Jessica Paré

Early Life and Education

Jessica Paré was born on December 5, 1980, in Montreal, Quebec. She is the daughter of Anthony Paré, a former chair of the education department at McGill University, and Louise Mercier, a conference interpreter. Paré grew up in the Montreal neighbourhood of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce with three brothers. Her family background is French Canadian and Irish, and she is fluent in both English and French. The performing arts were a family tradition, as her father was an actor and drama teacher who toured with a theatre company, and her mother acted in amateur productions. Her interest in acting began in childhood while watching her father's rehearsals and helping him learn lines for a production of The Tempest.

Paré attended Villa Maria, a private Catholic high school in Montreal. During her teenage years, she studied drama at TheatreWorks and appeared in numerous amateur theatre productions. Her early stage roles included playing Maid Marian in Robin Hood and Lucy in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. These formative experiences in Montreal's artistic community laid the groundwork for her professional career. After high school, she briefly enrolled in the fine arts program at Dawson College in Montreal but left to pursue acting full time.

Career Beginnings and Breakthrough

Paré's professional career began during her final year of high school with a small role in the television film Bonanno: A Godfather's Story in 1999. This experience convinced her to pursue acting as a career. She subsequently left Dawson College and took on various small roles, including an episode of Big Wolf on Campus and the French film En Vacances. Her big break came when she auditioned for a minor part in Denys Arcand's film Stardom in 2000. Arcand instead cast her in the lead role of a naive ice hockey player who becomes an international supermodel. The film closed the 2000 Cannes Film Festival and, despite mixed reviews, established Paré as a rising star in the Canadian film industry.

Following Stardom, Paré starred in the 2001 film Lost and Delirious, a story about two young lovers at a girls' boarding school. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, and Paré's performance alongside co-stars Mischa Barton and Piper Perabo was widely praised. She continued to build her filmography with roles in Canadian television miniseries such as Random Passage in 2002 and Napoléon the same year. She also had a cameo in Deepa Mehta's Bollywood/Hollywood. Her work during this period solidified her reputation as a versatile young actress in Canadian cinema and television.

Transition to Hollywood and Film Work

Paré made her Hollywood debut in the 2004 romantic thriller Wicker Park, starring Josh Hartnett and Diane Kruger. That same year, she appeared in the television miniseries Lives of the Saints and had a recurring role on The WB series Jack & Bobby, playing a character who grows up to become First Lady. Throughout the late 2000s, she balanced work in independent films with larger projects. She co-starred in the French-Canadian romantic comedy Jusqu'à toi and had a role in the Montreal-filmed comedy The Trotsky in 2009.

In 2009, Paré starred in the vampire horror-comedy Suck, for which she learned to play the bass guitar. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and her performance earned her a nomination for a Canadian Comedy Award for best female performance in film. She followed this with a role as a groupie in the comedy Hot Tub Time Machine in 2010. That year, she also starred in the Canadian comedy Peepers, which competed in Montreal's Just for Laughs film festival. These varied film roles demonstrated her range across genres from comedy to horror.

Major Television Roles

Paré's career reached a new level of prominence in 2010 when she joined the cast of the acclaimed AMC drama series Mad Men. She played Megan Calvet, who becomes the second wife of protagonist Don Draper, portrayed by Jon Hamm. Her character was prominently featured in the Season 5 premiere, where she performed a memorable rendition of the song "Zou Bisou Bisou." Paré's recording of the song was released as a single in 2012. Her role on the series lasted for several seasons and brought her international recognition.

In 2017, Paré joined the main cast of the CBS military drama SEAL Team as Amanda "Mandy" Ellis, the team's CIA liaison. She remained a series regular for multiple seasons, with the show being renewed for a fourth season in 2020. In addition to acting on the series, Paré also stepped behind the camera, directing an episode of SEAL Team. Her television work also includes voice roles in animated series such as The Simpsons, Big Hero 6: The Series, and Star vs. the Forces of Evil, which highlight her versatility as a performer.

Later Film Projects and Other Work

Following her success on television, Paré continued to work in film. She appeared in the 2015 drama Brooklyn and starred in the 2014 romantic comedy Standby, which was filmed in Luxembourg and Ireland. Her more recent projects include a role in the 2025 series The Bearded Girl, where she plays Anwen O'Driscoll. She is also credited in the 2026 project Crew Girl, indicating her ongoing activity in the industry.

Beyond acting, Paré has engaged in musical performances. In 2012, she appeared on stage with the band The Jesus and Mary Chain, singing "Just Like Honey" at concerts in Buffalo and Toronto. She identifies as a feminist, having stated in an interview with Fashion magazine that she believes in the equal treatment of men and women. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to both Canadian and international productions across multiple mediums.

Personal Life

Jessica Paré married writer and producer Joseph M. Smith in 2007. The couple divorced in 2010. In 2013, she began a relationship with musician John Kastner. The couple have a son together. Paré has described her personal faith as Catholic. She maintains a residence in Montreal while working on projects primarily in the United States, often returning to her home province for film and television work. Her personal life remains largely private, with public discussions focused primarily on her professional achievements and advocacy.

Questions about Jessica Paré

Where is Jessica Paré from?

Jessica Paré is from Montreal, Quebec. She was born and raised in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood of the city. She is fluently bilingual, speaking both English and French, which reflects her French Canadian and Irish family heritage. Paré attended Villa Maria, a private Catholic high school in Montreal, and began her acting career in the city's film and theatre scene before working internationally.

Did Jessica Paré sing "Zou Bisou Bisou" herself on Mad Men?

Yes, Jessica Paré performed the song "Zou Bisou Bisou" herself in the Season 5 premiere of Mad Men. Her character, Megan Draper, sings and dances to the song at a surprise birthday party for Don Draper. Paré's recording of the song was subsequently released as a single for digital download and on a special vinyl edition in March 2012. The performance became one of the most talked-about moments from that season of the series.

Is Jessica Paré still on SEAL Team?

Jessica Paré was a main cast member on SEAL Team, playing CIA officer Amanda Ellis, for multiple seasons starting in 2017. The series was renewed for a fourth season in 2020. In addition to acting on the show, Paré also directed an episode.

Is Jessica Paré married?

Jessica Paré was married to writer and producer Joseph M. Smith from 2007 until their divorce in 2010. Since 2013, she has been in a relationship with musician John Kastner. Paré and Kastner have a son together. She keeps her personal life relatively private, and these details are a matter of public record from various biographical sources.

What is Jessica Paré best known for?

Jessica Paré is best known for her television roles as Megan Calvet Draper on the AMC period drama Mad Men and as CIA liaison Amanda Ellis on the CBS military drama SEAL Team. Her portrayal of Megan Draper, particularly her performance of "Zou Bisou Bisou" in a memorable season premiere, brought her significant recognition. She is also known for her early work in Canadian cinema, notably starring in Denys Arcand's film Stardom. In that 2000 film, she played a naive ice hockey player propelled to international stardom as a supermodel, which made her the Canadian film industry's "it girl. Her career also includes a variety of film roles from independent projects to Hollywood features.

What other movies has Jessica Paré been in?

Beyond her television work, Jessica Paré has appeared in numerous films. Her early notable roles include Lost and Delirious (2001), Wicker Park (2004), and the vampire comedy Suck (2009). She also appeared in Hot Tub Time Machine (2010), the romantic comedy Standby (2014), and the drama Brooklyn (2015). Her filmography began with a role in Stardom (2000) and includes other titles such as the girl gang thriller Posers (2003) and the comedic short Sorry, Rabbi (2011). She also starred in the independent French Canadian romantic comedy Jusqu'à toi and had a role in The Trotsky (2009).

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.