lee explains. “But I still struggle with balance because I’m prone to overworking myself. I’ve learned to schedule breaks, and found that it’s helpful to set aside time to cook meals during the day. My skincare routine and exercise bike — which doubles as a desk — also help keep me sane.” Lee cites the opportunity to create her own timeline and itinerary as an absolute bonus in her career. “I feel rewarded every day that I’m my own boss and can control my schedule and which projects to take on,” she shares. “Having that creative freedom has been liberating and thrilling.”
In a world where social media’s power seems ever-growing, having a large platform and using it for good can quite literally change the world. Jarry Lee is no stranger to having a large platform, or using her voice for good. With over 870k followers, Lee often uses her Instagram page to raise an awareness of topics such as the importance of diverse representation and LGBTQ+ representation in media. “In the entertainment industry and fashion industry in particular, there’s still a lack of adequate Asian and LGBTQ+ representation both on-screen or in media and behind the scenes, though it’s been gradually improving over the past few years,” Lee says. “There are still few leading roles for Asians, and not many Asian women or men have a ‘seat at the table’ influencing casting or hiring decisions. LGBTQ+ characters, especially bisexual ones, often have their identities used for comedic effect, or are minor one-dimensional characters. And the rise of anti-Asian violence in America over the past couple of years has shown that more representation and education about Asian cultures in media is needed.”
Also on her Instagram, Lee works to inspire her followers to follow their dreams and bring them to fruition. “I share my unconventional career path on social media to hopefully inspire my audience to pursue their own passions,” Lee explains. “To remind them that it’s more possible than ever before to create one’s own dream job.” Similarly, Lee also understands that social media is far from a perfect display of reality.
“My persona on social media is a public-facing brand, so it’s not the same as my day-to-day identity around friends or family,” she notes. “But I believe that’s true for anyone, even those outside of the entertainment industry, we all present ourselves differently in daily life vs. on social media or on camera.”
Looking at Jarry Lee’s vast and impressive accomplishments today, it is somewhat difficult to imagine a time where Lee was not absolutely certain of the course of her career. “Both the pandemic and the learning curve at the beginning of my career were difficult at first,” Lee says. “But I’m grateful to have persevered.” Indeed, the pandemic comprehensively transformed all aspects of the entertainment industry and the world. However, Lee was able to do more than endure the new normal, but rather embrace it and learn new skills. “Auditions and castings and even some shoots have mostly been virtual, and in-person shoots follow social distancing guidelines,” Lee explains. “The largest change I’ve experienced was learning to photograph myself for brands rather than working with outside photographers during the pandemic. In early 2020 I converted the second bedroom in my apartment into a mini content studio, and outfitted it with professional lighting and photography/videography equipment, backdrops, a green screen, etc. Now I frequently work as my own photographer, hair and makeup artist, stylist, set designer, and retouch artist in addition to model, which has made me feel more self-sufficient and capable.”
While Lee herself is an inspiration to people all around the world, she herself draws inspiration from a variety of places. “I draw inspiration from many different sources — in art, fashion, music, people, even places — so it’s difficult to narrow down,” she notes. “I’d say that an early source of my motivation was my parents’ values of hard work and perseverance. More recently, I’ve been inspired by the support of my partner, who has encouraged and uplifted me throughout my career. And living in New York has been an endless source of inspiration over the past decade — from the creatives I cross paths with, to the thrillingly ambitious energy of the city itself.”
Reflecting on her career thus far, Lee has a fond appreciation for her past and an exciting outlook on her future. Given the chance to tell her younger self a piece of advice, Lee would say: “don’t be afraid to say no.” She continues, “I overextended myself a bit in the beginning of my career because I felt that I would have missed out on something if I turned down any opportunities. But over time I’ve realized that taking on too much isn’t productive, and it’s healthier to only take on projects you are genuinely interested in, or that you believe will truly help your career. We have limited energy and time, so it’s best to utilize it effectively.”
As far as future plans, Lee has much that she hopes to accomplish. “I’m excited by challenges and opportunities for personal growth,” Lee shares. “I’d love to take on more villain roles or play more difficult, multi-dimensional characters.” Jarry also has exciting things planned outside of acting. “I’m working on the launch of my jewelry line PSYCHO KITSCH, recording a new album, a new acrylic painting, and hopefully also some more films in the future,” she says.
Lee has accomplished so much in so many different facets of the entertainment industry, with plans to explore new ventures in the business, too. “I’d like to learn more about filmmaking from behind the camera in the future, as well as get more involved with indie films in general,” Lee explains. “I’m currently working on launching my own jewelry line, @PSYCHOKITSCH, so I may pursue additional e-commerce businesses if all goes well.”
Jarry Lee is an absolute superstar in the entertainment industry. From modeling and acting to pursuing music and being an influencer, Lee finds success wherever she goes, something that she fundamentally attributes to her own motivation as a person. “My definition of success is continual growth in multiple areas of one’s life, so my motivation comes from that desire to evolve and learn new skills and industries,” Lee explains. “I strive to always become a better version of myself every year.” Indeed, as Jarry Lee becomes a better version of herself every year, the entertainment industry and the world itself is becoming better, too. Given what she has accomplished so far, and what she hopes to do next, her potential is more than evident. “The best career advice I’ve been given was to be unafraid of taking risks, because sticking to the status quo is often riskier, ultimately,” Lee says. “We cannot predict our future success, and not taking any risks means forfeiting great potential.”
Meet the Author
Ashley Vitarelli is an aspiring writer currently majoring in Film & Television at Boston University. She is the Head Writer of Bay State, the longest-running college soap opera in the country, and is also a writer for BUTV10’s sitcom The News. In addition, she is a writer for two satirical newspapers at Boston University. Ashley is the co-creator and co-host of Alligator Pitch, an interview series focused on sharing advice from business professionals to help women get their start in the entertainment industry.