Zoe Lister-Jones
Lister-Jones in 2017
Born (1982-09-01) September 1, 1982 (age 41)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Alma materNew York University (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • director
  • producer
  • screenwriter
Years active2004–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2013; div. 2022)​
Parents

Zoe Lister-Jones (born September 1, 1982)[1] is an American actress and filmmaker who co-starred as Jen Collins Short in the CBS sitcom Life in Pieces from 2015 to 2019. She is also known for her roles in the television shows Delocated (2009–2010), Whitney (2011–2013), and New Girl (2015). Lister-Jones made her directorial debut with the 2017 comedy-drama film Band Aid. In 2020, she wrote and directed the horror film The Craft: Legacy. During the Covid-19 pandemic she co-wrote and co-directed the comedy-drama film How It Ends (2021) with Daryl Wein. In 2023 she produced, wrote, directed, and starred in the comedy series Slip for The Roku Channel, with Dakota Johnson as executive producer under her TeaTime Pictures banner. On December 5, 2023, it was announced that Slip was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards.

Early life and education

Lister-Jones was born in Brooklyn, New York City. Her mother is the Canadian-born and New York-based video artist Ardele Lister, and her father is the American photographer and media artist Bill Jones.[2] Her mother was born to a Jewish family, whereas her father converted to Judaism.[3][4] In 2000, she graduated from Edward R Murrow High School in Brooklyn.[5] She graduated with honors from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.[6] Lister-Jones performed with a rock band.[7][8] Her mother was president of a local Conservative egalitarian synagogue that the family attended every Saturday, and she also kept a kosher home.[9]

Career

Her debut solo CD was titled Skip the Kiss.[10] Kyle Forester, who composed the score for Breaking Upwards, arranged the music for Skip the Kiss.

Lister-Jones' New York City theater credits include Seminar, The Little Dog Laughed and The New Group's The Accomplices. Her screen credits include the political thriller State of Play, Salt, The Other Guys, The Marconi Bros., Day Zero, as well as quirky independent films such as Armless, Arranged, and Palladio. On television she has appeared in Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, on HBO's Bored to Death, as Kim on Adult Swim's Delocated, as Lily in the cast of the NBC sitcom Whitney, as Kate in Friends with Better Lives, as Councilwoman Fawn Moscato in New Girl, as Jen in Life in Pieces and as Carolyn Hart in the HBO film Confirmation.

In 2004, Lister-Jones wrote and performed the one-woman, ten-character show Co-dependence is a Four Letter Word at New York City's Performance Space 122 (P.S.122).[11]

In 2007, she appeared in the independent film, Arranged.[12]

In 2009, Lister-Jones co-starred, co-produced (with Daryl Wein), and co-wrote (with Peter Duchan and Daryl Wein) the independent feature Breaking Upwards,[13] which explores a young New York couple who, battling codependency, strategize their own break up.[14] The film was shot in New York on a budget of $15,000, and was featured in a New York Times article as an example of sweat equity in the independent-film industry.[15] Lister-Jones also wrote the lyrics and performed many of the tracks of the original motion picture sound track. Breaking Upwards premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in March, 2009.[16]

Lister-Jones starred with Sam Rosen in Brady Kiernan's romantic drama Stuck Between Stations (2011) alongside Josh Hartnett and Michael Imperioli. Stuck Between Stations premiered as an official selection of the Viewpoints section at the SVA Theater at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, New York, U.S.A.[17]

Lister-Jones starred in the independent feature film Lola Versus (2012), her second project co-written with director Daryl Wein.[18][19] Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures, Lola Versus opened in theaters Summer 2012.[20] It stars Greta Gerwig, Zoe Lister-Jones, Bill Pullman, Hamish Linklater, Debra Winger, Joel Kinnaman and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Lola Versus premiered at New York's Tribeca Film Festival in April 2012.[21]

Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein co-wrote Consumed (2015),[22] their third feature-length collaboration directed by Wein. The political thriller, which focuses on the world of genetically modified organisms, began filming in May 2014 in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois with Shatterglass Studios. It stars Lister-Jones, Kunal Nayyar, Taylor Kinney, Victor Garber, Danny Glover, Griffin Dunne, Anthony Edwards, and Beth Grant.[23] Consumed premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 15, 2015.[24]

In 2017, Lister-Jones made her directorial debut with her indie film Band Aid,[25] starring Lister-Jones, Adam Pally, Fred Armisen, Hannah Simone, Colin Hanks, Brooklyn Decker, Majandra Delfino, Jesse Williams, Susie Essman, Ravi Patel, Jamie Chung, Chris D’Elia, Retta, and Jerry O’Connell. The film features lyrics for original songs written by Lister-Jones and composed by Kyle Forester (Breaking Upwards). In 2020, she wrote and directed Columbia and Blumhouse's The Craft: Legacy, the sequel to the 1996 film The Craft.[26]

In March 2022, it was announced Lister-Jones would write, direct and star in the comedy series Slip for The Roku Channel, with Dakota Johnson set to executive produce under her TeaTime Pictures banner.[27] On December 5, 2023, it was announced that Slip was nominated twice for the 39th Independent Spirit Awards: Best New Scripted Series and Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series.

Personal life

In 2013, Lister-Jones married her acting, writing and production partner Daryl Wein.[28] In 2021, she announced that they had split after a 17-year-relationship. Lister-Jones described how they had been "in and out of an open relationship."[29] At the 39th Spirit Awards, she revealed that she considers herself queer and disclosed she is currently dating filmmaker Sammi Cohen.[30]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Zoe's Car Zoe Video short
2004 Nausea II Annie Ball
2005 Anna on the Neck Alessandra Short film
2006 New Boobs Patricia Coleo Short film
2007 Arranged Rochel Meshenberg
2007 The Last 15 Stephanie Kirkland Short film
2007 Day Zero Jessica Hendricks
2007 Turn the River Kat
2007 Five Difficult Situations C Short film
2008 The Marconi Bros. Lauren
2008 Explicit Ills Jen
2008 Goyband Hani
2009 Breaking Upwards Zoe Also writer and producer
2009 State of Play Jessy
2010 Armless Jenny
2010 Shadows & Lies Rebecca
2010 Salt CIA Security Hub Tech
2010 The Other Guys Therapist
2010 All Good Things Press Conference Reporter
2011 Stuck Between Stations Rebecca
2012 Lola Versus Alice Also writer
2014 Let's Get Digital Sophie Short film
2015 Consumed Sophie Kessler Also writer, and producer
2016 Confirmation Carolyn Hart Television film
2017 Band Aid Anna Also writer, director, and producer
2020 The Craft: Legacy — Writer and director
2021 How It Ends Liza Also writer and director
2023 A Good Person Simone
2023 Beau Is Afraid Young Mona
TBA Untitled Pavement film Anne

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Trisha Ford Episode: "Pattern of Conduct"
2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Maya Sampson Episode: "Diamond Dogs"
2006 Kidnapped E.J. Episode: "Sorry, Wrong Number"
2006 Law & Order Hannah Welch Episode: "Public Service Homicide"
2006 The Class Jeanie Callucci Episode: "The Class Goes to a Bar"
2008 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Faith Episode: "Unorthodox"
2009 Washingtonienne Chiara Episode: "Pilot"
2009 State of Romance Alice Episode: "Pilot"
2009 Bored to Death Michelle Episode: "The Case of the Stolen Skateboard"
2009–2010 Delocated Kim Recurring role (15 episodes)
2010 The Good Wife Charlotte Armitage Episode: "Bad"
2011–2013 Whitney Lily Dixon Main role, 2 seasons
2014 Friends with Better Lives Kate Main role
2015 New Girl Fawn Moscato Recurring role (5 episodes)
2015–2019 Life in Pieces Jen Short Main role
2023 Slip Mae Cannon Main role, writer, director

Theater

Broadway

Year Title Role Venue Notes
2006 The Little Dog Laughed Ellen Cort Theatre
2012 Seminar Kate John Golden Theatre

Off Broadway

Year Title Role Venue Notes
2007 The Accomplices Betty The New Group
2008 The Marriage of Bette and Boo Joan Roundabout Theater Company
2022 Slanted! Enchanted! A Pavement Musical Anne Sheen Center

One-woman shows

Year Title Role Venue Notes
2004 Codependence Is a Four-Letter Word Ten characters P.S. 122

References

  1. ^ "Zoe Lister Jones | British Film Institute". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  2. ^ Baylen, Ashley (September 17, 2012). "Interview With 'Whitney' and 'Lola Versus' Actress Zoe Lister-Jones". ShalomLife.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  3. ^ Williams Cole (14 December 2007). "Of Skin and Snoods". Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  4. ^ Pfefferman, Naomi (31 May 2017). "Zoe Lister-Jones puts 'Band Aid' on wounds of relationships — Jewish Journal". Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  5. ^ Edward R. Murrow High School
  6. ^ "Cast of Palladio: "Molly"". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  7. ^ Guy Richards Smit#Maxi Geil!|Maxi Geil! & Playcolt
  8. ^ "Maxi Geil! & Playcolt - A Message To My Audience". Discogs. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  9. ^ Fox, Michael (Jun 8, 2017). "Romantic comedy 'Band Aid' keeps writer-director-star's Jewishness intact". J. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  10. ^ "Merge Records". Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  11. ^ "Zoe Lister-Jones: Codependence is a Four-Letter Word". NEWSgrist. Archived from the original on 2007-02-18. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
  12. ^ Of Skin and Snoods Archived 2021-08-14 at the Wayback Machine." The Brooklyn Rail, December 7, 2007-January 8, 2008.
  13. ^ "Breaking Upwards". Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
  14. ^ "The Private Lives of Zoe Lister-Jones". Interview Magazine. 25 March 2010. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  15. ^ Rother, Larry (March 26, 2010). "Sweat Equity, the Movie". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 8, 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  16. ^ "SXSW Review: Breaking Upwards". Film School Rejects. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  17. ^ "Tribeca Film Festival unveils competition lineup". Entertainment Weekly. Jeff Labrecque. March 7, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-03-08. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
  18. ^ DAVID AMSDEN (13 June 2012). "Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones - Partners in Life and in Movies - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  19. ^ Syme, Rachel (18 June 2012). "Double Feature". TIME.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2012.
  20. ^ When and where to see LOLA VERSUS this summer Archived June 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ John DeFore (April 26, 2012). "Lola Versus: Tribeca Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  22. ^ "CONSUMED, the Movie". Archived from the original on 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2014-11-03.
  23. ^ Borys Kit. "Zoe Lister-Jones to Star in Political Thriller 'Food' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  24. ^ LA Film Festival: Consumed Archived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ Kroll, Justin (Jul 19, 2016). "Zoe Lister-Jones Makes her Directorial Debut with Indie 'Band Aid'". Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  26. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (26 March 2019). "Columbia Pictures & Blumhouse Officially Tap Zoe Lister-Jones To Direct & Write 'The Craft' Reboot". Deadline. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  27. ^ White, Peter (March 23, 2022). "Zoe Lister-Jones Sets Comedy Series 'Slip' At Roku From Dakota Johnson's TeaTime & Boat Rocker". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  28. ^ "Grappling With GMOs: Daryl Wein & Zoe Lister-Jones On 'Consumed'". Rich Roll. 4 November 2015. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  29. ^ "Zoe Lister-Jones Opens Up About Her Open Marriage with Director Daryl Wein". Pajiba. 16 September 2021. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  30. ^ Gardner, Chris (February 26, 2024). "Zoe Lister-Jones Comes Out by Revealing New Relationship After Divorce: "I'm Here, I'm Queer"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 26, 2024.

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