In the dazzling, often unpredictable world of Hollywood, where careers can ignite in an instant or take decades to build, Jess Khan-Lee is emerging as a compelling new presence. With a background as diverse as her roles, from the disciplined world of dance to the high-octane stunts of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Khan-Lee offers a fresh perspective on what it means to be an actor in the 21st century.
For Khan-Lee, the journey began not with a dramatic monologue, but with movement. “I actually started with dance,” she explains, tracing her beginnings to early childhood. “When I was about two, my mum put me into dance classes, and I always wanted to be a dancer.” This early passion evolved, leading her into professional musical theatre by her mid-teens, performing in productions like West Side Story and even working for Disney.
A serendipitous audition changed her trajectory. “I went to my very first audition—and I booked it,” she recalls, leading to a pivotal decision. “So, university went out the window—for a year at least. I moved to Vancouver and started focusing on acting more than dance.” Her training deepened, including a significant period at New York’s renowned Neighborhood Playhouse, where she immersed herself in the Meisner technique. Her career has since taken her across continents, from Vancouver’s film and TV scene to Hong Kong for dance, Sweden for theatre, and finally, London, where she now balances both passions.
Khan-Lee’s early conviction about her path was unwavering. “I always knew,” she states when asked about the moment she realized acting was her calling. Despite coming from a family steeped in medicine (“You know, Asian family—my whole family is in medicine”), her creative drive always held sway. This foundational certainty has allowed her to embrace a career that is anything but linear.
The Art of Versatility: Acting, Dance, and Beyond
Khan-Lee’s impressive range of skills, from Bollywood dance to Muay Thai and rock climbing, raises a question many in the industry are grappling with: Do actors today need to be multi-talented? Her answer is thoughtfully nuanced.
“Honestly, I don’t think it matters,” she says, emphasizing the individual nature of artistic focus. “What’s most important is the individual—their passion and what they want to focus on.” She acknowledges the value of specialization, citing the saying, “Jack of all trades, master of none,” but quickly adds the often-forgotten second part: “…but oftentimes better than master of one.”
For Khan-Lee, being multidisciplinary is not just about expanding opportunities; it is about sustaining her artistic energy. “For me, doing different things helps me stay refreshed,” she explains. “I don’t get bored—I shift my creative focus and come back stronger.” This versatility has directly impacted her career, with her dance background, martial arts, and even rock climbing leading to acting roles.
She articulates a profound love for both of her chosen art forms. Of acting, she says, “I’ve always had a really strong imagination… I’ve always been curious about people—why they act the way they do, their relationships. Empathy plays a huge part in storytelling.” The connection to the human condition is clear. “What I love about acting is how personal and individual it is. It’s your experience, your interpretation of a character. You get to explore the complexities of human behavior and empathy—how we relate to each other, how we understand or fail to understand one another.”
Dance, for her, is about “the physical movement, the artistry, the discipline it takes to make something look effortless.” She values the unique community found in dance, describing it as “pure passion, support, and love for the art. It’s a beautiful kind of community.” Despite the competitive audition process in both fields, she appreciates how “they feed different parts of my creativity and soul. They also give me a break from each other. Acting can be quite lonely sometimes.”
Navigating Identity in Hollywood
A significant part of Khan-Lee’s story is her identity as a mixed-race actress. Her mother is Caucasian Canadian of European heritage, and her father is Chinese, from Hong Kong. “I identify very strongly as Chinese—even though, physically, I don’t always appear that way,” she states, revealing a deeply personal struggle. “Sometimes people say to me, ‘Oh, you don’t look Asian at all,’ and that really breaks my heart, because—I’m so proud of that part of me.”
This personal experience translates into professional challenges. “I think I’ve definitely had some privileges,” she acknowledges, noting that her “ethnically ambiguous” appearance allowed her to “pass” for various roles earlier in her career. However, with Hollywood’s increasing focus on authentic representation, the landscape has shifted. “When I’m submitted for Asian roles—say, a Chinese character—I often don’t get cast, because I don’t ‘look Asian enough.’ And that’s really tough, because—I really want to bring that part of my identity into my art.”
Khan-Lee is hopeful for a more nuanced approach to diversity. “I’m hoping we’ll see more roles that reflect mixed-race identities,” she says. “Not just ‘diverse,’ but truly reflective of the wide spectrum of experiences out there.” She highlights the need to move beyond simple categories: “Right now, we usually only see characters who are fully Caucasian or fully Asian. But there are so many different combinations.” The global landscape is increasingly mixed, with a growing number of individuals identifying as multiracial. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the multiracial population grew from 9 million people in 2010 to 33.8 million in 2020, representing a 276% increase. This demographic shift underscores the critical need for broader representation in media. Khan-Lee’s desire for “diversity within that diversity” speaks to this evolving reality.
Entering the Mission: Impossible Franchise
Her latest major role, Marine Sergeant Rivera in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, came about in a uniquely Hollywood fashion: she didn’t even know what she was auditioning for.8 “The casting came through like any other—it just said ‘unnamed franchise.’ I had no clue what it was,” she recounts. After a self-tape audition and months of silence, an offer arrived, initially conflicting with another project. It was only then that her agent revealed the title: “It’s Mission Impossible.” “I was like, ‘OK, we need to pick up the phone right now and figure this out,'” she laughs.
Stepping onto the set of such a monumental production was “immense. It’s a well-oiled machine,” she explains. “You feel like a very small part of this massive world, but it’s a world where everyone is working towards the same goal—making the most epic film possible.” What surprised her was the unexpected intimacy. “I actually expected the on-set energy to be… less intimate. But it was actually very intimate, for such a large-scale production. The cast and crew were incredibly close.”
A Masterclass from Tom Cruise
A significant highlight of her Mission: Impossible experience was working alongside Tom Cruise, whose dedication to filmmaking is legendary. Cruise recently spoke about the importance of actors understanding the technical aspects of production.Khan-Lee confirms this was evident on set.
“Absolutely. Every moment Tom’s on set is a masterclass,” she asserts. “He’s generous with his energy, totally focused, and extremely professional. He knows his profession—and not just acting. He knows every department and how everything works.” This inspired her to “level up. Go deeper. Not just as an actor but also understanding the technical side of things.”
She describes how Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie actively mentored her. “McQuarrie took a lot of time to teach me—everything from shots and lighting to lenses and camera angles,” she says. “That insight was invaluable. And Tom was just as generous. If you asked him a question, he wouldn’t just give a short answer. He’d give you a full 20-minute explanation.” She recalls a memorable anecdote: “Watching him work is a masterclass. He knows exactly where the lens is, where the light is, how to use his voice and face to pull your eye toward him. He’ll do something as simple as shifting slightly in the frame to manipulate light and lens flare to heighten suspense. That level of precision—it’s genius.”
Being part of what might be the final Mission: Impossible film is a significant achievement. “It’s… loud. And also shocking,” she says of the unpredictable nature of the industry. “Being part of a franchise like this—one that’s embedded in cinematic and cultural history—it’s mind-blowing. It’s a real pinch-me moment.” She notes that her family’s perception shifted when she landed the role: “This wasn’t just me throwing away a traditional path. I wasn’t a doctor or lawyer chasing some vague dream—this was concrete. This was Mission: Impossible. It felt like I’d accomplished something real. And it feels good to be seen through their eyes in that way.”
What Comes Next
Looking ahead, Khan-Lee has two exciting projects on the horizon. The action-comedy-drama series Costiera, starring alongside Jesse Williams and directed by Adam Bernstein, will debut on Amazon Prime this fall. She praises Bernstein, stating, “I learned so much about shooting for TV. Film and TV are very different. With film, you often have the luxury of time. With TV, everything has to be done yesterday.” The series, beautifully shot in Italy with an international cast, promises to be “a big international show.” Additionally, she has a video game, Directive 8020, by Supermassive Games, slated for release in October.
For dream roles, Khan-Lee wants to continue working in film and limited series. Her desire for constant growth fuels her choices. “I need change… I don’t like the feeling of standing still, so I’m always pushing myself to grow.” Most compellingly, she yearns to play a character unlike herself. “What I’d really love is to play a character who is completely different from me. That’s the ultimate exploration of empathy and understanding.” This aspiration highlights her dedication to the core human element of performance, seeking to understand the unfamiliar and bring it to life on screen. As Jess Khan-Lee continues to expand her impressive range, her journey serves as an inspiring example of how passion, versatility, and a deep commitment to human connection can shape a unique and impactful career in entertainment.
