| Birth name | Lauren Joy Jorgensen |
|---|---|
| Birth date | c. 1989 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2002–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][21]
In 2020, Jorgensen produced the feature film Homebody, which won a U.S. In Progress award[22] and the Outfest 2021 Special Programming Award for Emerging Talent for director Joseph Sackett.[23] Also in 2020, Jorgensen began producing the feature film Runner, [6] 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.[24] Runner premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival[25] 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,[26] winner of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival’s Short Film Jury Award in International Fiction. The film was directed by Oscar-winner Zamarin Wahdat.[27]
In 2024, it was announced that Jorgensen produced the narrative feature film We Strangers, directed by Anu Valia,[28] which premiered at SXSW 2024,[29] and went on to win the Grand Jury Prize for New American Cinema[30] at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF).[31] 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.[29]
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,[32] a recipient of the 2022 NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre in partnership with the City of New York,[33][34] and a 2024 Ingmar Bergman Estate Foundation Resident.[5]
Filmography
| 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[22] 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.[27] |
| Runner | 2022 | Premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival;[25] 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;[29] Won the Grand Jury Prize for New American Cinema[30] at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF).;[31] 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[28] Distributed through Quiver Distribution.[29] |
| 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" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Rouges | Choir | |
| 2007 | Teeth | Amy Johnson | |
| 2010 | The Assignment | Shelley | |
| 2013 | House of Dust | Blythe |
References
- ^ "Joy Lauren - Desperate Housewives". CTV. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ Aimee Deeken (November 23, 2007). "Inside Desperate Housewives: Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen". TV Guide. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
- ^ "Jul 29, 2005, page 51 - USA Today at Newspapers.com™". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Our guests – The Bergman Estate on Fårö". bergmangardarna.se. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ Meza, Ed (2020-09-08). "Killjoy Films, Easy Riders Partner on Marian Mathias' Midwest Drama 'Runner'". Variety. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ "Joy Jorgensen". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ Caramie Schnell (March 3, 2007). "Snowboard instructor to the stars". Vail Daily. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Joy Lauren: Official Biography". joylauren.com. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ "About — Killjoy Films". www.killjoyfilms.de
- ^ Meza, Ed (September 8, 2020). "Killjoy Films, Easy Riders Partner on Marian Mathias' Midwest Drama 'Runner'"
- ^ Thurman, Marchelle (2026-01-15). "Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Joy Jorgensen". New York Women in Film & Television. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ "Joy Jorgensen - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ^ "Jul 29, 2005, page 51 - USA Today at Newspapers.com™". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ^ "Oct 18, 2008, page 25 - Daily Press at Newspapers.com™". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ^ "Jessica Hecht Signs on For Final Season of ABC's 'Desperate Housewives' | Playbill". Playbill. Archived 2021-02-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ Locke, Mary (2017-02-21). "All for One, One for All: Laps". Independent Magazine. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Blue Christmas - Directed by Charlotte Wells". National Board of Review. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ "sundance.org". Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ Grater, Tom (2020-11-16). "Poland's American Film Festival Crowns U.S Work In Progress & Festival Winners". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Baur, Alex (2021-02-04). "Sundance Film Festival: Ein Preis geht nach Hamburg". FINK.HAMBURG. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ Pennick, Bailey (2022-06-15). "Don't Miss Out on Our Summer Shorts Program. Become a Member. - sundance.org". Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ Lopez, Kristen (2024-01-10). "SXSW Lineup Includes 'The Fall Guy' and Pamela Adlon's Feature Directorial Debut". TheWrap. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Salvant, Ranya (2024-05-23). "50th Seattle International Film Festival Award Winners". The Knockturnal. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "TorinoFilmLab | Joy Jorgensen". TorinoFilmLab. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ "NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre". Nyfa. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ "NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre - MOME". www.nyc.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-13.