Jay Anstey - Biography, Career and Filmography

Jay Anstey, born Jessica Carly Anstey on 13 February 1991, is a well-known South African actress and model. She has gained recognition for her performances in films such as Sleeper's Wake, Farewell Ella Bella, Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell, and Hell Trip.

Early Life

Jessica Anstey, born in Pretoria, South Africa, comes from a family deeply rooted in the arts. She is now 33 years old. Her father, Norman Anstey, is an actor, while her mother, Penny Anstey, was a ballet dancer with PACT ballet. During her school years, Jessica excelled in piano, singing, and ballroom dancing. She has a sister named Amy, who is also an actress.

Career

She earned her national diploma in dramatic arts from the Pretoria Technikon. Following her graduation, Jessica Anstey began appearing in commercials for brands such as Supersport, Red Berry, the University of Johannesburg, and Edgars.

Her film debut came in 2006 with "Catch a Fire," where she portrayed the character Katie Vos. She went on to feature in several other films including "Two Worlds," "Sleeper's Wake," "Friend Request," and "Rakka."

In 2011, Jessica made her television debut on the SABC3 soapie "Isidingo," playing the role of Charlie Holmes, a pivotal moment in her acting career which spanned seven consecutive years until 2012. She also appeared in the Canadian film "Inescapable" in 2012.

Jessica's television credits expanded with appearances on shows like the fifth season of the SABC1 reality competition "Tropika Island of Treasure" and the sixth season of the SABC3 reality competition "Strictly Come Dancing." She also appeared in series such as M-Net's "Snitch," e.tv's "Rhythm City," and the BBC's "Young Leonardo."

In 2018, Jessica took on the lead role of Elle in the horror film "Farewell Ella Bella," which had theatrical screenings in the USA. In 2020, she joined the M-Net television series "Inconceivable" and starred in the serial "Legacy" as Alexandra "Lexi" Price.

Personal Life

She was in a long-standing relationship with Jonathan Boynton-Lee, who is also an actor and Top Billing presenter. The couple was nominated by "You Spec" as Couple of the Year. However, they eventually separated due to miscommunication and conflicting schedules.

In 2017, Jessica dated Sean Kaplan.

In 2021, she married fellow actor Sean-Marco Vorster.

Movies

2006 Catch a Fire

2006 Snitch

2006 Heartlines

2007 Rhythm City

2007 Les deux mondes

2008 Strictly Come Dancing

2011 Isidingo: The Need

2011 Leonardo

2012 Inescapable

2012 Sleeper's Wake

2013 Tropika Island of Treasure

2014 Leading Lady

2015 Friend Request

2015 Abo Mzala

2017 Heart Aka 4 Minutes

2017 Harry's Game

2017 Isibaya

2017 Rakka

2017 Blood Drive

2018 Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell

2018 Farewell Ella Bella

2018 Hell Trip

2019 The Girl from St. Agnes

2020 The Last Days of American Crime

2020 Inconceivable

2020 Legacy