Honestly, if you’ve ever been scrolling through your DVR or watching a random Hallmark movie and thought, "Wait, is that the girl from Pitch Perfect?" only to see the name Jessy Schram pop up in the credits, you aren't alone. It happens to the best of us.
There is this weird, unspoken phenomenon in Hollywood where two actors who aren't related—and have never even shared a screen—somehow occupy the exact same "vibe" in our collective brains. Brittany Snow and Jessy Schram are the poster children for this. They both have that specific blend of "girl next door" warmth and sharp, professional capability that makes them staples of primetime TV and film.
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But while they look like they could be sisters (or at least very closely related cousins), their career paths are actually quite different once you start peeling back the layers.
The Look-Alike Curse (or Blessing?)
It’s the eyes and the smile. Both actresses have this incredibly expressive, bright-eyed look that casting directors love. But the confusion usually hits its peak because of their overlapping timelines.
Brittany Snow became a household name early on with American Dreams and later Pitch Perfect. Around that same time, Jessy Schram was popping up in everything from Veronica Mars to House. If you were a teen in the mid-2000s, you were seeing both of them constantly.
Social media is littered with people realizing, sometimes years too late, that it was actually Jessy Schram playing Cinderella in Once Upon a Time and not Brittany Snow. Or thinking Brittany Snow joined the cast of Chicago Med as Dr. Hannah Asher. (Spoiler: That’s Jessy).
Jessy Schram: The Queen of Consistency
Jessy Schram has one of those careers that is secretly massive. You know her face, even if you sometimes scramble for the name.
- The Hallmark Factor: She is a certified heavy hitter in the Hallmark universe. Movies like Country at Heart and A Nashvile Legacy have made her a permanent fixture in the "comfort watch" genre.
- Drama Roots: She isn't just about holiday romances. Her work in Falling Skies as Karen Nadler showed a much darker, sci-fi edge that most people forget she has.
- Chicago Med: Since 2020, she has been a core part of the One Chicago world. Playing a recovery-focused OB-GYN isn't easy, and she’s brought a level of grit to that role that really separates her from the "blonde starlet" trope.
She's from Skokie, Illinois, and she’s been working since she was a kid. That professional polish shows. She doesn't chase the paparazzi; she just shows up and delivers.
Brittany Snow: The Cult Classic Icon
Brittany Snow feels a bit more "Hollywood" in the traditional sense, mostly because she’s been part of massive franchises.
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- Musical Chops: Obviously, Pitch Perfect changed everything for her. Chloe Beale is an iconic character.
- Directorial Debut: Brittany has been moving behind the camera lately. Her 2023 film Parachute was a raw, deeply personal look at eating disorders and mental health. It proved she’s looking to tell stories that are a lot more complicated than the bubblegum roles of her youth.
- Horror and Indie: From X (the Ti West slasher) to quirky indies, Brittany tends to take slightly "stranger" swings than Jessy does.
Why We Get Them Confused
It isn't just the hair. It’s the voice, too. They both have a similar melodic, slightly raspy quality when they’re doing emotional scenes.
Interestingly, while fans clamor for them to play sisters in a movie, it hasn't happened yet. They move in similar circles—both have been involved in charity work and both are vocal about mental health—but they seem to exist in parallel universes. One dominates the NBC/Hallmark pipeline, while the other leans into film and indie projects.
How to Tell Them Apart (The Cheat Sheet)
If you’re still struggling, here is the quick way to categorize them in your head:
- Check the show: If it’s a medical drama or a movie involving a small-town bakery, it’s almost certainly Jessy Schram.
- Check the hair: Brittany Snow experiments a bit more with shades of blonde and red; Jessy tends to stick to a very consistent, honey-toned look.
- The "Vibe" Check: Brittany has a bit more of a "sarcastic best friend" energy in her roles. Jessy usually carries a "highly capable but stressed professional" energy.
What’s Next for Both?
As of early 2026, Jessy Schram is still a pillar of Chicago Med. Her character, Hannah Asher, has become one of the most layered portrayals of addiction recovery on network television. Fans are currently tracking her latest storylines involving her complex personal life and high-stakes medical cases.
Brittany Snow is continuing her transition into filmmaking. After the critical success of Parachute, she’s becoming a name to watch in the indie directing scene, while still taking on select acting roles that challenge her "Pitch Perfect" image.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to truly appreciate the difference in their acting styles, do a double-feature. Watch Jessy Schram in the Jane Doe series or her early Veronica Mars episodes, then flip over to Brittany Snow in X or Someone Great. You’ll start to see that while the "packaging" is similar, the actual performances are totally unique. Keep an eye on the Chicago Med 2026 schedule for more of Jessy, and watch the festival circuits for Brittany's next directorial effort.