Born to a producer mother (Amanda Pirie, known for producing many of Janet Jackson’s music videos) and a writer-director father (Julien Temple, who directed several videos with the Kinks and the Sex Pistols, among others), it seems that Juno Temple was always going to be a star. Her sweet face and adorable charm have endeared her to audiences since she began her career in 2000, through roles like egocentric teenager Lola in Atonement, or Thistlewit the pixie in Disney’s dark villain origin story Maleficent. Her current role as Keeley Jones on the hilarious and poignant Ted Lasso is no exception — with every scene, she gets more and more lovable.
Keeley Jones is a model/influencer of sorts, who’s “sort of famous for being almost famous.” She dates men on Ted Lasso, but is straightforward about her attraction to everyone, even going so far as to compliment the powerful business mogul Rebecca’s nudes blatantly and eloquently. By the end of the second season, she — spoiler alert! — is running her own PR firm, embodying the idea that just because someone is super, super hot doesn’t mean they’re not also extremely capable and hardworking.
Temple brings a flirtiness to Keeley that could be grating in another actor’s hands, but, as it is, only serves to make her even more likable. Even the notoriously irritable soccer player turned coach, Roy Kent, can’t help but be charmed by her impression of his grunts and growls, something that the rest of the characters wouldn’t even dream of doing to his face. Keeley’s playfulness combines with an unwavering confidence that allows her to be wholly and completely herself, brazenly complimenting everyone she comes in contact with however she likes, with no fear of repercussion or judgment. From her fabulous style to her genuine support of her friends, here’s how Keeley Jones is a bi icon.
Updated June 7, 2023: If you enjoy Ted Lasso Season 3 then you’ll be happy to know this article has been updated by Noah Martin with additional content.
Her Bold, Sexy Style
When Roy enters his girlfriend’s home on the day of a huge photo shoot, he sees her in slicked-back hair, a thick silver collar (complete with a chain leash), and a pink sleeveless pantsuit. He pauses in the middle of removing his jacket, takes her in, and growls, “You look f*cking cool.” In that moment, Roy is all of us. With her bold eyeshadow, long hair extensions, brightly colored fur coats, and even loud-patterned sweatpants, Keeley dresses exactly the way she wants to. From an all-red lingerie set complete with a sheer red dress over it and tinsel in her hair for “Sexy Christmas,” to pairing athletic tearaway pants with pleasers and designer blazers at work, it’s no wonder she’s a style icon.
When collaborating with Ted Lasso costume designer Jacky Levy, she and Temple “just try and put them together in a very eccentric, but in a fashion led way to show that Keeley completely has her own identity and uniqueness.”
She’s Fiercely (and Flirtatiously) Supportive
Keeley Jones is a charming, beautiful person, who flirts with everyone she meets, whether she means to or not. It’s rarely specified in Ted Lasso if she’s genuinely attracted to someone or if she’s just being her bubbly, supportive self, but she has a way of making anyone she speaks to feel amazing about themselves.
In one of the first times she truly connects with her future best friend Rebecca (played by the imposing, gorgeous Hannah Waddingham), Keeley is shown some rather sensitive pictures of herself that she stopped from leaking in the press. Without skipping a beat, Keeley bursts out with, “Holy sh*t Rebecca!” and informs her that “I feel like a teenage boy, I can’t stop staring at them! … I can’t believe you stopped this from running, I would have shown everyone!”
To hear such a compliment from someone whose beauty is their livelihood gives self-conscious Rebecca a rare moment of pride. Comments like these flow from Keeley like a waterfall as she finds the beauty, both physical and metaphorical, in every character on the show — from the admittedly knockout gorgeous Rebecca all the way to the somewhat snivelly assistant coach Nate.
Some of her comments are less than platonic, an undercurrent of sexuality running through them when she wants to — with her boyfriend Roy, her ex Jamie, and even Rebecca, at one point telling the leggy blonde that she’d “kiss [her] on the mouth if I could reach those lips.” Keeley serves as the blueprint for all the supportive bi best friends out there, perfectly balancing flirty comments with genuine, overflowing support.
Her Embodiment of Legitimate Girl-Bossery
Keeley starts out Ted Lasso as a success, a gorgeous model slash influencer dating the star football player Jamie. Throughout the seasons, she works hard as the de facto PR manager for the team, masterfully using her connections to get Jamie sponsorships that lead to opportunities for other players, until team owner Rebecca offers her a full-time position.
While audiences only see her journey after she got semi-famous, it’s like watching a sister or best friend reach their dreams and then totally pass them by in the rearview. By the end of Season 2, Keeley has been offered a sponsorship to run her own PR firm, and her excitement is tangible and adorable. It’s hard not to get goosebumps when she tells her friends and loved ones the news — audiences love to see the bi girls win!
Jack and Keeley
At the beginning of Season 3, the audience learns that Roy and Keeley have broken up. Now, Keeley and Roy are both single. While Roy spends most of his time panning after Keeley and occasionally seeing his niece’s teacher, Keeley finds herself falling for her new boss, Jack. Jack is a wealthy woman who happily throws money around, either as expensive gifts for Keeley or simply because she wants to. She is a physical embodiment of a wealthy playboy philanthropist, and everyone assumed she was a man because of her name. However, Jack is a powerful woman who takes charge using her money and charm.
Keeley and Jack’s relationship goes well, but small portions of the relationship cause Keeley to start questioning. Rebecca even likens Jack to Rupert at one point by noticing Jack’s use of gift-giving to assert power over Keeley and keep her showered with attention. Then, when Keeley refused to submit to Jack, Jack simply left Keeley behind with a broken heart and no funding for her business.
Keeley’s relationship with Jack solidifies her as a bisexual icon. No longer is the audience questioning her sexuality with her hints here and there. Now, she’s been depicted on the big screen with both. But why does that matter? Well, her relationships with the men and women of the show all have positives and negatives, like with any relationship. Though the relationships impact her in good and bad ways, she never once changes who she is. At heart, she is always Keeley Jones: fashionista, supportive, creative, intelligent, and many other descriptors. She is an inspiring character because she, like Ted Lasso, is constantly true to herself through thick and thin.
That’s why Keeley Jones is a stunning, gorgeous model who works hard at every job she has, from dressing like a lion in a vodka commercial to coordinating shoots for famous football players. While she could certainly get by on looks alone, she makes a point to brighten the day of everyone she comes in contact with whether they can do something for her or not. The lucky ones get a flirty comment, but everyone feels the genuine warmth of Keeley’s charm.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
