Wisener was born in Ballymoney and grew up in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, where she attended the Coleraine High School for girls. After graduating, she went on to train at the Royal Scottish College of Music and Drama. In 2005, she represented Antrim in the highly acclaimed Rose of Tralee competition. Wisener also was part of Musical Theatre 4 Youth, and appeared in a workshop production of Falling. In earlier days of her youth, Jayne worked in a local Pizzeria called Pizza Pomadoro’s. While performing in a youth production of West Side Story at the Millennium Forum in Derry, Wisener was spotted by a talent scout, who asked her to audition for a role in Sweeney Todd. Wisener was, at age 19, deemed too old to play the 16-year-old Johanna; when told this, Wisener “e-mailed them some pictures of [herself] without make-up. Usually looking young does [an actor] no favours at all but [she was] quite pleased this time.” Wisener made her stage debut in the UK premiere of the musical Parade at the Donmar Warehouse theatre in 2007. |
