Isla Johnston

Last updated
Isla Johnston
OccupationActress
Years active2018-present
Television The Queen's Gambit

Isla Johnston (born 2007) is an English television and film actress. She began her career as a child actress, and appeared as the Young Beth in the Netflix miniseries The Queen's Gambit (2020).

Contents

Early life

Johnston grew up in Suffolk, [1] England. She lived on a farm which grew wheat, barley, rapeseed and sugar beet. Her mother had previously worked as a model, and her father works in IT. She has a younger brother. Her first acting role was as Lady Macbeth for Shakespeare Schools Theatre Festival, at Gislingham Primary School as a ten year-old. After appearing in acting roles, Johnston returned to school to finish her A-Levels, including art history and history and gaining an A* in drama. [2] [3]

Career

Johnston began acting in 2018, with her first role in the Channel 4 miniseries Kiri . She also made an appearance on the long running BBC One series Doctors . [4] She played a younger version of the character Beth Harmon, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, in 2020 Netflix series The Queen's Gambit . [5] [6] [7]

In 2021, she could be seen the role of Lucy Spencer in the Apple TV+ original series Invasion . In 2022, she appeared in BBC Two series Life After Life playing the younger version of the character Ursula, played by Thomasin McKenzie. [8] [9] In 2023, she was cast in a lead role in the Nicolas Pesce horror film Visitation , alongside Olivia Cooke. [10] [11]

In 2025, she could be seen alongside Nicolas Cage in The Carpenter's Son , her performance described in The Times as "captivating" as a vulnerable female Satan, “one of the great screen Satans…an easy match for Robert De Niro in Angel Heart . [1] That year, she was cast in the lead role by Baz Luhrman in an upcoming biographical film about Joan of Arc. [2] [12]

Filmography

Key
†Denotes works that have not yet been released
YearTitleRoleNotes
2018 Kiri Fiona1 episode
2019 Doctors Sarah Kemp1 episode
2020 The Queen's Gambit Young Beth4 episodes
2021 Invasion Lucy Spencer4 episodes
2022 Life After Life Young Ursula4 episodes
2025 The Carpenter's Son The StrangerFilm
TBA Visitation †Post-production

References

  1. 1 2 Maher, Kevin (21 Nov 2025). "The Carpenter's Son review — Nicolas Cage is ludicrous as Jesus's dad". The Times. Retrieved 16 Jan 2026.
  2. 1 2 Schama, Chloe (22 September 2025). "How Isla Johnston Became Baz Luhrmann's New Star-In-The-Making". Vogue.co.uk. Retrieved 15 Jan 2026.
  3. ↑ "St John's Drama Outreach Sparks a Star's Rise to Hollywood". sjcs.co.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  4. ↑ Persaud, Christine (Nov 25, 2020). "The Queen's Gambit: Where Else You've Seen The Cast". Screen Rant. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  5. ↑ Mangan, Lucy (23 October 2020). "The Queen's Gambit review – from an orphanage basement to the top of the chess world". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "One Good Thing: Netflix's The Queen's Gambit makes chess mesmerizing. Really!". Vox. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  7. ↑ Canfield, David (26 July 2021). "Finding the Heart and Soul of The Queen's Gambit". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  8. ↑ Stevenson, Rick. "What Happened To The Queen's Gambit Cast". Looper. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  9. ↑ Carr, Flora (27 April 2022). "Meet the cast of Life After Life". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  10. ↑ Kit, Borys (18 January 2023). "Olivia Cooke Starring in eOne Horror Thriller 'Visitation'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  11. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (January 18, 2023). "Nicolas Pesce To Direct eOne Horror Film 'Visitation'; Olivia Cooke & Isla Johnston To Lead". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  12. ↑ Fleming Jr, Mike (August 14, 2025). "Newcomer Isla Johnston In Talks To Lead Baz Luhrmann's 'Jehanne d'Arc' Epic At Warner Bros". Desdline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 Jan 2026.
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