Jemima Kirke was born on April 26, 1985, in London, England, to Simon Kirke, the drummer for the bands Bad Company and Free, and Lorraine Kirke (née Deutsch), the owner of Geminola, a vintage boutique in New York City. She has two sisters, Domino Kirke (a singer) and Lola Kirke (an actress), and a brother, Memphis Kirke. Kirke was raised in New York City.
Kirke attended Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, New York. She later earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
Kirke’s acting career began with a role in the independent film Tiny Furniture (2010), directed by her childhood friend Lena Dunham. This role served as a springboard for her subsequent work in television and film.
Kirke is best known for her role as Jessa Johansson in the HBO television series Girls (2012-2017), created by Lena Dunham. She appeared in all six seasons of the show, receiving critical acclaim for her portrayal of the bohemian and often unpredictable character. She also had a recurring role in the Netflix series Maniac (2018). More recently, she played Hope Haddon in the Netflix series Sex Education (2021-2023).