Heidi James

Heidi James is an actress and award-winning screenwriter born and raised in Austin, Texas. At seven years old, she originated her first role as the tap-dancing jackrabbit in her family's traveling roadshow. She spent her early years performing as an actress, singer, and dancer in various regional theaters and at thirteen played Wiley Wiggins' (Dazed and Confused) hip babysitter in the national mini-series "No Adults Allowed." Heidi moved to Los Angeles, where she studied at The Academy of Dramatic Arts. Legendary casting director Marion Dougherty saw Heidi perform in the year-end showcase and cast her in Joel Schumacher's "Falling Down." At Tim Robbins' Actors Gang, Heidi originated the critically acclaimed role of hard rock singer Ricky Roy, coached by Jack Black. She was introduced to "The Style" by Chicago theater royalty Byrne and Joyce Piven. Heidi then moved to New York, where she studied with William Esper, Wynn Handman, and later, Larry Moss. Off-Broadway she understudied the lead role of May in Sam Shepard's "Fool For Love." After filling in one night, she was contracted to perform in a month-long extension. She continued to work extensively in theater and receive rave reviews. She originated several roles in the story-theater production, "Pilgrims," based on short stories by New York Times best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat Pray Love), directed by Shira Piven and backed by Mike Nichols. She appeared in several Law & Order episodes and indie films, including "Anonymous" based on the life of author Rayya Elias. Heidi starred in the lead role of Rayya opposite Ron Cephas Jones. She found her creative home when she was invited into the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company, 29th Street Rep... The company is known for producing cutting-edge East Coast premieres of Tracy Letts' "Killer Joe," Rona Munroe's "Bold Girls" and Jack Henry Abbot's "In The Belly Of The Beast," to name a few. Heidi then went on tour as a singer in "Tom Waits For No Man." A show that played to sold-out houses in Australia, The Edinburgh Festival, London, Montreal Jazz Festival, and New York. Heidi studied screenwriting at The Australian Film Television & Radio School, Film Video Arts in New York, Film Independent in Los Angeles, and at Writers Boot Camp on both coasts. Her pilot script "Deadshot Girls" is the lone runner up in Script Pipeline's First Look Project 2021. Other accolades include: Best TV Pilot La Femme International Film Festival, Finalist Page Turner's Feature & TV Genre Competition, Semi-Finalist ScreenCraft TV Competition, Finalist WeScreenplay TV Pilot Competition, Short List Barnstorm, and is currently a Quarterfinalist in Fresh Voices Screenwriting Competition. Her Pre-Apocalyptic Drama short "Love Bugs" is the recipient of many placements and awards including a Spotlight Award Nomination from Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition for "writers who dare to think outside the box, who don't conform to formula or convention, and are determined to push the boundaries of imagination and innovation." Heidi is adapting a dark comedy feature script "Follow The Queen" from a hit Off-Broadway play and is the co-creator/writer of "Wolfe", a 1950's Entourage, based on her beloved mentor's memoirs, veteran actor and card shark, Michael Greene. More to come...