Why Mary Jayne From Transatlantic Looks So Familiar
Netflix's limited series "Transatlantic" focuses in on one of the often-overlooked episodes of World War II, that of the Emergency Rescue Committee. Formed in Nazi-occupied France by American journalist Varian Fry (Cory Michael Smith) with the assistance of several other thinkers and financial backers, this was an organization that assisted more than 2,000 Jewish and anti-Nazi writers, artists, and other refugees seeking to flee Nazi persecution. Among them were people who are still recognized and influential today, including Hannah Arendt (Alexa Karolinski), Marc Chagall (Gera Sandler), Walter Benjamin (Moritz Johann Bleibtreu), and Max Ernst (Alexander Fehling).
This was, obviously, a massive undertaking, and came with no small amount of personal risk for those involved, not to mention a fairly hefty price tag. Luckily, the Emergency Rescue Committee had the support of people like American manufacturing heiress Mary Jayne Gold, played by Gillian Jacobs. Jacobs' Gold is, along with Fry and political economist Albert Hirschman (played by Lucas Englander), portrayed as one of the three main protagonists in the story of "Transatlantic." There's no doubt that Jacobs is a very recognizable actor. But if you're having trouble placing her, that may be because much of her other most recognizable work has been rather far from the heavy subject matter of "Transatlantic."
Gillian Jacobs played Britta in Community
It's quite a stark contrast to the serious drama of smuggling refugees out of Vichy France, but Gillian Jacobs' most widely recognized television role has undoubtedly been as Britta Perry on NBC's beloved sitcom "Community." This was a show very much for and about misfits, zooming in on a motley bunch of friends attending what has to be the most dysfunctional institution of higher learning, Greendale Community College.
Along with sharp writing and a bevy of clever pop culture references, the chemistry and rapport between the main cast and actors was a primary reason "Community" found such a loyal audience, and why it was brought back for its 6th and final season. Jacobs' Britta, contrasted with the nerdiness of Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed (Danny Pudi), the cockiness of Jeff (Joel McHale), and the often bubbly enthusiasm of Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) and Annie (Alison Brie), brought a much-needed dose of cynicism, albeit wrapped in a thick layer of pretension.
"Community" ended in 2015, and while we've gotten our six seasons, Jacobs has been open about her and the rest of the cast's willingness to do a movie. "I think we're all down for it," she told Entertainment Weekly. "It just requires a script and a budget. So I think if there was a movie, we would all do it. I don't want to speak for everyone. I would do the movie, absolutely." It's a good thing she and the rest of the cast have remained amenable over the years because the current rumblings indicate that the "Community" movie starts filming in June.
She played Jill in Hot Tub Time Machine 2
"Hot Tub Time Machine 2" definitely failed to live up to its predecessor. Perhaps it's that tastes in comedy shifted in the five years between the original and the sequel, maybe it was the absence of John Cusack, or maybe there's just only so much mileage one can get out of the premise of a hot tub that lets people travel through time. In any event, "Hot Tub Time Machine 2" was released in 2015 to very negative reviews. Jordan Hoffman at The Guardian wrote that the film was so bad that it completely tainted the humor of the original for them.
Among most of the returning cast, Gillian Jacobs — who was at the time new to the would-be franchise — gave a fairly memorable performance. Unlike the original "Hot Tub Time Machine," this movie sees Nick (Craig Robinson) and Lou (Rob Corddry) traveling forward in time rather than backward. Ten years in the future, they meet the son of Adam (Adam Scott) from the first film, also named Adam (and also played by Adam Scott). Adam Jr. is engaged to be married to a woman named Jill, played by Jacobs. She also, in sleeping with Lou to get back at Adam, plays what we later learn to be a key role in the past-future events of the film.
She played Mickey in 'Love'
Next to the role of Britta, Gillian Jacobs is probably best known for playing Mickey on Netflix's romantic dramedy series "Love." Jacobs' character Mickey is one of the two troubled adults who essentially serve as avatars for the show's exploration of love, romance, and dating. Whereas Gus (Paul Rust) is clingy, socially awkward, and easily triggered when things don't go his way, Mickey's own neuroses point to a sex addiction and chronic dishonesty with herself and others.
Developed by Rust, Lesley Arfin, and Judd Apatow, the show offered up a lot in the way of cringe. But it also did so in the laughs department. Watching two flawed individuals navigate their relationship can be like that, as Apatow's other films amply reveal.
"Love" ran for three seasons on Netflix, and received generally favorable reviews. Its third and final season garnered an impressive 100% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Judging from an interview she did with The Hollywood Reporter, Mickey was one of Jacobs' favorite roles. "Aww, I really do miss playing that character," she said. "So I would love to get a chance to play Mickey again, whether it be a movie or whatever. It's not up to me, but I will say that I miss playing Mickey."
She played a key role in the 'Fear Street' trilogy
Gillian Jacobs played an important role in Netflix's trilogy of "Fear Street" films. Based on R.L. Stine's series of best-selling young adult horror novels, "Fear Street Part One: 1994," "Fear Street Part Two: 1978," and "Fear Street Part Three: 1666" all revolve around a group of teenagers trying to undo a curse that has, over the centuries, turned their small town into a hub of murder. The trilogy pulls on both slashers of the 1980s and the supernatural in a way that is true to Stine's books.
Though Jacobs' character, first referred to as C. Berman, is only introduced in the final act of "Part One," she essentially frames the entire narrative of "Part Two," when she tells the story of the events that took place at Camp Nightwing in 1978 which, in turn, point to the execution of a witch in 1666 that gave rise to the curse in the first place. Though the young Berman — referred to as Ziggy in 1978 — is played by Sadie Sink, it is Jacobs' adult Berman who joins with the teenagers in the final moments of "Part Three" to finally undo the curse.