Jenna Mattison, born Jenna Mattison Mirza is an American actress, screenwriter, producer, and director.
Early life Mattison was born in India, with her family moving to Chicago when she was 7 years old. From an early age, she became self conscious about her ethnicity, growing up in a mostly white neighborhood. She cited her name as one of the reasons she struggled to land acting roles in her early career, and opted to change her stage name to Jenna Mattison.
Early career Mattison moved to Hollywood in the late 90's, and would her dye her hair while avoiding any sort of natural tan in order to look white-passing. Some of Mattison's early roles included bit parts in Married... with Children, Party of Five and Melrose Place.
While working at The Laugh Factory as a cocktail waitress, Mattison began working on a screenplay, which she viewed catharsis while dealing with an unhappy relationship at the time. After a chance encounter with a Hollywood producer, Mattison's script was greenlit, and the romantic comedy Fish Without a Bicycle was released and published as her first independent film, with Mattison as the lead writer, co-producer, and star of the film. Fish Without a Bicycle premiered at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. Mattison also wrote and produced the 2012 crime drama For the Love of Money, inspired by the real-life story of an Israeli gangster.
Career Mattison made her directorial debut with the psychological horror film, The Sound, released by MGM Orion and Samuel Goldwyn in 2017. Critics noted lead Rose McGowan's performance, as well as Mattison's focus on atmospheric direction.
In 2021, Mattison was attached as a screenwriter for a film adaptation of Sophie Kinsella's novel Remember Me?
In 2022, Mattison was hired to adapt a New York Times Bestselling novel by James Patterson. In 2024, she adapted Dying to Be Me, New York Times Bestselling memoir by Anita Moorjani, for the screen. In 2025, she adapted Decorum at the Deathbed, a novella by Bird Box author Josh Malerman.
Filmography
Actress Year Title Role 1995 Married... with Children Woman In Red 1997 The Single Guy Superwoman 2000 Party of Five Jennifer 2001 The Fighting Fitzgeralds Winnie (pilot) 2001 Alex in Wonder Summer 2003 Fish Without a Bicycle Julianna Mercer 2005 The Third Wish Maggie Malone 2006 Naked Run Mrs. Liverton 2007 Death Walks the Streets Annie 2008 365 Days Jane
Producer Year Title Role 2003 Fish Without a Bicycle Co-Producer 2005 The Third Wish Producer 2008 365 Days Executive Producer 2011 For The Love of Money Producer 2017 The Sound Producer
Writer Year Title 2003 Fish Without a Bicycle 2005 The Third Wish 2011 For the Love of Money 2017 The Sound
Director Year Title 2017 The Sound
Personal life Mattison married actor Richard Gunn in 2013. The two currently live in Los Angeles, California.
References
External links
Jenna Mattison Blog Exclusive: Rose McGowan Teases the Most 'Intense' Scenes From Creepy New Thriller, 'The Sound' Review: Rose McGowan shines in the atmospheric horror film 'The Sound' Rose McGowan investigates the paranormal in spooky 'The Sound' exclusive clip Orion Pictures, Samuel Goldwyn Films board 'The Sound' Review - Rose McGowan is Brilliant in The Sound Jenna Mattison - Rotten Tomatoes https://www.hngn.com/articles/143741/20151025/richard-gunn-hemlock-grove-christopher-lloyd-longer-run-dark-angel-netflix-exclusive-interview.htm