Why ‘Rutherford Falls’ Lead Jesse Leigh Spent the Pandemic as a Supermarket Clerk

The following Career Dispatch essay was written by Jesse Leigh, who plays a leading role on Peacock’s “Rutherford Falls.” 

“You booked it!”

Every actor’s dream is to hear these three words. And that’s what I heard through the phone March 6, 2020. I had landed my first lead role on a comedy series. I dreamt of being an actor for as long as I could remember. And the last eight years were spent driving from home to acting classes, rehearsals, and auditions. I finally proved to myself that I could make it as a professional actor.

The week after I received the news, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Suddenly, life was at a halt. Businesses closed indefinitely. The news on the television became worse every day. We did not know what to expect next.

 

Anxious feelings started to bubble back up because there was so much uncertainty. That’s when I took a step back and realized that this pause on life was similar to the life of an artist. Pursuing a career as an artist means not knowing where life will head next. I’ve learned that a stable career as an artist is extraordinary.

Since the entertainment industry shut down, I started to look for jobs elsewhere. Previously, I had been a cashier, waiter, and a Postmate. These jobs helped pay for acting lessons and headshots. Restaurants were shutting down, so I applied to be a clerk at local grocery stores. I was hired at a discount supermarket and was working the cash register within 72 hours.

The supermarket became an essential business during the state-wide lockdown. Our customers were frantic as they emptied our store shelves of toilet paper, paper towels, and sanitizer. Most customers were respectful neighbors, thanking us employees for working on the front line. A regular at our store even offered to bake cookies for us. On the other hand, there were customers who were not afraid to release their pent-up anxieties. Angry customers typically turned verbal and cussed us out. I reminded to stay calm and not take anything personally. 

Before every shift I sat in the parking lot and reminded myself how lucky I was to be making money. I was one of very few people who was employed at an essential business. Many of my family members had lost their businesses and jobs because of the pandemic. Months had passed as I continued to work at the supermarket and there was still no certainty of where COVID-19 would take us next.

Towards the end of the summer, I got the call that I would be headed back to my dream gig. It felt so strange to hear good news for the first time since earlier that year. Life was coasting by and I really lost my sense of time.

Actors are always told to “keep going” and 2020 was a real testament to that. I applied myself to a new job; I learned a new skill set. And I developed the highest respect for all essential workers. I was lucky enough to make money and stay busy.