Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Puszewski.
Hi Jenna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story starts with a young girl who grew up with a camera attached to her hand.
I don’t remember much from my childhood, but I do know I was always waiting for the next time I could sneak my mom’s Palm Pre Smartphone and record myself talking, dancing, singing, etc. I felt comfortable in this made up world, a world in which only the lens and I existed. This love for the camera quickly transpired into YouTube videos my sophomore year of high school. I was no longer stockpiling mounds of edited footage in my camera roll – I was ready to connect with people through it.
I started posting primarily vlogs (videos showing my daily life). But, my first major push algorithmically was when I randomly made a reaction video to one of Billie Eilish’s songs in 2018. She posted it on her Instagram account, it blew up, and my teenage life genuinely changed. I never talk about it unprompted, but I want to give credit where credit is due. Because of her initial engagement, I was able to make YouTube my main source of income at 16, connect with so many incredible people, and experience opportunities I only could have dreamed of months prior. It also allowed me to build a following around people who share the same love of music as me, and as someone who is always looking for new artists to listen to and share with others, this was a dream come true. I consistently made videos until my senior year of high school, staying up until 4am most nights to finish editing while maintaining my GPA and staying on top of my dance training (I was competitively training in all styles ~40 hours a week and competing on weekends). While it was overwhelming, it gave me a strong foundation of what it means to be committed to your craft(s), your own boss, and stay confident in any situation. It also showed me what I love most in this world – making people feel less alone.
This is what brought me into the acting world my junior year of college at Georgia State University as a Film & Media major.
I was still dancing and making videos here and there, and was taking mostly film theory classes at the time. Then, I stumbled across an elective for a Beginner’s Acting class. I was hesitant at first, because I acted a bit when I was 6/8 years old but was too aware of myself even at that age and thought I was horrible (a story for another day), but something in my gut told me to do it. I went to my first class, and I just knew – this is what I’m going to do. I could feel it in my chest. I performed a scene for the first time and the response from it solidified everything. I got to talk to multiple people about how this character I played connected to them and made them feel seen – that’s why I do anything in this world. The only other things that had pulled on my heart in the same way were dancing and making videos, so I knew I had to chase this feeling. And chase I did.
I hunkered down and took every acting class possible, even retaking one I got a 100 in just so I could learn more. I made my minor Theater, so I had access to more classes, and by the time I graduated from Georgia State a year and a half later in 2024 with my BA, I got to be a part of 11 short films, some of which got a festival run, and 2 theater shows, one of which I co-created with a small group of talented individuals. I also helped choreograph the show and assisted with visuals (I’ll always be an editor at heart).
Shortly after graduating, I was offered my first paid theater role and had a wonderful time playing the eccentric and daring Anna in Stage Black, directed by Keith Arthur Bolden. Since then, I’ve been a part of a multitude of short films, many that are currently in the 2026 film festival circuit (woohoo!) and I just wrapped my first feature film this month. In 2026, I have my first lead role in a feature film and I am currently in the pre-production phase of a short film I’m filming in March, titled How to Stop the Sunrise.
I am also consistently posting on Youtube again! It has been a lovely way to document my early 20s and reconnect with communities I love. I feel so grateful to be surrounded by so many people who inspire me to do better and achieve what I want in this ever-changing world.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road per se, but when you really love what you’re doing, you find a way to make it work. The demand to always be on the go in a creative field such as this is definitely taxing on both the mind and body. It’s important to have things that keep you afloat outside of what you’re actively doing 24/7, and to allow yourself to slow down when possible. My health has definitely suffered over the years due to overexertion of my body, through dance, acting, giving up incalculable nights of sleep to meet deadlines of stuff I have said yes to, etc., but as I’m getting older, I’m learning how to balance what I need to do vs what I have to do and that clarity has helped me relax into a healthier routine.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I would say I am most proud of the community I have built around me. Everyone knows you can’t do it all alone – and why would you want to? The best part of being in a creative field is collaborating with other people and building a foundation you can all rise together on. It takes time to find people you truly mesh with – people that care for you despite what you have going on around you. So much of the stuff I am a part of is done with the support and skills of those I deeply admire – like my best friend Michelle, or my friends over at Test Card Network, Lazy House, and Coin Toss Productions – you know who you are, I love ya’ll.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I love this question! I’m a huge podcast fan – My favorites right now include “Good Hang” with Amy Poehler and “Poog” with Kate Berlant and Jacqueline Novak. Both of these are lighthearted and allow yourself to wash off the craziness of the day while also inspiring you to take more chances in your field and laugh more. Also, “Show Biz Pod” with Emma Claire Dykes and Carissa Ferguson. They discuss how to combine personal finance, creative career goals, entrepreneurship, and side hustles into a life that works for you.
As for apps, I have one that most people already have installed on their phone and need to start using if they don’t: Google Calendar. I know it sounds so simple, but plugging all of your commitments into this one app will change your life. Don’t keep everything you need to get done in your head. Color code it in the calendar app and give it a home!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puhzoo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jennapuhzoo
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm15255847/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
Image Credits
Greg Mooney
Evelyn Armstrong
