Famous Birthdays·January 15·Jessy Schram
Jessy Schram

USJessy Schram

An actress who built a career on portraying resilient, often enigmatic women across a spectrum of beloved sci-fi, fantasy, and medical dramas.

Born 1986 (age 40)·American actress and model·Birthday: January 15·Millennials

Photo: Adwards · CC BY-SA 3.0

Biography

Jessy Schram possesses a chameleonic quality that has made her a familiar and compelling presence on television for nearly two decades. The Chicago native began as a model, but her focus quickly shifted to acting, where she demonstrated a knack for landing roles in cult-favorite series. She first caught attention as the troubled Hannah Griffith on 'Veronica Mars,' a performance that balanced fragility with a hidden strength. This ability to embody characters with complex inner lives became her signature. She navigated the post-apocalyptic landscape of 'Falling Skies' as a resourceful doctor and, in a defining turn, brought a grounded humanity to the fairy tale role of Cinderella on 'Once Upon a Time.' Schram's Cinderella was not a passive princess but a determined survivor, a reinterpretation that resonated with audiences. She later traded a ballgown for scrubs, joining the ensemble of 'Chicago Med' as Dr. Hannah Asher, a surgeon grappling with addiction, showcasing her skill at portraying professional competence alongside profound personal struggle. Her career trajectory reflects a deliberate choice in characters who are defined by their resilience in extraordinary circumstances.

Millennials

1981–1996

The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.

Jessy was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.

#1 When Jessy Was Born

The biggest hits of 1986

#1 Movie

Top Gun

Best Picture

Platoon

#1 TV Show

The Cosby Show

Jessy's Life & Times

The world at every milestone

1986Born

Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown

Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school

Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public

Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager

Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds

Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive

Euro currency enters circulation

Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote

Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000

Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21

iPhone released; Great Recession begins

Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30

Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote

Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump

Key Achievements

  • Portrayed Ashley Boyd/Cinderella across multiple seasons of the hit ABC series 'Once Upon a Time.'
  • Played a recurring role as Dr. Hannah Asher, a surgeon with an addiction storyline, on NBC's 'Chicago Med.'
  • Appeared as Karen Nadler, a key medical officer, in the Steven Spielberg-produced sci-fi drama 'Falling Skies.'
  • Had notable guest-starring roles on series like 'The Mentalist,' 'NCIS,' and 'Mad Men.'

Did You Know?

She is an accomplished singer and performed the song "What I've Been Looking For" in the film 'The Last Song.'

She was a national champion in roller-skating as a child.

She originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music before focusing on acting.

She voiced the character of Supergirl in the animated film 'Superman/Batman: Apocalypse.'

“I'm drawn to characters who are fighting to find their own footing.”

— Jessy Schram

Also Born on January 15

See all 100 famous birthdays →

Dove Cameron

Dove Cameron

1996

Claudia Winkleman

Claudia Winkleman

1972

Ben Shapiro

Ben Shapiro

1984

Gamal Abdel Nasser

Gamal Abdel Nasser

1918

Edward Teller

Edward Teller

1908

Andrea Martin

Andrea Martin

1947

Drew Brees

Drew Brees

1979

Chloe Kelly

Chloe Kelly

1998

Captain Beefheart

Captain Beefheart

1941

Craig Fairbrass

Craig Fairbrass

1963

Bernard Hopkins

Bernard Hopkins

1965

Eddie Cahill

Eddie Cahill

1978

AboutPrivacyTermsContact

© 2026 oresth.com