Jessica Reynolds: From Sheltered Upbringing to Embracing Irish Identity & Roles

Jessica Reynolds, currently starring in Channel 4’s adaptation of Michael Magee’s novel Close to Home, says her connection to her Irish identity has deepened through recent roles, including her breakout performance in the film Kneecap.

Reynolds, who grew up in Seahill, County Down, between Holywood and Bangor, described a sheltered upbringing shaped by parents who were both teachers at Rockport School, an independent day and boarding school. Her father too worked in boarding duty, providing the family with a staff house on the school grounds. She recalled a childhood experience at age seven where a child questioned her religious affiliation, a concept she didn’t initially understand, as her parents were non-denominational.

“My mum’s English – she was raised in Exeter in a working-class Catholic family, but English-Catholic. My dad was non-denominational but culturally Protestant,” Reynolds explained. “My parents were very liberal and open and encouraged me to accept everyone as they are with open arms.”

Reynolds’ early life was heavily focused on sports, with her father being a champion hurdler and her brother representing Ireland and Northern Ireland in the 110-metre hurdles. She herself trained in gymnastics for years. However, at age 12 or 13, she discovered a passion for acting after watching Catherine Hardwicke’s film Thirteen. “As soon as I saw that film, I was like: that’s me set. No plan B. I want to be an actress,” she said.

After studying at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Reynolds found herself grappling with her Irish accent in a British context. “This was 2016. I felt: I’m never going to work professionally with this voice,” she stated. “Now, things have done a complete 180. Suddenly, people are going: not only do we want Irish stuff, we want stories from Belfast.”

Her role in Kneecap, a film about “ceasefire babies” and her generation, proved pivotal in her understanding of Irish identity. “It really opened my eyes to Irish identity, and my Irish identity. I wasn’t raised being taught that at all. I was raised thinking I was British. I was like: I’m fully British, I’m not Irish. And now I don’t think that,” Reynolds said. “Calling myself Irish makes the most sense to me.”

Reynolds acknowledged the complexities of identity in Northern Ireland, stating, “Everyone has the right to say what rings true to them, but for me, the word Ireland is always there. We’re on that land. Whatever way you witness yourself, British, Irish, we’re on our little island and our isle.” She also noted a sense of alienation she felt while studying in England, recognizing it as a result of her distinct cultural background.

Reynolds praised Ireland’s solidarity with marginalized communities, citing its support for Palestine as an example. “It makes me sense really safe to be part of a culture and country that does that when so many other countries surrounding it don’t,” she said.

Her recent role as Emma Harte in A Woman of Substance marked her first time leading a television show. Filmed on location in Yorkshire, Reynolds described the landscape as vast and connected to the land, drawing parallels to Ireland. “There’s so much space up there. You can really feel that. And you can feel, like in Ireland, that people are so connected to the land,” she said.

Rockport School, founded in 1906, is located near Holywood, County Down, between Belfast and Bangor, according to its website. The school currently has around 300 pupils and offers education from age 2.5 to 18.