Theatrical Producer/Director/Actor with an MFA in Performance and over 20 years of experience in the industry.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Jessie when she was brought in to direct a staged reading of a script I had already worked on twice before. As an actor, I’m always excited about the opportunity to work with new people, though I’ll admit there can be some hesitation when encountering a new director and a different approach to the work.

From our very first session, Jessie challenged me to step outside the process I was accustomed to. I trusted her direction, followed her lead, and was genuinely surprised by what unfolded. Through something as simple as a question or a subtle adjustment, she opened up new discoveries in a piece I thought I already knew well. That, to me, is the mark of a truly gifted director and teacher.

What impressed me most was her ability to get an entire cast to dig deeper, think more critically, and reach beyond what we initially thought possible, all in a remarkably short amount of time. Jessie doesn’t spoon-feed you answers or dictate every choice. Instead, she asks the right questions, challenges your instincts, and encourages you to do the work of discovering the truth of a moment for yourself. She creates a safe, collaborative environment where actors feel free to explore, take risks, and play, all while being thoughtfully guided toward a cohesive vision.

As both an actor and a director, and someone who has had the privilege of working with some incredible directors over the years, I genuinely appreciated learning a new way of approaching the process. It’s a wonderful reminder that no matter how much experience you have, there is always something new to discover when you work with someone who truly understands the craft.

I wholeheartedly recommend Jessie to anyone looking for an acting coach, whether you're preparing for a class, developing a monologue, working on an audition, or simply looking to grow as an actor. She has a real gift for bringing out the best in people, not by giving them the answers, but by helping them uncover what they're capable of themselves.

I saw it firsthand in our reading. Every member of the cast rose to the occasion and shined. If you're looking for a teacher who will challenge you, support you, and help you discover new dimensions in your work, Jessie is someone I would absolutely encourage you to work with.

Jessie is an AMAZING acting teacher! Unlike other teachers Jessie is very honest and direct with her feedback and direction. She doesn’t let me get away with easy choices and challenges me to take risks and raise the stakes of my acting choices. Her lessons and direction have paid off. She kindly pushes me out of my safe zone as an actress which has really helped my skills grow. I highly recommend Jessie! You will grow, be challenged and have a lot of fun in the process.

I had the pleasure of working with Jessie on a stage reading, and I was impressed by her thoughtful and collaborative approach to directing. She created a focused, supportive environment for the actors while maintaining a clear vision for the piece.

Caridad del Valle

I had the pleasure of working with Jessie on a stage reading, and I was impressed by her thoughtful and collaborative approach to directing. She created a focused, supportive environment for the actors while maintaining a clear vision for the piece.
Caridad del Valle

Although Jessie is known for coaching actors, what she brings extends far beyond performance. The insights, confidence, presence, and clarity she helps unlock are just as valuable for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to make a greater impact.

Our conversation gave me fresh perspectives on leading my nonprofit, motivating volunteers, navigating different personalities, and communicating with greater intention. I left with practical ideas, renewed energy, and a much clearer sense of direction.

What impressed me most was how deeply Jessie cared. Her passion for empowering others is genuine, and it is impossible not to be inspired by it. She has a rare ability to ask the right questions, challenge your thinking, and help you move forward with greater confidence and purpose.

I would wholeheartedly recommend Jessie to anyone looking for a coach who brings wisdom, insight, and an unwavering commitment to helping others grow.

How do you know each other?

I've known Jessie Fahay for nearly a decade, initially through a personal development program where she served as my coach for over a year beginning in 2017. Having experienced firsthand her depth as a coach and her caliber as a professional actor, I later made the deliberate decision to engage her as my acting coach — a natural extension of a relationship already built on trust and proven results.

What kind of Superprof is this person?

Jessie is a rare hybrid: a working actor with genuine craft knowledge and a coach with the pedagogical skill to transmit it. She doesn't teach a single rigid technique — she assesses the actor in front of her. Drawing on the performers I'm drawn to and a genuine understanding of my instrument, she guided me toward a methodology suited specifically to me, rather than a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Her scope extends well beyond scene study: she coaches on audition technique, portfolio and resume development, and navigating the business side of the industry, all while attending to the actor's mindset and wellbeing — treating artistic development as inseparable from personal development.

Tell us about an experience you shared together.

Between sessions, Jessie assigns substantive homework rather than filler exercises. One assignment had me working through Lee Strasberg's Method — sense memory and affective memory work aimed at grounding emotional truth in personal experience — alongside character analysis for Shakespearean roles suited to my type: a 55-year-old Indian woman. She guided me toward roles like Volumnia (Coriolanus), Paulina (The Winter's Tale), Emilia (Othello), and the Nurse (Romeo and Juliet) — richly written, age-appropriate character parts with real dramatic weight. Working through the text and the Method simultaneously gave me a much sharper sense of how classical character work and psychological realism inform each other.

Why do you recommend this person to the other Superprof members?

Jessie brings a rare combination of technical range (Method acting, character work, classical text), industry insider knowledge and connections, and genuine coaching skill in shaping mindset and professional development. She meets each actor where they are and builds a personalized path forward — for anyone serious about developing as an actor, not just performing, she's an exceptional guide.