‘I want to inspire’: Local actress with Down syndrome makes big screen debut

Edmonton's Jenny Angus has been dreaming of becoming an actress since she was five-years-old, and now she's acting in her first film. Matt Woodman has her story

Jenny Angus, an Edmonton actress with Down syndrome, is making her Hollywood debut with a movie currently in theatres – and it all started with an audition from her living room.

“It was electric. Like a dream come true,” the 22-year-old actress said.

Having wanted to be an actress since she was five, Jenny landed her first film role with her first audition over a Zoom call with a casting director in Hollywood. It led to a background role in the 2026 romance movie Reminders of Him, starring Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers, out in theatres right now.

“She’s very bubbly, she’s very energetic, and she loves performing,” Mary Angus, Jenny’s mother, said about her daughter.

Jenny spent two days on set in Calgary last April filming the movie, where she became friends with another actress with Down syndrome – Monika Myers who plays Lady Diana – who got the speaking role Jenny was hoping to land.

“I can tell that she did a lot of things in her life and she is amazing,” Jenny said, describing Myers, adding that they bonded by having something in common.

But being in the background in her debut role hasn’t stopped Jenny from shining. Now she has an agent and filmed three more projects in 2025 – the upcoming third season of the Netflix series My Life with the Walter Boys, the Netflix movie Guarding Stars and one more role she can’t share details about just yet.

“I realized that the world is so small when it comes to sharing things over the computer,” Mary said, initially reluctant about the virtual audition that sent Jenny to the big screen.

Mary said seeing her daughter come alive on set has been “amazing” adding, “I thought, ‘This is actually something that we can pursue.’”

Jenny is currently doing table reads for a speaking role for a movie that will film in Detroit, which her mom says could be her “big breakthrough.”

And while Jenny is not sure what path her career will take, she is certain about one goal.

“People with Down syndrome, or any type of disability, or people that have a long journey … I want to inspire (them),” she said.

Reminders of Him released in theatres on March 13.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Matt Woodman