Alisha Wainwright

Last updated
Alisha Wainwright
Born
Alisha Ena Wainwright

(1988-07-14) July 14, 1988 (age 37)
OccupationActress
Years active2008–present

Alisha Ena Wainwright (born July 14, 1988) [1] is an American actress. Following her film debut in Just Before I Go (2014), Wainwright had supporting roles in films such as Death of a Telemarketer (2020) and Palmer (2021), as well as a lead role in There's Something Wrong with the Children (2023). She is best known for her leading roles as Maia Roberts on the second and third seasons of the Freeform supernatural drama series Shadowhunters (2017–19) and Nicole Warren on the Netflix superhero drama series Raising Dion (2019–22).

Contents

Early life

Alisha Wainwright was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. Her mother is from Jamaica and her father is from Haiti. [2]

Career

After appearing in a web comedy sketch on the YouTube channel Smosh in 2012, [3] Wainwright guest-starred in several film and television productions including Criminal Minds and Lethal Weapon . In September 2016, her casting as the werewolf Maia Roberts on Freeform's fantasy series Shadowhunters , based on The Mortal Instruments book series by Cassandra Clare was announced. [4] After being a recurring character in season 2, she was promoted to series regular for season 3 of the show. [5] [6] Wainwright currently stars in the Netflix series Raising Dion . [7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013Second Rate DealNikkiShort film
2014 Just Before I Go Sarah
2016Save HerCasting Assistant #1Short film
2017The HatredBetaine
2020 Death of a Telemarketer Christine
2021 Palmer Maggie Hayes
2023 There's Something Wrong with the Children Margaret Winslow
2025 Bird In Hand Bird

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014 Criminal Minds Debbie MartinEpisode "What Happens in Mecklinburg..."
2014 Married AlissaEpisode "Uncool"
2014Love is RelativeAudreyTV movie
2014–2015 Perception Chantal Douglas / Timid GirlEpisode "Possession" (Timid Girl - uncredited)

Episode "Romeo" (Chantal Douglas)

2015VanityShellyEpisode "Expression"
2015 Switched at Birth DaryaEpisode "To the Victor Belong the Spoils"
2015 Major Crimes Ainsley ReedEpisode "Blackout"
2015Axle TrampAnna
2016 General Hospital Nurse Kelsey2 episodes
2015–2016Disney Star DarlingsLeona (voice)10 episodes
2016 Rosewood Cassie HansonEpisode "Forward Motion & Frat Life"
2018 Lethal Weapon Jess BaileyEpisode "Double Shot of Baileys"
2018The Wedding Do OverTaylorTv Movie
2017–2019 Shadowhunters Maia Roberts Recurring role (Season 2), 13 episodes
Main role (Season 3), 16 episodes [8]
2019–2022 Raising Dion Nicole ReeseMain role
2023- Platonic Audrey2 episodes

Other

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012 Smosh Anthony's girlfriend
2016 NBA 2K17 Alanah Turner (voice)Video game

References

  1. Robinson, Katherine (25 November 2019). "Alisha Wainwright: who is Justin Timberlake's Palmer co-star?". HOLA! USA. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  2. Arikoglu, Lale (September 19, 2019). "'Shadowhunters' Actress Alisha Wainwright on Why You Should Take a Few Risk When You Travel".
  3. "LIFE HACKING!". YouTube . Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  4. Freeform. "Casting Update: Alisha Wainwright Is Playing Maia In Shadowhunters Season 2!". freeform.go.com. Freeform. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  5. @ShadowhuntersTV (July 20, 2017). "Exciting news! @WainwrightAE is a series regular in Season 3! 🙌 #ShadowhuntersAtSDCC" (Tweet). Retrieved March 10, 2019 via Twitter.
  6. Petski, Denise (20 July 2017). "'Shadowhunters': Sarah Hyland Character Revealed, Alisha Wainwright Upped To Regular For Season 3 – Comic-Con". Deadline. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  7. Petski, Denise (27 June 2018). "'Raising Dion': Alisha Wainwright & Newcomer Ja'Siah Young To Star; Seith Mann To Direct & Exec Produce". Deadline. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  8. @ShadowhuntersTV (July 20, 2017). "Exciting news! @WainwrightAE is a series regular in Season 3! 🙌 #ShadowhuntersAtSDCC" (Tweet). Retrieved March 10, 2019 via Twitter.