Nobody Wants This' Jackie Tohn Says She's 'So Proud' of Her 'Intense' Character: 'I See a Lot of Myself in Her' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Jackie Tohn as Esther, Kristen Bell as Joanne in ‘Nobody Wants This’.Photo:Adam Rose/Netflix

Adam Rose/Netflix

Jackie Tohn has made a name for herself in the new hit Netflix seriesNobody Wants This, but along with the praise has come criticism.

The show follows“Hot Rabbi”Noah (Adam Brody) and podcaster Joanne (Kristen Bell) as they navigate an unconventional interfaith relationship. While it has received resounding positive reviews, the series hasfaced backlashfor its portrayal of Jewish women as stereotypically nagging and controlling. The character of Esther, Noah’s sister-in-law, has attracted the most criticism. Tohn, 44, who plays Esther and is a Jewish woman herself, emphasizes her deep connection to the character’s fierce loyalty.

Jackie Tohn.Dean Foreman

Dean Foreman

Speaking about Esther, Tohn says her actions were less related to religion and more to womanhood and loyalty. “This character, whether she’s Jewish or not, is going to act pissed when her brother-in-law is breaking up their foursome, his six-year girlfriend who is her best friend,” the actress says.

While Tohn admits she has “never been as intense as Esther,” she resonates with her character deeply. “I don’t go out in public and yell at people, but the underlying kishkes of Esther, they’re the same as my kishkes and my mother’s kishkes and my mother’s friends and the Jewish girls I went to high school with,” theGLOWactress says. “I’m a Jewish woman playing a Jewish woman. We’re ticking the representation boxes. We’re out here doing our best, and not every single person is going to think we nailed it, and that’s okay.”

Despite the criticism it has faced,Nobody Wants Thishas garnered significant praise and achieved whirlwind success — something Tohn is grateful to have been a part of.

“This is a show that is highlighting Judaism in what I think is a lovely light,” she says. “I mean, there’s this handsome, cool rabbi, this woman who is considering converting for love. I just think the representation is there and the love is there. And I’m so proud to be Jewish and so proud to be on a show that even revolves around Judaism.”

Jackie Tohn as Esther, Tovah Feldshuh as Bina in ‘Nobody Wants This’.Stefania Rosini/Netflix

Stefania Rosini/Netflix

With thehopes for a second season— or “54 more seasons” as Tohn says people have been requesting in her Instagram DMs — the actress is excited for her character to evolve further.

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Nobody Wants Thisis now streaming on Netflix.

source: people.com