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Jessica Holmes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1973-08-29)August 29, 1973 (age 51) |
| Education | Ryerson University (BFA) |
| Occupation(s) | actress, comedian, author, mental health advocate |
| Spouse(s) | Scott Yaphe (2002–present; 2 children) |
Jessica Holmes (born August 29, 1973) is aCanadian comedian and actress. She is best known for her work with the showRoyal Canadian Air Farce, which she joined in 2003, after starring in her own show,The Holmes Show in 2002.
Born and raised inOttawa,Canada, Holmes is the daughter of afeminist mother and aMormon father. She joined theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) at age 19, and for 18 months she was a Mormonmissionary inVenezuela. She is no longer a member of theLDS Church.
She attended Canterbury High School for the Performing Arts inOttawa, majoring inDrama. Combiningstand up,music andimprovisation, she honed her skills and her improv team won Gold at the National High School Improv games.
Holmes moved toToronto in 1993 to attendRyerson University (nowToronto Metropolitan University) where she majored in writing in theRadio & Television Arts BFA program and spent her free time involved in comedy. She startedacting in and thendirecting the annualsketch comedy show, titled RIOT. On a dare, she triedstand-up comedy and performed atamateur night atThe Laugh Resort. After that she decided to try it on as acareer.
After graduating, Holmes began performingstand-up and comedicmonologues at local clubs. She was immediately recognized for her ability to transform herself into dozens ofcelebrity characters.
In 2024 she commenced herMaster's degree inApplied Positive Psychology from theUniversity of East London.[1][better source needed] She credits positive psychology with playing a pivotal role in helping her thrive afterdepression.
In 1999 Holmes landed several appearances at theJust for Laughs internationalcomedy festival inMontreal. She joinedToronto's legendarySecond City, where she co-wrote and performed in two shows.
During those years, she appeared on TV shows likeHistory Bites (History Channel) andLaughing Matters, and starred in her first series entitledLittle Big Kid onYTV. She was nominated for several 2000 and 2001Canadian Comedy Awards for her TV andsketch comedy work.
Holmes co-wrote and starred in theComedy Network seriesThe Itch, and theCTV comedy/music series Sonic Temple. She went on to write and star in her own one-hour comedy special forCTV titledHolmes Alone. For the special, Holmes received aGemini nomination as well as the Platinum Award at the Houston International Comedy Festival.
The success ofHolmes Alone led to the creation ofThe Holmes Show, aCarol Burnett-stylesketch comedy series onCTV &The Comedy Network involving edgy satire and celebrity parodies.
Holmes performed in the American filmsCitizen Duane andWelcome to Mooseport; and the television seriesZoe Busiek: Wildcard.
That was followed by a few guest spots onRoyal Canadian Air Farce, where she was invited to become the first "added" cast member since the show began 11 years earlier. She starred on the hit show for five years and participated in reunion specials.
On bothThe Holmes Show andAir Farce, she became well known for performingcaricatures of variouscelebrities, includingCeline Dion,Liza Minnelli,Geri Halliwell, andBritney Spears.
She also appeared in the television seriesXPM,Debra,That’s My DJ, andThe Communist's Daughter (CBC Gem), for which she received aCanadian Screen Award nomination for Best Lead Performance in a Web Program or Series at the10th Canadian Screen Awards in 2022.
On stage, Holmes has appeared in severalRoss Petty's annualChristmaspantomime familymusicals at theToronto's Elgin Theatre, includingRobin Hood,Wizard Of Oz, andPeter Pan.
As acomedian, Holmes has opened forEllen DeGeneres,Russell Peters,Jerry Seinfeld, andLeslie Nielsen.
Holmes’ firstmemoir,I Love Your Laugh: Finding the Light in My Screwball Life, was published byMcClelland & Stewart in 2011.
Her secondbook, Depression The Comedy: A Tale of Perseverance, speaks of her journey withdepression. It was named one of the top 25 books aboutmental health byReader’s Digest and was named one of the top 40 books on mental health byGood Housekeeping.
Holmes experiencedpostpartum depression after the birth of her second child, and once she recovered, she became trained as a Wellness & Life Coach throughSan Diego’s Life Purpose Institute.
In 2011 she developed a series of comedickeynotes on the subject ofmental health and has performed them for numerous corporations.
As a speaker, she strives to help end the stigma aroundmental illness and in 2018 joined theBellLet’s Talk team as a celebrity ambassador.
Holmes currently lives inToronto with her actor husbandScott Yaphe and their two children Alexa and Jordan.[2]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-2000 | Little Big Kid | Little Big Kid | |
| 2000 | The Itch | Tricia Farr | |
| 2001 | Sonic Temple | Various Characters | |
| 2001 | The Endless Grind | Various Characters | |
| 2001 | Holmes Alone | Herself | writer |
| 2002 | The Holmes Show | Herself | host |
| 2001-2018 | Royal Canadian Air Farce | Various Characters | Series regular |
| 2003 | Doc | Receptionist | |
| 2004 | Welcome to Mooseport | Dina | |
| 2004 | XMP | Jasmine | |
| 2004 | Wild Card | Rosie | |
| 2005 | Gruesomestein's Monsters | Bride | |
| 2005 | Burnt Toast | Leanne | |
| 2006 | The Shakespeare Comedy Show | Special Agent Elizabeth | |
| 2006 | Citizen Duane | Kim Vegas | |
| 2006 | Grossology | Scab Fairy | |
| 2009 | Da Kink in My Hair | Zoe | |
| 2011 | Moon Point | Eggs | |
| 2011 | The Adventures of Chuck & Friends | Miss Ella | |
| 2011-2012 | Debra | Gabby Lunsford | |
| 2012 | Winnipeg Comedy Festival 2011 | writer | |
| 2013 | The Hour | Herself - Panelist | |
| 2014 | That's My DJ | Debbie | |
| 2018 | The Social | Herself | |
| 2021 | The Communist's Daughter | Carol McDougald |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
