Jennifer Esposito
Actor. Filmmaker. Author. Rebel.
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I never set out to be rebellious.
It’s not a title I chose—it’s one the world gave me for refusing to stay small.
After decades in an industry, and a world, that told me who I should be—what to wear, how to act, what stories to tell—I almost believed them.
Almost.
The noise, the dismissal, the constant pressure to shrink...it wears on you. But something inside me never stopped whispering: You are meant for more.
That whisper became my mission.
Not just to make art—but to make space. For myself. For other artists. For anyone who’s tired of being told they’re too much—or not enough.
[Making the Work That Needed to Exist]
The Creative Work.
I’ve been a professional actor for over 25 years
with more than 60 film and television credits—I’m the writer, director, producer, and co-star of Fresh Kills, my directorial debut and my most personal work to date. The film was a 10+ year journey, made against the odds and entirely from the gut. It premiered to critical acclaim, winning the Audience Award at The Hamptons International Film Festival, NYWIFT Excellence in Directing, and Filmmaker on the Rise from Astra.
RogerEbert.com called it “a film that stands tall alongside the best post-Godfather gangster movies.” But it’s not really a gangster film. It’s about survival. It’s about reclaiming your voice.
It’s about rebellion.
Through my production company, A Rebellious Act Project, I continue to support independent storytelling—especially by women and underrepresented creatives. The company is home to Fresh Kills, several short films, and the seeds of what’s next.
[A Home for Misfits, Truth-Tellers, and Brave Creatives]
The Teaching.
In 2O22, I founded A Rebel Collective—
an extension of everything I’ve fought for as an artist.
What started as a few acting classes has grown into a full creative ecosystem: mentorships, writing workshops, film study groups, and retreats.
And it’s not just for actors or writers.
It’s for the misfits. The ones who have something inside them that won’t be quiet. I teach you how to stop performing and start telling the truth—on the page, on the screen, or in your life.
Through it all, my approach stays the same:
Get out of your head. Into your body. Tell the story you were born to tell.
Whether it’s acting, writing, directing—or simply remembering who the hell you are—this work is about waking up.
It’s about reconnecting with the voice that got buried under life.
The one you started with.
The one that’s still there.
[A Different Kind of Survival Story]
The Book &
The Bakery.
Before Fresh Kills.
Before the classes.
There was a moment I almost didn’t survive.
For years, I was told nothing was wrong with me. Doctors dismissed the symptoms, blamed stress, told me I was “just sensitive.”
But I knew something wasn’t right.
It took collapsing on set and nearly dying to finally get a diagnosis: celiac disease—a severe autoimmune condition that had gone undetected for far too long. That experience broke me open. It also gave me my first taste of real rebellion: I wrote the truth.
That book became Jennifer’s Way—a New York Times bestseller that chronicled my journey through misdiagnosis, medical gaslighting, and ultimately, healing. But it wasn’t enough to write the story. I had to live it.
So I opened Jennifer’s Way Bakery, the first gluten-free, allergen-friendly, vegan bakery in New York City. It was more than a storefront. It was a lifeline—for myself and for others living with food restrictions and autoimmune conditions who finally felt seen. I’ll always be searching for food that tastes like freedom. And I’ll always stand up for the power of telling the truth—whether on the page, on screen, or in your own damn kitchen.
[the mission]
The Bigger Picture.
I’ve been told no more times than I can count.
No, you can’t write a book.
(I did. And it became a NYT Bestseller—Jennifer’s Way.)
No, you can’t make a film.
(I did. And it won awards across the country.)
No, you can’t start a business.
(I did. I launched NYC’s first gluten-free, vegan, allergen-friendly bakery.)
The list goes on. But I said yes to myself every time.And I created what I needed to survive.That’s why I teach now.To help others do the same. Because I believe deeply: Creating human stories is how we come back to ourselves. And we need those stories now more than ever. So if you’re ready to stop waiting for permission and start living your own rebellious life—You’re in the right place.
If something inside you knows it’s time—
To stop performing.
To tell the story.
To remember who you are beneath the noise—
Then you’re already part of this.
The Rebel Collective isn’t about perfection.
It’s about presence.
It’s about showing up as yourself, wherever you are in the process, and doing the work that only you can do.
Classes. Community. Creation. Rebellion.
We’re building something honest here. You’re invited.
[Explore Courses], [Explore Mentorship] or [Join the Newsletter] to stay in the loop. We’ll be right here, whenever you’re ready.
I’ve been told no more times than I can count.
No, you can’t write a book. *
(I did. And it became a NYT Bestseller—Jennifer’s Way.)
No, you can’t make a film.
(I did. And it won awards across the country.)
No, you can’t start a business.
(I did. I launched NYC’s first gluten-free, vegan, allergen-friendly bakery.)
The list goes on.
But I said yes to myself every time.
And I created what I needed to survive.
That’s why I teach now.
To help others do the same.
Because I believe deeply:
Creating human stories is how we come back to ourselves.
And we need those stories now more than ever.
So if you’re ready to stop waiting for permission and start living your own rebellious life—
You’re in the right place.
If something inside you knows it’s time—
To stop performing.
To tell the story.
To remember who you are beneath the noise—
Then you’re already part of this.
The Rebel Collective isn’t about perfection.
It’s about presence.
It’s about showing up as yourself, wherever you are in the process, and doing the work that only you can do.
Classes. Community. Creation. Rebellion.
We’re building something honest here. You’re invited.
[Explore Courses], [Explore Mentorship] or [Join the Newsletter] to stay in the loop. We’ll be right here, whenever you’re ready.
I never set out to be rebellious.
It’s not a title I chose—it’s one the world gave me for refusing to stay small.
After decades in an industry, and a world, that told me who I should be—what to wear, how to act, what stories to tell—I almost believed them.
Almost.
The noise, the dismissal, the constant pressure to shrink…it wears on you. But something inside me never stopped whispering:You are meant for more.
That whisper became my mission.
Not just to make art—but to make space.For myself. For other artists. For anyone who’s tired of being told they’re too much—or not enough.
[Making the Work That Needed to Exist]
The Creative Work.
I’ve been a professional actor for over 25 years, with more than 60 film and television credits—Including the Academy Award-winning film Crash and and Spike Lee’s Summer of Sam.
But I didn’t stop there.
I’m the writer, director, producer, and co-star of Fresh Kills, my directorial debut and my most personal work to date. The film was a 10+ year journey, made against the odds and entirely from the gut. It premiered to critical acclaim, winning the Audience Award at The Hamptons International Film Festival, NYWIFT Excellence in Directing, and Filmmaker on the Rise from Astra.
RogerEbert.com called it “a film that stands tall alongside the best post-Godfather gangster movies.” But it’s not really a gangster film. It’s about survival. It’s about reclaiming your voice.
It’s about rebellion.
Through my production company, A Rebellious Act Project, I continue to support independent storytelling—especially by women and underrepresented creatives. The company is home to Fresh Kills, several short films, and the seeds of what’s next.
[The Ongoing Conversation: Where the Work Gets Personal]
A Rebellious Life.
Want a deeper look at the mess, the meaning, and the magic behind the work?
Head to A Rebellious Life on Substack, where I share the raw, unfiltered side of this journey—
Some weeks it’s a letter. Other times a video, a breakdown, a breakthrough, a poem, or a film recommendation.
It’s not about being polished.
It’s about being human.
You can also catch me and my co-host Cat Yezbak on the Rebellious Podcast—a new series where we talk art, culture, rebellion, conditioning, and everything in between.
Sometimes it’s funny. Sometimes it’s devastating. Always, it’s honest.
