Wikipedia

Jemima Kirke

Jemima Kirke (born 26 April 1985) is a British-American artist, actress and director.

Jemima "Jo" Kirke
Kirke in 2023
Born (1985-04-26) 26 April 1985 (age 39)
London, England
Citizenship
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Israel
EducationSaint Ann's School (Brooklyn)
Alma materRhode Island School of Design (BFA))
Occupation
  • Painter/Actor
Years active2005–present
Spouse
Michael Mosberg
​
​
(m. 2009, divorced)​
Partner
Alex Cameron
​
(separated)​
Children
  • Rafella Israel Mosberg
  • Memphis Mosberg
Parents
Relatives

She gained international acclaim through her role as Jessa Johansson in the 2012 HBO series Girls.[1] She made her film debut in the 2005 indie short Smile for the Camera and her feature-length debut in Tiny Furniture,[2] as a favour for her childhood friend Lena Dunham.

Early life and family

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Born in London on 26 April 1985,[3] Jemima Kirke moved to New York when she was just 11 years old and was then raised in New York City.[4] She is the daughter of Simon Kirke, the former drummer of the rock bands Bad Company and Free.[5] Her mother is Lorraine Kirke (née Dellal), the owner of Geminola, a vintage boutique in New York City that supplied a number of outfits for the television series Sex and the City.[6] Her character Jessa wore a wedding dress from Geminola in the season finale of the first season of Girls; also, earlier in her career, she was featured along with her sisters in a fashion piece in Teen Vogue in which they wore clothing from the store.[7]

Her father is of English and Scottish descent (the Kirkes being a junior branch of a family of Nottinghamshire landed gentry and descending also from the Gibson-Craig baronets)[8][9] and her mother is Jewish.[10] Kirke's maternal grandfather, Jack Dellal, was a British businessman of Iraqi-Jewish descent and her maternal grandmother, Zehava Helmer, was an Israeli flight attendant.[11][12][13] Kirke has two sisters, actress Lola Kirke and singer and actress Domino Kirke.[14][15][16] She is a cousin of curator Alexander Dellal,[17] shoe designer Charlotte Olympia Dellal and model/photographer Alice Dellal.[17]

Art

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Jemima Kirke majored in art as a student and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2008.[18] In late 2011, she held an exhibition titled "A Brief History" through Skylight Projects.[19] In late 2017 to early 2018, she had a show at Sargeant's Daughters, a Lower East Side gallery,[20] where she exhibited portrait-style paintings, some of them neck-up, others full-figure, of women in their wedding dresses. Kirke was inspired by her own divorce and the exhibition also contained a self-portrait of Kirke in her wedding dress and veil.[21][22] In 2019 she opened a solo show called “SCAMP” at Sargeant's Daughters gallery. [23]

In September 2022, Kirke presented for Batsheva Hay's spring collection at Ben's Kosher Deli.[24]

Acting

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Kirke reading poetry in New York City in 2023

Growing up in the West Village, Kirke found herself accepting a number of roles on her friends' projects. Dunham asked Kirke to take on a supporting role in her debut film Tiny Furniture. Kirke and a number of other friends were called upon as a favour to Dunham since there was not enough money to pay professional actors.[citation needed] Although the film turned out to be profitable, Kirke received no payment.[25] Kirke reunited with Dunham in the HBO series Girls, appearing in all six seasons from 2011 to 2017 as the character Jessa Johansson. Kirke next had supporting roles in the dark comedy films Ava's Possessions and The Little Hours. In 2018, Kirke starred alongside her real-life sister Lola Kirke in Emma Forrest's film Untogether. The film premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival.[26]

In 2011, Kirke appeared in the music video "Wring It Out" for the group Rival Schools.[27] Both this music video and Smile for the Camera were directed by her friend Jordan Galland. In 2017, she appeared in the music video for "Gotta Get a Grip" by Mick Jagger, directed by Saam Farahmand and appeared opposite Alex Cameron in his music video for the song "Stranger's Kiss". In September 2017, Kirke appeared opposite Zayn Malik in his music video for the song "Dusk Till Dawn".

In 2021, Kirke appeared in the Netflix series Sex Education in the role of Hope, headmistress of Moordale Secondary School. In 2021, it was announced that Kirke had accepted a role in Conversations with Friends, a series based on the book of the same name by Sally Rooney, in which she plays Melissa, an older, experienced writer fascinated by a younger couple.[28][29] In 2023, Kirke starred in the Apple TV+ series City on Fire, based on the book of the same name.[30]

Directing

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Kirke's directorial debut was in 2019 when she spearheaded the video for the track "Mama" by her sister Lola Kirke.[31] She would go onto direct other projects including multiple music videos and a satire short film with Alex Cameron.[32]

Activism

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In 2015, Kirke partnered with the Center for Reproductive Rights to create a public service announcement to advance the future of reproductive healthcare.[33] In the PSA, Kirke discusses the abortion she received in college where she could not afford the anesthesia in addition to the procedure and went without.[33][34]

Personal life

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Kirke resides in Red Hook, New York [35] and East Hampton (town). Kirke had two children during a marriage that began in 2009[36][37] and ended in 2017.[38][39] Kirke began a relationship with Australian musician and singer songwriter Alex Cameron in July 2017. Cameron has said that his 2019 album Miami Memory is primarily influenced by his relationship with Kirke.[40][41] The couple has since separated.[42]

Kirke is close friends with Lena Dunham, the creator of the film “Tiny Furniture”[1]. They became friends while attending Saint Ann's School in New York City.[1]

As of late, Kirke has developed another talent as a disc-jockey; premiering most notably as a favor for sister Lola Kirke's sold out show for the "By Your Side" tour at the Bowery Ballroom in Lower East Side.

 
Kirke's DJ set for sister Lola's VIP 2023 event in Manhattan.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 Smile for the Camera Twin Singer (voice) Short film
2010 Tiny Furniture Charlotte
2015 Ava's Possessions Ivy
2017 The Little Hours Marta
2018 Wild Honey Pie Gillian
2018 Untogether Andrea Moore
2018 All These Small Moments Odessa
2020 Sylvie's Love Countess

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2012–2017 Girls Jessa Johansson Main role; 53 episodes
2015 Axe Cop Water Queen (voice) Episode: "The Center of the Ocean"
2015 The Simpsons Candace's Friend (voice) Episode: "Every Man's Dream"
2018 Maniac Adelaide Miniseries; 5 episodes
2019 High Maintenance Herself Episode: "Breathwork"
2021 Sex Education Hope Haddon Main role, Season 3; 8 episodes
2022 Conversations with Friends Melissa Main role; 12 episodes
2023 City on Fire Regan Hamilton Sweeney Main role; 8 episodes

Music videos

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Year Title Artist(s) Notes
2017 "Dusk Till Dawn" Zayn featuring Sia
2017 "Stranger's Kiss" Alex Cameron (duet with Angel Olsen)
2018 "Studmuffin96" Alex Cameron director
2019 "Marlon Brando" Alex Cameron director
2019 "Miami Memory" Alex Cameron
2022 "Best Life" Alex Cameron director

References

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  1. ^ a b c Rosen, Christopher (23 April 2012). "Jemima Kirke, 'Girls' Star, On Periods, Collaborations And Sex Scenes". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  2. ^ Miller, Julie (9 April 2012). "Q&A: Girls Co-Star Jemima Kirke on Tattooing Lena Dunham and Playing It Cool Through Her Awkward Phase". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  3. ^ "Jemima Kirke". Allmovie. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Jemima Kirke". 24 June 2012. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  5. ^ Interviews & Reviews – Simon Kirke Official Website Archived 31 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Freewebs.com. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Geminola". Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  7. ^ Rubin, Julia (27 June 2013). "Exclusive! Jemima Kirke and Her Stylish Sisters Model for Their Mom's Store". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  8. ^ A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry, 9th edition, Sir Bernard Burke, 1898, pp. 845-846
  9. ^ A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage, 95th edition, ed. E. M. Swinhoe, Burke's Peerage, 1937, p. 483
  10. ^ Pang, Jeanine Celeste (18 March 2014). "Jemima Kirke's Paintings of Girls". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  11. ^ Aylmer, Olivia (12 October 2017). "Joan Didion (and Her Sunglasses) Take New York Film Festival by Storm". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  12. ^ Nate Bloom (27 April 2012). "Jews in the News: Jews Rock Hall of Fame, A Minyan of Marvel Heroes". Let My People Grow. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  13. ^ "Jews in the News: Jews Rock Hall of Fame, A Minyan of Marvel Heroes". Archived from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  14. ^ Weber, Mia (29 October 2014). "Soul Sisters: Jemima Kirke & Domino Kirke". New York Family. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  15. ^ Kaufman, Amy (11 August 2015). "Lola Kirke steps out of sister Jemima's shadow in Noah Baumbach's 'Mistress America'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  16. ^ Jacobs, Laura (26 April 2016). "Introducing Vanity Fair's Sisters Issue, Featuring the McCartneys, Waterhouses, Wojcickis, and Many More". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  17. ^ a b "30 fun facts about Jemima Kirke: How She Landed Her Role on 'Girls'". Booms Beat. 14 April 2015. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  18. ^ "Jemima Kirke - Exhibitions - Sargent's Daughters". www.sargentsdaughters.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  19. ^ "Skylight Projects". artslant.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  20. ^ Sargeant's Daughters
  21. ^ Eckardt, Stephanie. "Jemima Kirke Is More Than Ready to Talk About Her Divorce". W Magazine. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Jemima Kirke Original Works For Sale Online". RoGallery. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  23. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/B4x3NsrFK-x/?igsh=MTA4cHBiMGtmMW91eQ==
  24. ^ "Batsheva Spring 2023 Ready-to-Wear Collection". 14 September 2022. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  25. ^ Vilensky, Mike (14 March 2012). "The Art of Being 'Girls' Co-Star Jemima Kirke". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  26. ^ Cusumano, Katherine. "Jemima and Lola Kirke Are Really Tired of People Commenting on How They Look". W Magazine. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  27. ^ photofinishrecords (25 February 2011). "Rival Schools- Wring It Out (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  28. ^ "The next Normal People? Conversations with Friends cast finally revealed". HELLO!. 17 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  29. ^ "Conversations With Friends: 7 Quick Things We Know About The Hulu Series". CINEMABLEND. 2 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  30. ^ Lind, Emily Alyn (2 May 2023). "Jemima Kirke joined the cast of Apple TV+'s "City on Fire"". Next TV Series. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  31. ^ "Lola Kirke Previews New EP With Disturbing 'Mama' Video". Rolling Stone. 21 August 2019. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  32. ^ Martoccio, Angie (14 March 2019). "Jemima Kirke and Alex Cameron on Their Satirical New Short Film". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  33. ^ a b "Why 'Girls' Star Jemima Kirke Talks About Her Abortion In A New PSA". ThinkProgress. 14 April 2015. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  34. ^ Ronan, Alex (14 April 2015). "Jemima Kirke Talks About Her Abortion". Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  35. ^ Pang, Jeanine Celeste. "Jemima Kirke’s Workout Thwarts the Usual Fitness Trends" Archived 21 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times Style Magazine, March 24, 2015. Accessed February 21, 2019. "Four years ago, with a post-baby body that she couldn’t quite shake despite the help of popular workout classes like Pure Barre and the Tracy Anderson Method, the Girls actor Jemima Kirke stumbled upon Brooklyn Strength, a Pilates and fitness studio in Brooklyn Heights, near her home in Carroll Gardens, N.Y."
  36. ^ Zhong, Fan (April 2012). "Naughty Girl: Jemima Kirke's Wild-Child-Role in HBO's Girls". W. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  37. ^ "Jemima Kirke Welcomes Second Child". People. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  38. ^ Heller, Corrinne (14 January 2017). "Girls' Jemima Kirke and Husband Michael Mosberg Split: Reports". E! News. Archived from the original on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  39. ^ Stone, Natalie (14 January 2017). "Girls' Jemima Kirke and Husband Michael Mosberg Split After 7 Years of Marriage". People. Archived from the original on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  40. ^ Corinne, Heller. "Girls Alum Jemima Kirke and Musician Alex Cameron Show PDA in NYC" Archived 28 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine, E!, New York, 5 July 2017. Retrieved on 28 March 2018.
  41. ^ "Alex Cameron Releases 'Miami Memory'". Secretly Canadian. 13 September 2019. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  42. ^ "Jemima Kirke on the Girls revival, sex scenes and Apple's City on Fire". British GQ. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
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