Joy Jorgensen

Joy Jorgensen
Lauren at the Women's Image Network Awards, November 2007
Born
Lauren Joy Jorgensen

c. 1989
OccupationActress
Years active2002–present

Lauren Joy Jorgensen, (born c. 1989[1][2]) is an American producer, director, writer and former actress. She is known for playing Danielle Van de Kamp on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives (as Joy Lauren)[3] and, as an adult, for creating award-winning films.[4] Jorgensen is a Sundance and Rotterdam Producing Fellow, Torino Film Lab Script Editing Fellow, a recipient of the 2022 NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre in partnership with the City of New York, and a 2024 Ingmar Bergman Estate Foundation Resident.[5] Jorgensen is the founder of Killjoy Films.[6]

Early life and education

Jorgensen was born in Atlanta, Georgia.[7] She is of Danish descent. She lived in the Vail, Colorado area from age 1 to 4.[8] Jorgensen attended the Galloway School and appeared in several productions by the Alliance Theatre.[9] At age 11, she moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles with her mother to pursue an acting career.[10] She graduated from high school at age 14. Jorgensen graduated from Columbia University in 2012, where she majored in American history.[10] She later received a Master's Degree in Screenwriting and Directing at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts.[11]

Jorgensen is the founder of Killjoy Films.[11][12] She has produced and directed a number of independent and short films.[13]

Career

2001–2014: acting career

Jorgensen's acting career in Los Angeles began in 2001 when she was around 12  years old.[14] As an actress, she was initially known as Joy Lauren.[15] Of her acting appearances, she is best known for her role as Danielle Van De Kamp in Desperate Housewives,[16][2] for which she appeared from the pilot[2] through the final season.[17] As part of the cast of Desperate Housewives, Jorgensen (under the name Joy Lauren) was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2006, 2007 and 2008.[7]

2014–present: filmmaking and Killjoy Films

Jorgensen is the Founder of Killjoy Films, a film production company. Jorgensen launched Killjoy Films in New York in 2014 and moved the company to Berlin in 2016.[6]

In addition to feature films, Jorgensen has produced notable shorts, including Laps, winner of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Award[18][19]; and Blue Christmas, which premiered at Toronto International Film Festival[20] and 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and is included on Sundance’s Holiday movies to watch.[21] Both were directed by Charlotte Wells.[4][22]

In 2020, Jorgensen produced the feature film Homebody, which won a U.S. In Progress award[23] and the Outfest 2021 Special Programming Award for Emerging Talent for director Joseph Sackett.[24] Also in 2020, Jorgensen began producing the feature film Runner, [25] the feature debut of director Marian Mathias, as a Killjoy Films production, made in association with Pigasus Pictures, with Easy Riders Films and Man Alive as co-producers.[26] Runner premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival[27] and won the Torino Co-Production Award, including production support from Creative Media Europe, as well as development support from the Cannes Cinéfondation Residence program.[12]

Jorgensen and her production company Killjoy produced Bambirak,[28] winner of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival’s Short Film Jury Award in International Fiction. The film was directed by Oscar-winner Zamarin Wahdat.[29]

In 2024, it was announced that Jorgensen produced the narrative feature film We Strangers, directed by Anu Valia,[30] which premiered at SXSW 2024,[31] and went on to win the Grand Jury Prize for New American Cinema[32] at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF).[33] Jorgensen’s production, We Strangers, also won IndieWire Critics’ Pick, the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature at the New Orleans Film Festival and the New Hampshire Film Festival, and was a Spotlighted Film at the Provincetown International Film Festival. The film was distributed through Quiver Distribution.[34]

Jorgensen has produced award-winning films, garnering honors and support, including funding from the Cannes Cinéfondation Residence program.[12] Jorgensen is both a Sundance and Rotterdam Producing Fellow,[13] Torino Film Lab Script Editing Fellow,[35] a recipient of the 2022 NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre in partnership with the City of New York,[36][37] and a 2024 Ingmar Bergman Estate Foundation Resident.[5]

Filmography

Producing
Title Year Notes
Laps 2017 Winner of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Award
Blue Christmas 2018 Premiered at Toronto International Film Festival[20] and 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and is included on Sundance’s Holiday movies to watch.
Homebody 2020 Won a U.S. In Progress award[23] and the Outfest 2021 Special Programming Award
Bambirak 2021 Winner of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival’s Short Film Jury Award in International Fiction; Film was directed by Oscar-winner Zamarin Wahdat.[29]
Runner 2022 Premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival[27]; won the Torino Co-Production Award, including production support from Creative Media Europe, development support from the Cannes Cinéfondation Residence program.[12]
We Strangers 2024 Premiered at SXSW 2024;[31]; Won the Grand Jury Prize for New American Cinema[32] at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF).[33]; Won IndieWire Critics’ Pick, the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature at the New Orleans Film Festival and the New Hampshire Film Festival; Spotlighted Film at the Provincetown International Film Festival. Directed by Anu Valia[30] Distributed through Quiver Distribution.[34]
Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
2002 The Division Mary Ellen Smith 2 episodes
Nominated — Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Drama Series - Guest Starring Young Actress
2002 Lizzie McGuire Head Cheerleader Episode: "Movin' on Up"
2003 Still Standing Jenna Episode: "Still Shoplifting"
2004–08, 2010–11 Desperate Housewives Danielle Van de Kamp Recurring role; 78 episodes
Nominated — Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy) - Supporting Young Actress (2006)
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2007–09)
2006 The Closer Angela Carter 2 episodes
2007 Shark Krystie Mays Episode: "Starlet Fever"
2007 Private Practice Darcy Episode: "In Which Cooper Finds a Port in His Storm"
Film roles
Year Title Role Notes
2003 Rouges Choir
2007 Teeth Amy Johnson
2010 The Assignment Shelley
2013 House of Dust Blythe

References

  1. ^ "Joy Lauren - Desperate Housewives". CTV. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Aimee Deeken (November 23, 2007). "Inside Desperate Housewives: Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen". TV Guide. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  3. ^ "Jul 29, 2005, page 51 - USA Today at Newspapers.com™". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  4. ^ a b Patten, Hipes, Dominic, Patrick (2017-01-29). "Sundance Film Festival Awards: 'I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore' & 'Dina' Take Grand Jury Prizes". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-02-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b "Our guests – The Bergman Estate on Fårö". bergmangardarna.se. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  6. ^ a b Meza, Ed (2020-09-08). "Killjoy Films, Easy Riders Partner on Marian Mathias' Midwest Drama 'Runner'". Variety. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  7. ^ a b "Joy Jorgensen". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  8. ^ Caramie Schnell (March 3, 2007). "Snowboard instructor to the stars". Vail Daily. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
  9. ^ Rodney Ho (November 26, 2006). "Comic Richards unlikely to get ATL gig anytime soon". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  10. ^ a b "Joy Lauren: Official Biography". joylauren.com. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
  11. ^ a b "About — Killjoy Films". www.killjoyfilms.de.
  12. ^ a b c d Meza, Ed (September 8, 2020). "Killjoy Films, Easy Riders Partner on Marian Mathias' Midwest Drama 'Runner'".
  13. ^ a b Thurman, Marchelle (2026-01-15). "Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Joy Jorgensen". New York Women in Film & Television. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  14. ^ "Joy Jorgensen - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  15. ^ "Jul 29, 2005, page 51 - USA Today at Newspapers.com™". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  16. ^ "Oct 18, 2008, page 25 - Daily Press at Newspapers.com™". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  17. ^ "Jessica Hecht Signs on For Final Season of ABC's 'Desperate Housewives' | Playbill". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  18. ^ Locke, Mary (2017-02-21). "All for One, One for All: Laps". Independent Magazine. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  19. ^ Hipes, Dominic Patten,Patrick (2017-01-29). "Sundance Film Festival Awards: 'I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore' & 'Dina' Take Grand Jury Prizes". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-02-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ a b "Blue Christmas - Directed by Charlotte Wells". National Board of Review. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  21. ^ "sundance.org". Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  22. ^ "sundance.org". Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  23. ^ a b Grater, Tom (2020-11-16). "Poland's American Film Festival Crowns U.S Work In Progress & Festival Winners". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  24. ^ Grobar, Matt (2021-08-24). "'No Straight Lines' & 'Firstness' Among Top Winners At Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival – Complete Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  25. ^ Meza, Ed (2020-09-08). "Killjoy Films, Easy Riders Partner on Marian Mathias' Midwest Drama 'Runner'". Variety. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  26. ^ Balaga, Marta (2022-09-19). "Marian Mathias Focuses on Small Acts of Kindness in Her Buzzy Feature Debut 'Runner,' Which Gets a Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  27. ^ a b Macaulay, Scott (2022-09-09). "14 Films We're Recommending You See at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  28. ^ Baur, Alex (2021-02-04). "Sundance Film Festival: Ein Preis geht nach Hamburg". FINK.HAMBURG. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  29. ^ a b Pennick, Bailey (2022-06-15). "Don't Miss Out on Our Summer Shorts Program. Become a Member. - sundance.org". Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  30. ^ a b Lopez, Kristen (2024-01-10). "SXSW Lineup Includes 'The Fall Guy' and Pamela Adlon's Feature Directorial Debut". TheWrap. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  31. ^ a b Bergeson, Samantha (2025-07-31). "'We Strangers' Trailer: Anu Valia's Acclaimed Feature Directorial Debut Is 'Get Out' Meets 'Look Into My Eyes'". IndieWire. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  32. ^ a b Salvant, Ranya (2024-05-23). "50th Seattle International Film Festival Award Winners". The Knockturnal. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  33. ^ a b Movies, Writing About; books; dance; television; in 2001, Fashion Since She Joined (2024-05-31). "SIFF 2024 wraps, with an attendance bump over last year's edition". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2026-02-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ a b Bergeson, Samantha (2025-07-31). "'We Strangers' Trailer: Anu Valia's Acclaimed Feature Directorial Debut Is 'Get Out' Meets 'Look Into My Eyes'". IndieWire. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  35. ^ "TorinoFilmLab | Joy Jorgensen". TorinoFilmLab. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  36. ^ "NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre". Nyfa. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  37. ^ "NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre - MOME". www.nyc.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
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