Jay Anstey


Jessica "Jay" Carly Anstey, popularly known as Jay Anstey, is a South African actress and model. She is best known for the roles in the films, Sleeper's Wake, Farewell Ella Bella, Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell, and Hell Trip.

Personal life

Jessica Anstey was born on 13 February 1991 in Pretoria, South Africa. Her father Norman Anstey is also an actor and her mother Penny Anstey was a dancer with the PACT ballet company. During her school years, she excelled in piano, singing and ballroom dancing. She has one sister, Amy, who is also an actress.
She had a long-standing relationship with Jonathan Boynton-Lee, a fellow actor and Top Billing presenter. They were also nominated by "You Spec" as couple of the year. However, they eventually separated, citing miscommunication and conflicting schedules. Then in 2017, she dated Sean Kaplan.
In 2021, she married fellow actor Sean-Marco Vorster. They separated in 2024.

Career

She obtained her national diploma in dramatic arts from the Pretoria Technikon. After completing her diploma, she started to feature in commercials for Supersport, Red Berry, the University of Johannesburg and Edgars.
In 2006, she made her film debut with Catch a Fire and played the role "Katie Vos". After that she appeared in many films, such as Two Worlds, Sleeper's Wake, Friend Request and Rakka. In 2011, she made her television debut with the role "Charlie Holmes" on the SABC3 soap Isidingo. The role was a turning point in her acting career; she played the role for seven consecutive years until 2012. In 2012, Anstey appeared in the Canadian film Inescapable. In 2013, she joined the fifth season of the SABC1 reality competition Tropika Island of Treasure as one of the celebrity contestant. In the same year, she joined the sixth season of the SABC3 reality competition Strictly Come Dancing. Meanwhile, she made television appearances in M-Net series Snitch, Rhythm City on e.tv and Young Leonardo for the BBC.
In 2018, she had the lead role of Elle in the horror film Farewell Ella Bella. The film was made theatrical screening in the USA. In 2020, she joined the M-Net television serial Inconceivable. In the same year, she joined another serial, Legacy, in the role of Alexandra "Lexi" Price.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleGenreRef.
2006Catch a FireKatie VosFilm
2006SnitchKylie WattsTV series
2006HeartlinesAlice AndersonFilm
2007Rhythm CityChrizetteTV series
2007Les deux mondesJanaFilm
2008Strictly Come DancingTV series
2011Isidingo: The NeedCharlie HolmesTV series
2011LeonardoPetronellaTV series
2012InescapableMuna Abdul-KareemFilm
2012Sleeper's WakeJackie VenterFilm
2013Tropika Island of TreasureTV series
2014Leading LadyModel 2Film
2015Friend RequestGirl 1Film
2015Abo MzalaJessicaTV series
2017Heart Aka 4 MinutesLouis' NurseShort film
2017Harry's GameHammerFilm
2017IsibayaSusanTV series
2017RakkaWoman BomberShort film
2017Blood DriveDianeTV series
2018Tremors: A Cold Day in HellDr. DVideo
2018Farewell Ella BellaElleFilm
2018Hell TripEmily Larson, Stunt performerFilm
2019The Girl from St. AgnesDebbieFilm
2020The Last Days of American CrimeFemale Terrified OfficerTV series
2020Inconceivable Tamsin WattsTV series
2020LegacyAlexandra "Lexi" PriceTV series