From Aldershot to the Screen: Jessica Clement Reflects on a Life in Acting

For Jessica Clement, the journey from growing up in Aldershot to building a career in film, television and arts education has been anything but linear, and that’s exactly how she knows she’s on the right path.

A graduate of Aldershot High School (Class of 2013), Clement has spent more than 20 years working in the entertainment industry, appearing in major television series and films while also giving back to the next generation of performers as a studio owner and mentor.

Her earliest brush with recognition came long before graduation. While attending Maplehurst Public School, Clement appeared in a JC Penney commercial that played in movie theatres ahead of The Simpsons Movie.

“Everyone would tell me when they saw it,” she recalls.

Since then, her career has spanned genres and generations. Clement describes her first series-regular role on Pure, a CBC and Hulu drama, as one of her most meaningful experiences. “It will always be one of my favourite experiences and scripts,” she says.

Audiences may recognize her in different ways, depending on what they watch. Some remember her work alongside Richard Gere in Longing, or Fanny Casteel in a Lifetime series based on V.C. Andrews novels, or from Everything’s Going to Be Great with Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney. More recently, audiences may recognize Clement as Harper in Gen V, the A24 film Dream Scenario as Nicolas Cage’s on-screen daughter or Deena, the final girl in Shudder’s horror film Night of the Reaper.

Looking back, Clement says resilience and creativity have been the most important qualities throughout her career.

“When people first look at my resume, they say, ‘You’ve done a lot,’” she explains. “But when you spread that work out over 20 years, you see there were definitely some dry spells.”

She speaks openly about the realities of the industry — the close calls, the multiple audition rounds and the phone calls that don’t go the way you hoped. “Being resilient doesn’t mean I don’t let myself get disappointed,” she says. “It just means that I keep going anyway.”

Clement credits her high school years for helping her develop the discipline and self-awareness needed to navigate a creative career. Time spent both in and outside the classroom, especially in drama spaces, helped her understand people, perspectives and herself.

“I was developing opinions, discovering things about myself,” she says. “I started learning who I was in high school and what I valued, and that ultimately led me to discovering my passion for acting.”

HDSB secondary schools are home to thriving Arts departments that offer complete programming across Drama, Music and the Visual Arts. Each of these programs is deeply supported, providing students with a rich and well-rounded environment to develop their craft.

Clement also remembers how supportive her teachers were, even early on. “All of my teachers were incredibly invested in my career as an actor, even when it was just commercials. That validation absolutely fueled me.”

Those formative experiences continue to shape the impact she hopes to have today. Clement now co-runs Hamont Acting Studio, where she teaches, mentors and collaborates with emerging performers alongside fellow working actors.

“Opening an acting studio has allowed me to help others find their footing, celebrate their wins, support them when they need it and still support myself doing what I love between projects."

For students interested in acting, filmmaking or other creative paths, Clement’s advice is simple and passionate: don’t stop imagining.

“Our imaginations deteriorate during high school because real life gets… real,” she says. “If I didn’t have my imagination, I would not have any of the success that I do today.”

As she looks ahead, Clement is excited about upcoming projects, including an Amazon Prime series (Neagley, a spin-off of Reacher), a coming-of-heist film called Lucky Weekend, and a guest role on Doc. She’s also still drawn to telling deeply personal stories — particularly those that explore grief, music and identity.

Above all, she hopes her journey reminds students that creative careers are not only possible, but worthwhile.

“There is always a way to do it — even if it’s not the way you thought you would,” she says. “There are even days now where I have more fun in my studio than I do on set.”

For Clement, that balance — between imagination, resilience and community — is the real measure of success.