Jayne Wisener (born 19 May 1987) is an actress and singer from Northern Ireland. She played Johanna in the British-American film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. She also appeared in an episode of The Inbetweeners, as Lauren Harris.
Background Wisener was born in Ballymoney and grew up in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, where she attended D.H. Christie Memorial Primary School and the Coleraine High School for girls.
In 2005, she represented Antrim in the Rose of Tralee competition and finished 32nd out of 32 entries.Henry, Lesley-Anne. "Ulster girl lands role of a lifetime" Belfast Telegraph. 23 December 2006. Wisener also was part of Musical Theatre 4 Youth, and appeared in a workshop production of Falling.Hetherington, Mhari. "Impassioned, experiential theatre." Scottish Theatre. March, 2006.
While performing in a youth production of West Side Story at the Millennium Forum in Derry, Wisener was spotted by a talent scout, who asked her to audition for a role in Sweeney Todd. Wisener was, at age 19, deemed to look too old to play the 15-year-old Johanna Barker. When told this, Wisener "e-mailed them some pictures [of herself] without make-up. Usually looking young does [an actress] no favours at all, but [she was] quite pleased this time."McDaid, Brendan. "Black Pearl." Black Pearl. 15 September 2006.
She trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama for one year, but left after landing the role of Johanna in Sweeney Todd.
Wisener made her stage debut in the UK premiere of the musical Parade at the Donmar Warehouse theatre in 2007.
She appeared in Boogeyman 3 playing the role of Amy, and in November 2008 created the role of Sophie in a West End showcase of the new musical The Lost Christmas by Laurence Mark Wythe at the Trafalgar Studios, London.
In 2009, she appeared in an episode of The Inbetweeners – "The Field Trip" (series 2, episode 1).
In late 2009 until early 2010, she appeared on stage playing the role of Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
In March 2011, she played Sally, a young woman in a centre for female juvenile delinquents, in The Runaway, based on Martina Cole's novel.
From 2012 to 2015, she played the role of student Sandie Morrow, in the BBC Northern Ireland drama Six Degrees.
Jayne also played the lead character 'Jay' in 2012 UK feature film, Life Just Is. She starred alongside Paul Nicholls and the two play a couple trying to work out their complex relationship. The film was not a success.
From December 2012 to January 2013, Jayne starred as Cinderella in The Grand Opera House, Belfast pantomime.
Personal life On 6 July 2012, Jayne married Wayne Austin in her hometown of Coleraine, Northern Ireland. In January 2019, Jayne gave birth to their first child, Michael.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2007Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Johanna Barker Film debut 2008Boogeyman 3 Amy 2011Jane Eyre Bessie LeeA Kiss for Jed Wood Orla 2012Life Just Is Jay 2014Covers Summer Short films 2017Son of Perdition The Woman 2020Meow or Never Blip the Space Pup 2021The Heiress Anna 2024Unsinkable Maggie Malloy
Television Year Title Role Notes 2009Minder Maria Grant Series 1; episode 4: "A Matter of Life and Debt"The Inbetweeners Lauren Harris Series 2; episode 1: "The Field Trip" 2010Vexed Lucy B Series 1; episode 3Casualty Simone Lewis Series 25; episodes 1–3, 6 & 7 2011The Runaway Sally Mini-series; episode 2Injustice Lucy Wilson Mini-series; episodes 2–5Misfits Stacie Series 3; episode 7 2012Nick Nickleby Kat Nickleby Main role. Mini-series; episodes 1–5 2012–20156Degrees Sandie Morrow Main role. Series 1–3; 18 episodes 2013London Irish Caoimhe Mini-series; episode 4 2016Doctors Michelle Jardine Series 18; episode 14: "I Know She Lies" 2020Brave New World Anna Episode 4: "Swallow" 2021Her Pen Pal Tracy Cook Television filmGlow & Darkness Beatrice of Burgundy Episodes 1–7, 9 & 10 2025Faithless Miss Malone Series 2; episodes 1–6Celebrity Mastermind Herself - Contestant Series 24; episode 4
Music videos Year Title Role Band 2009Bullets Train passenger Archive
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