Janell Shirtcliff

Janell Shirtcliff (born October 18, 1983) is an American filmmaker, photographer, and music video director. She also worked as a model for a decade, and as an actor for which she has been praised. She made her film directorial debut with 2021's Habit. Her photography has been featured in publications including Variety, Billboard, Nylon, and Teen Vogue.

Career Music videos Shirtcliff has directed music videos for songs including The Band Perry's "The Good Life", Bethany Cosentino's "It's Fine", Tashaki Miyaki's "Anyone But You", and Mayer Hawthorne's "Over".

Photography Shirtcliff first got into photography when she started shooting images for her online store Lonelydot, through which she sells vintage clothes.

Film Shirtcliff made her feature directorial debut with the 2021 film Habit, which she also cowrote with her childhood best friend Libby Mintz. The film was negatively received, accruing a 6% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 16 critics, including The Guardians Leslie Felperin who called the film a "John Waters wannabe". The film also generated controversy, including a petition to block the film's release with nearly 300,000 signatures claiming that the film was Christianophobic because Jackson's Jesus was portrayed as a lesbian, though the film's promotional materials and logline did not indicate the claim was true. Gavin Rossdale, who plays a drug dealer named Eric in the film, praised Shirtcliff and said they built a great rapport with each other.

Shirtcliff directed the documentary film Mother of the Dawn, about Vale do Amanhecer founder Tia Neiva. and it was written by Angie Simms.

In December 2023, the fantasy horror film Triton was announced, with Shirtcliff set to direct.

As of 2021, Shirtcliff was set to direct another film called The Edge of Nowhere, also featuring Rossdale. She also acted in the film Dirty Old Town alongside Billy Leroy, for which Varietys Andrew Barker said hers was the standout performance.

Personal life Shirtcliff lives in Corpus Christi, Texas, having lived in the Texas Coastal Bend region since moving from California at age 12. Shirtcliff was previously engaged to Youngblood Hawke singer Sam Martin. She was in a relationship with actor Eric Dane at the time of his death in 2026.