Jessica Ann Rothenberg (born May 28, 1987), known professionally as Jessica Rothe (/rɒθ/), is an American actress. She is known for her role in the 2016 Academy Award-winning film La La Land, her lead role in the 2016 MTV television series Mary + Jane, and her starring role as Tree Gelbman in the 2017 film Happy Death Day, as well as its 2019 sequel Happy Death Day 2U.
Rothe was born in Denver, Colorado, the daughter of Susan and Steve Rothenberg. Rothe's father is Jewish. Her grandmother, Colleen Rothenberg, was a theatre actress who belonged to the Congregation Shomrei Torah synagogue in Santa Rosa, California.
Rothe took ballet classes when she was age 8. As a youth she attended summer theater camps in Kansas City. Rothe graduated from Boston University in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, and during that time she learned to play the violin, tap dance, and make pottery.