Juliet Jacques

Juliet Jacques
Portrait of Jacques, May 2020
Born1981 (age 44–45)
Redhill, Surrey, England
EducationThe College of Richard Collyer
Alma materUniversity of Sussex
Websitejulietjacques.com Edit this at Wikidata

Juliet Jacques (/ˈdʒeɪks/ JAYKS, born 3 October 1981) is an English writer, journalist and filmmaker.

Jacques giving a talk to a Queer Union group at UWC Mostar in 2026

Education

Jacques studied at the University of Sussex.

Writing

Trans: A Memoir was published by Verso Books in 2015, based on a series of blog posts called A Transgender Journey that Jacques wrote for The Guardian in 2010–2012, chronicling gender reassignment on the NHS. The audiobook was narrated by trans actor Rebecca Root.

Monaco, an illustrated novella set in the Principality, came out on Toothgrinder Press in 2023.

Film

Jacques co-directed a short film called Approach/Withdraw in 2016, with artist Ker Wallwork. She then made a short film, You Will Be Free, in 2017, inspired by American writer and actress Cookie Mueller, using archival footage and narrated by Anna-Louise Plowman.

She played herself in Josh Appignanesi's film Female Human Animal (2018).

Awards

Jacques was on the longlist for the Orwell Prize in 2011 for A Transgender Journey. In 2012, she was selected as one of the Independent on Sunday Pink List's most influential journalists, and was also included in the list for 2013, 2014 and 2015. She was also included in Attitude magazine's list of 101 LGBTQ+ trailblazers in 2024. In 2016, her book Trans: A Memoir was shortlisted for Polari LGBT Literary Salon's First Book Prize Award, being chosen as runner-up. In 2019, Val McDermid chose her as one of ten British LGBT+ writers for the British Council's International Literary Showcase.

Personal life

Jacques plays football, and won the Shield with the Brighton Bandits at the 2008 IGLFA World Cup. Jacques played for Surrey Women in a friendly against the Afghanistan development team in May 2022, and spent the 2022–2023 season with Clapton Community FC.

In 2020, Jacques appeared on the BBC's Christmas University Challenge as part of the University of Manchester team, which reached the final. She appeared on the programme again in 2025.

References

  1. ↑ "Durham v Manchester". Christmas University Challenge. 22 December 2025. BBC Two.
  2. ↑ "Juliet Jacques - Arts and Humanities Research Council". Arts and Humanities Research Council. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  3. ↑ Burt, Stephen (23 September 2015). "Trans: A Memoir by Juliet Jacques review – an honest account of gender transition". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
  4. ↑ "In conversation with Rebecca Root". Transforming Cinema. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "On writing 'Monaco'". London Review Bookshop. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
  6. ↑ "Juliet Jacques | EMST". Retrieved 21 September 2026.
  7. ↑ "How Female Human Animal Blends Documentary with Fiction". Frieze. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "Long Lists". Orwell Prize. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "IoS Pink List 2012: Journalists". Independent on Sunday. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "The Independent on Sunday's Pink List 2013". Independent on Sunday. London. 13 October 2013.
  11. ↑ "Rainbow List 2014, 1 to 101". The Independent. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  12. ↑ "Rainbow List 2015: 1 to 101". The Independent. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Attitude 101, empowered by Bentley: Meet the LGBTQ+ trailblazers making the world a better place". Attitude. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  14. ↑ "Polari First Book Prize 2016 shortlist revealed". Foyles. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  15. ↑ Rusk, Connie (8 September 2016). "Author's gender reassignment journey charted in". SurreyLive. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  16. ↑ "International Literature Showcase: LGBTQI+ writers". British Council. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  17. ↑ "Juliet Jacques". Orwell Prize. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  18. ↑ "Surrey Take The Spoils, Afghanistan Take The Plaudits". 29 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  19. ↑ "Juliet Jacques". Clapton Community FC. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  20. ↑ "Christmas University Challenge announces line up" (Press release). BBC. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  21. ↑ "Tonight's University Challenge Christmas special panelist revealed". NationalWorld. 22 December 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2026.