We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Bonner recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I feel like taking a risk has become a theme in my life. I try to live by the old saying “the worst anyone can say is no”. Moving to Florida was a risk. I come from a town of, maybe, 1000 people, and I always knew I had to leave to pursue my dreams. I had a plan, a lead on an apartment, and a temp agency in Chicago. then I saw an audition in Orlando. I went. I booked it. I packed all of my things and moved to Florida. I moved to California for 3 months to open a show, I took a shot at being a teacher, I ran a non-profit, and I’ve lived many lives and taken many leaps. But I think my biggest risk and leap of faith came when I left the job I thought I would be at forever. I was raised in a very traditional way. Get a job with a retirement plan and insurance. Security. Well, security in a creative career can be hard to come by. I started working at the best theatre (in my opinion) in Orlando, The Orlando Shakespeare Theater. It was a dream. I was going to work in a theatre every single day. I was in the shows, which I had worked at getting to for years, I was directing children’s camp shows, and even fundraiser performances. But I wasn’t happy. I was drained. I was lethargic. I wasn’t me. I realized it was because I wasn’t meant to be in an office. Even when that office is in a theatre. It just wasn’t for me. I needed to be performing. I needed challenges. I needed creativity. So, I got myself an agent. I booked the first commercial audition I went on. I booked the lead in a short film. Things were happening. Slowly, but surely. Then, I went to an audition for Disney. It was for the Jedi Training Academy. There were over 600 people there. They chose 17 of us to come to the callback. Of that 17, 9 of us were cast. Yes. Us. That included me. And for the first time since, probably college, I thought “wow, I CAN really do this”. So I decided (after countless hours of thought) that I would put in my notice at the theatre. The hardest and best decision I have ever made. I took a risk on myself. And it has paid off more than I ever imagined.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Hi. I’m Jennifer Bonner, please call me Jen. I come from a teeny town in Western Maryland called Mt. Savage. My graduating class was 44 people. I was probably related to over half of them. That kind of small town. But I always wanted to be an actor. The story I always tell is, when I was 3 I was watching Wonder Woman, and I told my Mom that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up. She had to break my heart a little and tell me Wonder Woman wasn’t real, that was Lynda Carter, and she was an actor playing Wonder Woman. So I told her THAT was what I wanted to be. And I have never wavered. The funny thing about that is, I didn’t really know what it meant. I did a few school plays, but until I was in college I had never taken an acting class. But it was absolutely what I was meant to do.

From then until now, I have lived many lives, but always, always performing live. Theatre had (and still has) my heart. I’ve performed in over 100 plays, easily.

I booked my first film role 6 years ago and I was immediately hooked. I started leaning into film/tv and commercials as well as holding down many different venues at the theme parks. I was a Jedi, a living fountain, an evil sorceress, an elf, and a Christmas Pagent Queen, to name a few. I was working as a full-time actor all of a sudden and it was amazing. I started working as a performer with an immersive theatre company called Fanvergence, and was promoted to the Producing Artistic Director. We created Christmas in immersive outdoor festivals up until the pandemic. I was acting, writing, directing, and producing.

I am a guest host on the Home Shopping Network, but the Pandemic affected my brands, and currently, I am in between companies.

I host the Lifestyle List on WeTV. That is the best job. I absolutely adore it. The best team.

In the past 2 years, my film acting career has really taken off. Kilroy Was Here, a horror anthology by Kevin Smith (a huge influence to me) was released, and I am the very first thing you see onscreen. Also, he was the kindest human being. I have appeared in a recurring role on the second season of the series Life’s Rewards on Amazon Prime, appeared in a film released in the theatres “No Vacancy” with the epitome of my chilhood crushes, Dean Cain. That’s a pretty cool moment. But the best, the BEST moments came very recently. I was cast as the best friend of the lead in a Rom-Com from Reel One Entertainment called Love on the Reef, which inspire me to take up screenwriting as well. And then the moment to end all moments in my career thus far – the lead in the Rom-Com Thyme for Love. Both coming soon to a television near you.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

This is a big one, and very personal. I don’t talk about it often. Confidence.

I was in an emotionally abusive relationship for years with a member of the community in Orlando. I was 24 when we started dating. He was much older. And it was the typical love bombing, gaslighting, cycle that you hear about. In fact, I once wrote a journal entry that pleaded to “just hit me” because then, maybe I would really know I wasn’t crazy.

I was continually told I wasn’t good enough. Not good enough to be in HIS shows…but I could make all of the costumes, run the box office, run his errands, etc…to be “a part” of it.

I was berated and yelled at in front of his colleagues.

When he was angry, he threw printers across the room, and umbrellas through parking garages. He would speed, dangerously with me in the car.

I wasn’t pretty. I was overweight. I wasn’t sexy. Then…when I had ANY success, it was because of him. Or, if it wasn’t and he was losing control, then what I was doing wasn’t as good as what he was doing.

And of course, the “you are cheating on me with him” to me when he was the one that had an affair with someone for the entirety of our relationship.

So, that’s the backstory. I had ZERO confidence coming from that. I had been a very creative person before that. I directed. I drew. I painted. I wrote. That all stopped because he made me believe everything he said was true.

It has taken years. Years or hard looks at myself, of crying, of screaming, of working every day to build myself back up. To find who I was again. And I have.

There are days when those words sneak back into my mind…but when I remember WHERE they came from, they have no power over me anymore. I am not immune to it at all. I have days of crippling self-doubt. But I face it the best I can, and I move forward.

And I believe in me again.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Kindness. Joy. Happiness. I truly believe to be the best you can be as an artist, you can’t be running away from yourself. Hiding. Tortured. I have found more success since living in this freedom of happiness that I have found that I ever found running from things.

I take care of myself now and encourage others to do the same (I’m also a certified pilates instructor). Mind, body, and spirit. Yes, being creative is part of our souls, but what else do you love? Reading? Traveling? Do it! Experience life and you will be a better artist for it!

After being in the darkest place for years because of this abusive relationship (narcissists and empaths, am I right?) I promised myself I would give the one thing I truly have to give to this world that no one can take from me – kindness. Happiness. I want to pass that on to everyone I meet I want to be the helping hand that I never had. I want to be there for you. That is what drives me. That little saying about “keep going, you never know who you are inspiring”. I think of that often.

Contact Info:

• Website: jennifer-bonner.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjenbonner/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsjenbonner
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-bonner-19aa0a43/
• Other: actors acces – https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/1059924-2986825

Image Credits
Headshot by Scott Dentinger