{{Distinguish|text=English actress Lisa Jacobs (actress)}}{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2025}} {{short description|Canadian writer, yoga teacher, and former child actress}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox person | image = | image_size = | name = Lisa Jakub | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|12|27}} | birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | other_names = | alma_mater = University of Virginia | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|writer|yoga teacher}} | years_active = 1985–2001 (actress)<br />2013–present (writer) | website = {{url|hellolisajakub.com}} | spouse = {{marriage|Jeremy Jones|2005}} }} '''Lisa Jakub''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|eɪ|k|ə|b}}; born December 27, 1978) is a Canadian writer, yoga teacher, and former child actress.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/999635/mrs-doubtfire-child-star-lisa-jakub-turns-40-see-the-cast-then-and-now|title=Mrs. Doubtfire's Lisa Jakub Turns 40: See Cast Then and Now|date=December 27, 2018|website=E! Online|accessdate=May 8, 2019}}</ref> She is best known for her roles as Lydia Hillard in the comedy-drama film ''Mrs. Doubtfire'' (1993) and as Alicia Casse in ''Independence Day'' (1996).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/939474/Mrs-Doubtfire-Lydia-child-star-Lisa-Jakub-actress-then-now-what-happened|title=Mrs Doubtfire child star Lisa Jakub looks like THIS now: What happened to Lydia?|last=Kitchener|first=Shaun|date=April 6, 2018|website=Express.co.uk|language=en|access-date=May 8, 2019}}</ref>
==Childhood and education== Jakub was born on December 27, 1978, in Toronto, Ontario.<ref name=":0" /> She is of Slovak (father) and Welsh and Scottish (mother) descent. Jakub attended multiple schools in her early life, including Hillfield Strathallan College.<ref>{{cite web |author=Lisa |url=http://lisajakub.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/what-are-you/ |title=What are you? | Lisa Jakub |publisher=Lisajakub.wordpress.com |date= |accessdate=2014-08-19 |archive-date=August 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825023018/http://lisajakub.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/what-are-you/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Jakub graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in sociology in 2010.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004356/bio|title=Lisa Jakub|website=IMDb|access-date=2018-07-26}}</ref>
==Acting== Jakub's first role was as Katis' Granddaughter in the 1985 film ''Eleni''.<ref name=":0" /> She appeared in comedy-drama film ''Mrs. Doubtfire'' (1993) alongside Mara Wilson, Sally Field, Matthew Lawrence, and Robin Williams.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/mrs-doubtfire-star-lisa-jakub-reveals-robin-williams-impact-her-t138790|title=What happened the 1st time 'Mrs. Doubtfire' star saw Robin Williams in character|website=TODAY.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=TODAY|title='Mrs. Doubtfire' Actress Lisa Jakub Reveals Robin Williams' Impact On Her Life Now {{!}} TODAY|date=2018-10-05|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS9_8KK7owk|access-date=2019-05-08}}</ref> When Jakub received the part of Lydia in ''Mrs. Doubtfire'', her high school expelled her for accruing too many absences. Robin Williams wrote a letter to Jakub's high school, pleading with them to re-admit her, but this was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/robin-williams-mrs-doubtfire-daughter-lisa-jakub-shares-moving-story-2014138|title=Robin Williams' Mrs. Doubtfire Costar Pens Moving Blog Post in His Honor|date=14 August 2014 |publisher=|accessdate=21 June 2017}}</ref>
Jakub played Sandra in ''Matinee'' (1993), appeared in ''A Pig's Tale'' (1994) and ''Independence Day'' (1996), ''The Beautician and the Beast'' (1997), and played the "inspiration" for Princess Leia in the short film ''George Lucas in Love'' (1999). She starred in ''Picture Perfect'' (1995) and portrayed a bordello worker in the American Old West in ''Painted Angels'' (1997).<ref name=":0" />
==Personal life== Jakub retired from acting in 2001 at age 22,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://communitytable.com/51353/michelechollow/former-child-star-trades-fame-for-happinessand-a-new-best-friend/|title=Former Child Star Trades Fame for Happiness—and a New Best Friend|publisher=|accessdate=21 June 2017}}</ref> and soon moved to Virginia. In 2005, she married Jeremy Jones, a longtime friend and former theatre manager.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lisa-jakub-mrs-doubtfire_n_3368025|title=Lisa Jakub's Post-'Mrs. Doubtfire' Life: Former Child Star Blogs To Inform Us Of Her Whereabouts |website=Huffpost |date=2013-05-31 |accessdate=2019-11-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ca.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/north-stars/mrs-doubtfire-star-lisa-jakub-reveals-why-she-152956455.html|title='Mrs. Doubtfire' star Lisa Jakub reveals why she left acting|first=Soraya|last=Jacobs|website=ca.omg.yahoo.com|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-05-08}}</ref> In 2014, Jakub stated she has no plans to return to acting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lisajakub.wordpress.com/2014/04/23/things-change-and-nothing-changes-mrs-doubtfire-2-debrief/|title=Things change and nothing changes: Mrs. Doubtfire 2 debrief|first=Lisa|last=Jakub|date=2014-04-23|publisher=Lisajakub.wordpress.com|accessdate=2014-08-19}}</ref>
Jakub later became a writer, authoring two non-fiction books: the autobiography ''You Look Like That Girl'' (2015) and ''Not Just Me'' (2017). She also contributes to online blogs''.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reallisajakub.com/about/|title=About|website=Lisa Jakub|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-26}}</ref>
Jakub is a qualified Kripalu yoga teacher.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://kripalu.org/presenters-programs/presenters/lisa-jakub|title=Lisa Jakub|work=Kripalu|access-date=2018-07-26|language=en}}</ref> She has openly discussed her battles with anxiety, depression and panic attacks, from which she has suffered since her teenage years, and credits her yoga practice for helping her to overcome them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reallisajakub.com/not-just-me/|title=The Anxiety Book: Not Just Me|website=Lisa Jakub|access-date=2018-07-26}}</ref> In 2021, Jakub launched a new website, BlueMala, which she described as the resource that she wished she had when she was in her darkest moments. The website contains Jakub's articles on mental wellness along with her yoga and meditation videos.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Story|url=https://bluemala.com/story|access-date=2021-10-04|website=Blue Mala|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Writings== * ''You Look Like That Girl: A Child Actor Stops Pretending and Finally Grows Up'' (2015) * ''Not Just Me: Anxiety, Depression, and Learning to Embrace Your Weird'' (2017) * ''(Don't) Call Me Crazy'' (contributing writer) (Algonquin, 2018)
==Filmography==
===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1985 |''Eleni'' |Katis' Granddaughter | |- |1991 |''Rambling Rose'' |Doll | |- |1993 |''Matinee'' |Sandra | |- |1993 |''Mrs. Doubtfire'' |Lydia "Lydie" Hillard | |- |1994 |''{{sortname|A|Pig's Tale|nolink=1}}'' |Tiffany |Video |- |1996 |''Independence Day'' |Alicia Casse | |- |1997 |''{{sortname|The|Beautician and the Beast}}'' |Katrina Pochenko | |- |1998 |''Painted Angels'' |Georgie | |- |1999 |''{{sortname|A|Walk on the Moon}}'' |Myra Naidell | |- |1999 |''George Lucas in Love'' |Marion |Short film |- |2000 |''Double Frame'' |Tara | |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1986 |''{{sortname|The|Right of the People|The Right of the People}}'' |Katie |TV film |- |1986 |''Kay O'Brien'' |Allison Villaneuva |Episode: "Taking the Heat" |- |1986 |''Christmas Eve'' |Little Girl |TV film |- |1987 |''Friday the 13th: The Series'' |Kristen |Episode: "A Cup of Time" |- |1988 |''Once Upon a Giant'' |Little Red Riding Hood |TV film |- |1988 |''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' |Missy |Episode: "Kandinsky's Vault" |- |1988 |''Emergency Room'' |Angie Sertoli |Episode: "All Hallows Eve" |- |1989 |''{{sortname|The|Twilight Zone|The Twilight Zone (1985 TV series)}}'' |Lisa Cranston |Episode: "Street of Shadows" |- |1989 |''Friday the 13th: The Series'' |Janine Carlson |Episode: "The Playhouse" |- |1989 |''Glory! Glory!'' | |TV film |- |1989 |''{{sortname|The|Phone Call|nolink=1}}'' |Holly Henderson |TV film |- |1990 |''War of the Worlds'' |Julie |Episode: "The Pied Piper" |- |1990 |''Night Court'' |Barbie |Episode: "My Three Dads" |- |1991 |''{{sortname|The|Rape of Doctor Willis|nolink=1}}'' |Carrie Willis |TV film |- |1991 |''{{sortname|The|Story Lady|nolink=1}}'' |Alexandra Pollard |TV film |- |1993 |''Bride of Violence 2'' |Anna |TV film |- |1994 |''{{sortname|A|Child's Cry for Help}}'' |Amanda Spencer |TV film |- |1994 |''Due South'' |Christina Nichols |Episodes: "Chicago Holiday: Parts 1 & 2" |- |1995 |''Fight for Justice: The Nancy Conn Story'' |Leisa Conn |TV film |- |1995 |''Picture Perfect'' |J.J. Thomas |TV film |- |1996 |''Bermuda Triangle'' |Annie |TV film |- |1996 |''Reckoning'' |Shelley Maitland |TV film |- |1997 |''Newton: A Tale of Two Isaacs'' |Clara Storey |TV film |- |1997 |''On the Edge of Innocence'' |Ally Winthrop |TV film |- |1998 |''Dream House'' |Jenny Thornton |TV film |- |1999 |''Mentors'' |Joan of Arc |Episode: "Raising the Siege" |- |1999 |''Jack & Jill'' |Meg |Episode: "Pseudos, Sex and Sidebars" |- |2000 |''{{sortname|The|Royal Diaries: Isabel - Jewel of Castilla|nolink=1}}'' |Isabel |TV film |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== <!-- per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only --> *{{Official website|https://hellolisajakub.com/}} *{{IMDb name|4356}} *[http://youlooklikethatgirl.com You Look Like That Girl] *[https://bluemala.com/ Lisa Jakub's Blue Mala website]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jakub, Lisa}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:Writers from Toronto Category:Actresses from Toronto Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States Category:Canadian film actresses Category:Canadian television actresses Category:Canadian child actresses Category:Canadian women non-fiction writers Category:Canadian people of Scottish descent Category:Canadian people of Slovak descent Category:Canadian people of Welsh descent Category:20th-century Canadian actresses Category:21st-century Canadian women writers