Sabrina Jalees

Since stepping onto the stage of a Yuk Yuk’s amateur night at 16, Sabrina Jalees has become one of the most recognizable and widespread faces in the Canadian comedy scene.

Armed with a full set of braces with a side of confidence, the beginning of her career had both crowds and industry turning heads. Her uplifting take on being half Pakistani, half Swiss and brought up Muslim in a mainly white neighbourhood had her standing out from the get go. Less than a year after her first set, Sabrina was leaving her high school classes to perform for colleges and universities. Her keen sense of humour combined with blind ambition drove her to beat pretty much every age-related record within the Canadian comedy community.

She was the youngest comic to tour for Yuk Yuks. The youngest comic to record a Comedy Now special. The youngest stand up to perform at the prestigious Just For Laugh’s Festival…And, at 17, she flexed her sketch and improv skills by breaking Mike Myers’ record for being the youngest comic ever hired by Second City.

It soon became clear that Sabrina Jalees’ story was more than the novelty of a young act. While studying Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson, she was offered the opportunity to host a season of CBC’s Smart Ask. Understanding of the importance of education she chose to stay enrolled, successfully balancing a fulltime shooting schedule, fulltime class itinerary and a hectic touring calendar.

Once the door to television was opened, Jalees jumped in with two feet. She flexed her acting chops in the Lifetime Movie of the Week, Mom At Sixteen, in which she played Sarah, a conflicted pregnant teen. And most recently, Sabrina can be seen in CBS’ Flashpoint in the role of Cassaundra. Other television credits include leading roles in YTV’s System Crash, Slice Network’s Plastic Makes Perfect, Animal Planet’s The A List and a memorable appearance on NBC’s Last Comic Standing.

Jalees writes for multiple television shows and has continued to perform stand-up. She lives with her wife, Shauna, and their son Wolfie.