Jo Ellen Pellman

Jo Ellen Pellman was born in Ohio^[2] and grew up in Cincinnati.^[3] She was raised by a single mother.^[4] Growing up, she was in her school's choir, studied tap and ballet, and went to theater camp.^[5]

Pellman graduated in 2018 from the University of Michigan with a BFA in musical theatre and a minor in creative writing.^[6] While training, she played roles in Me and My Girl, The Drowsy Chaperone and Grand Concourse.^[7] She has also studied Shakespeare at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

In 2018, Pellman played bit parts on Comedy Central's Alternatino, HBO's The Deuce, and episode 5 of season 3 of Amazon Prime's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.^[6]

Ryan Murphy cast Pellman as the protagonist of The Prom named Emma Nolan, after a nationwide search, in her film debut opposite of Ariana DeBose.^[2] Murphy said, "She spoke very movingly about being a queer woman and having a gay single mom who raised her. I remember she walked out and I was just like, 'Thank God, that's over — we've found our girl.'"^[8] It was her first film.^[6]

In December 2020, Pellman and DeBose launched the Unruly Hearts Initiative. The initiative was created to help young people connect with organisations and charities that advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.^[9]

Pellman is queer,^[6][8] and came out to her mother, who herself is gay, in her final year of high school.^[4][8] She became engaged to filmmaker Brydie O'Connor on November 23, 2023,^[10] and married in November 2025.^[11]