Joy Lauren

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. Jorgensen is the founder of Killjoy Films.

• Name — Joy Jorgensen • Birth Name — Lauren Joy Jorgensen • Born — c. 1989 • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 2002–present

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

Jorgensen's acting career in Los Angeles began in 2001 when she was around 12 years old. As an actress, she was initially known as Joy Lauren. Of her acting appearances, she is best known for her role as Danielle Van De Kamp in Desperate Housewives, for which she appeared from the pilot through the final season. 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.

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 and 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and is included on Sundance’s Holiday movies to watch. • Homebody — 2020 — Won a U.S. In Progress award 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. • Runner — 2022 — Premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival; won the Torino Co-Production Award, including production support from Creative Media Europe, development support from the Cannes Cinéfondation Residence program. • We Strangers — 2024 — Premiered at SXSW 2024; Won the Grand Jury Prize for New American Cinema at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF).; 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 Distributed through Quiver Distribution. 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

Joy Lauren is recorded as actress, film director and film producer.