Jessica Ann Rothenberg Bio
Jessica Ann Rothenberg (born May 28, 1987), known professionally as Jessica Rothe, is an American actress who has built a diverse career spanning horror, romance, and musical genres. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Rothe pursued formal training at Boston University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She gained widespread recognition for her starring role as Theresa “Tree” Gelbman in the slasher comedy Happy Death Day (2017) and its sequel Happy Death Day 2U (2019), earning acclaim as a rising scream queen in contemporary horror cinema.
Her filmography demonstrates versatility across multiple genres, from her appearance in the acclaimed musical La La Land (2016) to romantic dramas like Forever My Girl (2018) and All My Life (2020). On the small screen, Rothe headlined MTV’s Mary + Jane (2016) and appeared in Netflix’s Parallels (2015) and Amazon Prime Video’s Utopia (2020). More recently, she starred in Boy Kills World (2023) and has upcoming projects including the survival thriller Boiúna: Legend of the Amazon.
Early Life and Background
Jessica Ann Rothe entered the world on May 28, 1987, in Denver, Colorado, the daughter of Susan and Steve Rothenberg. Her father Steve Rothenberg is a pediatric surgeon, and Rothe’s paternal heritage includes Jewish ancestry. The performing arts ran in her family. Her paternal grandmother, Colleen Rothenberg, was a theatre actress who belonged to the Congregation Shomrei Torah synagogue in Santa Rosa, California.
At age eight, Rothe began studying ballet, and during her youth, she attended summer theater programs in Kansas City. She completed her secondary education at Cherry Creek High School in her home state before moving to Boston for college. Rothe graduated in 2009 from Boston University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. While at university, she learned to play the violin, tap dance, and make pottery, developing a well-rounded artistic skill set that would serve her future acting career.
Path to Actress
Rothe began her professional journey performing under her birth name Jessica Rothenberg. From 2010 to 2013, she made minor appearances in television programs such as The Onion News Network and played supporting roles in independent films including The Hot Flashes and Jack, Jules, Esther and Me. She made her stage debut in 2011, starring in the David West Read play The Dream of the Burning Boy. Theatre critic Charles Isherwood of The New York Times wrote that Rothe delivered an impressive performance, providing early validation of her talent.
In 2015, Rothe achieved leading roles in several significant projects, including the comedy film Lily & Kat, the Netflix science fiction pilot Parallels, and the crime drama The Preppie Connection. That same year, she was cast as Alexis in Damien Chazelle’s musical film La La Land. Rothe was drawn to the role since, as a child, she believed that living in a world where anyone could burst into song and dance would be the dreamiest experience imaginable.
Jessica Ann Rothe Career
Early Career (2010–2016)
Rothe worked steadily through the early 2010s, establishing herself in independent film and television. Her role in the David West Read play The Dream of the Burning Boy earned critical praise from The New York Times. The 2014 web series Next Time on Lonny brought her a Streamy Award nomination, marking her first major recognition in the digital space.
2015 proved to be a pivotal year. She starred in the independent comedy Lily & Kat and appeared in The Preppie Connection while joining the cast of La La Land. Released in 2016, the Damien Chazelle film became a critical and commercial phenomenon, introducing Rothe to wider audiences and demonstrating her range in musical cinema. That same year, she took her first leading television role as Paige in the MTV comedy series Mary + Jane, a one-season comedy produced by Snoop Dogg.
Breakthrough (2017–Present)
In 2017, Rothe starred as Theresa “Tree” Gelbman in Christopher Landon’s horror film Happy Death Day, originally titled Half to Death. The slasher comedy became a significant box office success and has been described as a starmaking film for Rothe. Critics praised her performance, with RogerEbert.com declaring her the best element of the movie and The Guardian describing her as endlessly watchable and witty. The New York Times called her unimprovable, inexhaustible, and funny. Her portrayal established Rothe as a scream queen and became an iconic example of the final girl trope in modern horror cinema.
Rothe reprised the role of Tree Gelbman in Happy Death Day 2U (2019), which achieved similar financial success. The Los Angeles Times praised her as one of the most magnetic new actresses on screen, equally capable of vulnerability and pain as well as blithe, easy humor. In 2018, she played Josie in the romantic drama Forever My Girl, accepting the role based on its themes of strength and female empowerment.
Notable Works and Milestones
Rothe’s career milestones include her scene-stealing role in the Oscar-winning La La Land (2016), her scream queen breakthrough in Happy Death Day (2017), and her continued work in both horror and mainstream cinema. She has headlined romantic and musical projects while also appearing in television series across multiple platforms. Her ability to transition between genres has established her as a versatile performer capable of handling both vulnerability and comedic timing.
Jessica Ann Rothe Award Nominations
Rothe has earned recognition from several prestigious award bodies throughout her career. She received Fright Meter Award nominations for her performances in both Happy Death Day (2017) and Happy Death Day 2U (2019). She was also recognized by the New Mexico Film Critics Circle for her work in Happy Death Day. Earlier in her career, she earned a Streamy Award nomination as part of the ensemble cast of the web series Next Time on Lonny (2014).
Jessica Ann Rothe Family
Rothe was born to Steve and Susan Rothenberg in Denver, Colorado. Her father Steve Rothenberg is a pediatric surgeon with Jewish heritage. Her paternal grandmother Colleen Rothenberg was a theatre actress, making Rothe part of a family with connections to both medicine and the performing arts.
Personal Life
Rothe married actor Eric Clem on September 12, 2020, in Morrison, Colorado. The couple announced their engagement on February 14, 2019. They have been together since that time, with Rothe maintaining her residence in Colorado while pursuing her acting career. She has no children as of 2025.