Jesse James Keitel

{{Infobox person

| name = Jesse James Keitel

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| birth_place = Manorville, New York

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| alma_mater = Pace University

| occupation = Actress, writer, artist

| years_active = 2013{{ndash}}present

| relatives = Harvey Keitel

}}

Jesse James Keitel is an American actress, writer, and artist,{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2020-03-10|title='The Big Sky': Jesse James Keitel To Co-Star In David E. Kelley's PI Drama Series For ABC|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/the-big-sky-jesse-james-keitel-co-star-david-e-kelleys-pi-drama-series-abc-1202878890/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=Deadline|language=en}} known for starring in Asher Jelinsky's award-winning short film Miller & Son (2019), the ABC crime drama Big Sky (2020) and on Queer as Folk (2022).

Early life

Jesse James Keitel is from Manorville, New York and was involved in local theater as a performer during her childhood. She graduated from Pace University with a BFA in Acting in 2015.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-09-16|title=PaceCast with Marvin Krislov: Episode 8 - Pace University's Podcasts|url=http://www.himalaya.com/education-podcasts/pace-universitys-podcasts-949859/pacecast-with-marvin-krislov-episode-8-73226148|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=Himalaya|language=en-US}} After college, she was a drag performer in New York City with the stage name Peroxide.

Career

In 2019, Keitel starred in the world premiere of Martin Moran's play Theo at Two River Theater.{{cite web|last=Levitt|first=Hayley|date=2019-02-01|title=Martin Moran's Theo Announces World-Premiere Cast|url=https://www.theatermania.com/new-jersey-theater/news/martin-morans-theo-world-premiere-cast_87698.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=TheaterMania|language=en-US}} She also starred in Miller & Son (2019), which won the BAFTA Student Film Award and gold medal for "Best Narrative" (Domestic) at the 2019 Student Academy Awards.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-07-10|title=BAFTA Announces Winners Of The 2019 Student Film Awards|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/BAFTA-Announces-Winners-Of-The-2019-Student-Film-Awards-20190710|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=BroadwayWorld|language=en}}{{cite web|last=Wheat|first=Lorraine|date=2019-10-20|title=Rory Kennedy, Gregory Nava Celebrate Films Creating Social Change at 2019 Student Academy Awards|url=https://variety.com/2019/scene/news/student-academy-awards-2019-gregory-nava-rory-kennedy-phil-lord-chris-miller-1203375076/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=Variety|language=en}} Keitel played the leading role in the 2020 MadRiver Pictures sci-fi series, Forever Alone. Keitel also appeared in Linda Yellen's 2019 Showtime feature film Fluidity, starring Nico Tortorella. In 2022, Keitel debuted the role of Ruthie in Peacock's Queer As Folk.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Evan Nicole |date=2022-06-09 |title='Queer as Folk' Star Jesse James Keitel on Playing a One-Time Party Girl Navigating Adulthood |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/jesse-james-keitel-queer-as-folk-interview-1235160717/ |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

Keitel has performed in drag under the stage name Peroxide, a member of the House of Femanon.{{cite web|last=Regensdorf|first=Laura|date=2018-09-10|title=All the Drag Star Makeup Tips From Backstage at Opening Ceremony|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/opening-ceremony-spring-2019-new-york-fashion-week-drag-queen-makeup-secrets|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=Vogue|language=en}} As Peroxide Femanon, she has appeared in Logo TV's Fill In The Blank docuseries and in Sasha Velour's NYFW SS19 collaboration with Opening Ceremony.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=February 28, 2017|title=Fill In The Blank: Drag Relationships - Fill In The Blank (Video Clip)|url=http://www.logotv.com/video-clips/iftesn/fill-in-the-blank-fill-in-the-blank-drag-relationships|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=Logo TV}}{{cite web|last=Yotka|first=Steff|date=2018-09-10|title=Opening Ceremony Spring 2019 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show|url=https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2019-ready-to-wear/opening-ceremony|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=Vogue|language=en}}

Beginning in 2020, Keitel starred as Jerrie Kennedy in the David E. Kelley-created crime thriller Big Sky, which made her one of the first non-binary actors to play a non-binary series regular on primetime television.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/nonbinary-actor-jesse-james-keitel-groundbreaking-big-sky-role-n1249521|title=Nonbinary actor Jesse James Keitel on groundbreaking 'Big Sky' role|first=Max|last=Gao|website=NBC News|date=December 1, 2020|access-date=December 2, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/abc-fall-premiere-dates-for-life-replaces-canceled-stumptown-the-rookie-pushed-1234578966/|title=ABC Sets Fall Drama Premiere Dates; 'For Life' Replaces Canceled 'Stumptown' On Schedule, 'The Rookie' Pushed|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=September 17, 2020|accessdate=September 17, 2020}} In 2022, she appeared in an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, playing a non-binary villain. In an interview, she said of the role: "I understand that queer people have had a really long and complicated history with TV and film, and they’ve been very mistreated in the media....That being said, I think it’s high time we let queer people be villains, you know?"{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-jesse-james-keitel-discusses-why-playing-angel-was-refreshing|title= Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Jesse James Keitel Explains Why Playing Angel Was 'Refreshing'|last= Joest|first= Mick|date= June 20, 2022|website= Cinemablend|publisher= Future US Inc.|access-date= July 1, 2022|quote=}}

Awards and accolades

Keitel was honored in Out magazine's OUT100 in 2018 for her portrayal of queer characters in the Ben Stiller-produced Netflix film Alex Strangelove, as well as playing TV Land's first non-binary character on Younger.{{cite web|last=Besanvalle|first=James|date=2018-06-24|title=Genderqueer actor Jesse James Keitel is the new star of Younger|url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/genderqueer-actor-jesse-james-keitel-younger/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112185525/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/genderqueer-actor-jesse-james-keitel-younger/|archive-date=November 12, 2020|access-date=2020-03-25|website=Gay Star News|language=en-GB}}{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2018-11-14|title=OUT100: 2018|url=https://www.out.com/out-exclusives/2018/11/14/out100-2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=Out|language=en}}

Personal life

In 2020, Keitel identified as non-binary and used they/them pronouns.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/jesse-james-keitel-queer-as-folk-interview-1235160717/ |title='Queer as Folk' Star Jesse James Keitel on Playing a One-Time Party Girl Navigating Adulthood |last=Nicole Brown |first=Evan |date=June 9, 2022 |magazine=Hollywood Reporter |access-date=January 27, 2024}} In 2022, she came out as a trans woman and began using she/her pronouns.{{cite web | url=https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/queer-as-folk-star-jesse-james-keitel-on-playing-trans-role/ | title='Queer as Folk' Star Jesse James Keitel on Playing Trans Role That's Not Villainized | date=June 9, 2022 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/23172649/strange-new-worlds-episode-7-angel-sybok |title=How Strange New Worlds built the next great Star Trek villain |last=Millman |first=Zosha |date=June 18, 2022 |website=Polygon |access-date=January 27, 2024}}

According to NBC News, Keitel is a "distant relative" of Harvey Keitel.