Cailee Spaeny

Cailee Spaeny
Spaeny at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival
Born (1998-07-24) July 24, 1998
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active2014–present

Cailee Spaeny (/ˈkeɪli ˈspeɪni/ KAY-lee SPAY-nee;[1] born July 24, 1998) is an American actress. Her first major roles were in the science fiction film Pacific Rim Uprising and the neo-noir film Bad Times at the El Royale (both 2018). Her television roles include appearances in the miniseries Devs (2020) and Mare of Easttown (2021).

In 2023, Spaeny received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Priscilla Presley in the biographical film Priscilla, for which she received the Volpi Cup for Best Actress and a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. Further recognition came in 2024, when she starred in the dystopian drama film Civil War and the science fiction horror film Alien: Romulus.

Early life

Spaeny was born on July 24, 1998 in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Mark and Reja Spaeny. The seventh of nine children, she was raised in Springfield, Missouri as a Southern Baptist.[2][3] Growing up, she spent a large amount of time in the Springfield Little Theatre group, with which she participated in many plays.[4] She also took acting, voice, and dance classes six days a week at the Springfield Little Theatre group.[4] When she was 13, she dropped out of school to pursue acting and briefly worked at Silver Dollar City.[5][6][7] In the 2014–2015 season, she landed the lead role of Dorothy in a stage production of The Wizard of Oz.[8][9]

Career

In 2018, Spaeny played several major film roles, starring in Steven S. DeKnight's science fiction monster adventure Pacific Rim Uprising, alongside John Boyega and Scott Eastwood; Drew Goddard's thriller Bad Times at the El Royale;[10][11][12] and the biographical dramas On the Basis of Sex and Vice.[13]

She next appeared in the main cast of the FX miniseries Devs and starred in the film The Craft: Legacy, both in 2020.[14] In 2021, she appeared in the HBO limited series Mare of Easttown, a murder mystery, starring Kate Winslet.[15] She then portrayed Anna Roosevelt Halsted in the series The First Lady (2022).[16]

In 2023, Spaeny starred as Priscilla Presley in Sofia Coppola's biographical drama film Priscilla alongside Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley.[17] Reviewing the film for Variety, Owen Gleiberman opined, "Spaeny makes Priscilla a figure of strength, but the force of her performance is how she enacts Priscilla's slow-motion melancholy".[18] Her performance earned her the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the 80th Venice International Film Festival.[19][20]

In 2024, Spaeny starred in the war drama Civil War as the young war photographer Jessie and in the science fiction horror film Alien: Romulus as the space colonist Rain Carradine.[21][22] Reviewing the latter film, Jordan Hoffman of Entertainment Weekly deemed Spaeny "the finest weapon in the arsenal... differentiating herself quite a bit from the doe-eyed characters she played in Civil War and Priscilla."[23]

In 2024, she joined the cast for the second season of Netflix's anthology series Beef, alongside Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, and Charles Melton.[24] Spaeny next starred in the mystery film Wake Up Dead Man, the third installment of the Knives Out series, released by Netflix in 2025.[25]

Filmography

Key
† Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released

Film

List of Cailee Spaeny's film roles
Year Title Role Notes
2016 Counting to 1000 Erica Short film
2018 Pacific Rim Uprising Amara Namani
Bad Times at the El Royale Rose Summerspring
On the Basis of Sex Jane Ginsburg
Vice Lynne Cheney (young)
2020 The Craft: Legacy Lilith "Lily" Schechner
2021 How It Ends Young Liza
2022 Unlimited World Lars Short film
2023 Priscilla Priscilla Presley
2024 Civil War Jessie Cullen
Alien: Romulus Marie Raines "Rain" Carradine
2025 Wake Up Dead Man Simone Vivane

Television

List of Cailee Spaeny's television appearances and roles
Year Title Role Notes
2020 Devs Lyndon Miniseries; 8 episodes
2021 Mare of Easttown Erin McMenamin Miniseries; 5 episodes
2022 The First Lady Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Halsted Recurring role; 7 episodes
2026 Beef † Ashley Miller Season 2. Also executive producer

Video games

List of Cailee Spaeny's video game appearances and roles
Year Title Role Notes
2024 Dead by Daylight Rain Carradine Voice and likeness; Purchasable skin for Ellen Ripley

Music videos

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Chicago Indie Critics 2024 Breakout Artist Priscilla Nominated [27]
Columbus Film Critics Association 2025 Actor of the Year (for an exemplary body of work) Alien: Romulus / Civil War Nominated [28]
Florida Film Critics Circle 2023 Breakout Award Priscilla Nominated
Golden Globe Awards 2024 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Nominated [30]
Gotham Awards 2023 Outstanding Lead Performance Nominated [31]
Greater Western New York Film Critics Association 2023 Breakthrough Performance Nominated [32]
Hollywood Creative Alliance Midseason Awards 2024 Best Supporting Actress Civil War Nominated [33]
London Critics Circle Film Awards 2024 Breakthrough Performer of the Year Priscilla Nominated
North Texas Film Critics Association 2023 Best Actress Nominated [34]
Online Film & Television Association 2023 Breakthrough Performance: Female Nominated [35]
Satellite Awards 2024 Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical Nominated [36]
Saturn Awards 2025 Best Supporting Actress Alien: Romulus Nominated
Venice International Film Festival 2023 Volpi Cup for Best Actress Priscilla Won [37]

References

  1. ^ "Pacific Rim Uprising Cast Answer 50 of the Most Googled Kaiju Questions". YouTube. Wired. March 22, 2018. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  2. ^ Frommer, Fred; Gosner, Will (July 3, 2025). "Cailee Spaeny". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on July 11, 2025. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  3. ^ Sobrevilla, Savannah (November 2, 2023). "V145: It's Time For Cailee Spaeny". V. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Houghton, Jeff (April 2018). "Cailee Spaeny's Journey from Springfield Little Theatre to Pacific Rim: Uprising". 417 Magazine. No. April 2018. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022.
  5. ^ Priscilla Star Cailee Spaeny Proves You Should Never Underestimate an Angry Young Woman
  6. ^ Soloski, Alexis (August 18, 2024). "Cailee Spaeny Is Still Learning How to Be a Star". The New York Times. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  7. ^ Houghton, Jeff (April 2018). "Cailee Spaeny's Journey from Springfield Little Theatre to Household Name". 417 Magazine. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  8. ^ Collins, Larry T. (April 11, 2015). "The yellow brick road comes to Landers: A review of 'The Wizard of Oz'". Springfield News-Leader. p. 3A. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  9. ^ "The Wizard of Oz | Springfield Little Theatre". Springfield Little Theatre. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  10. ^ Kroll, Justin (September 15, 2016). "Newcomer Cailee Spaeny Lands Female Lead in 'Pacific Rim 2'". Variety. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  11. ^ White, James (September 15, 2016). "Pacific Rim sequel adds Cailee Spaeny". Empire. Archived from the original on August 11, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  12. ^ "Cailee Spaeny Cast as Female Lead in Pacific Rim Sequel". ComingSoon.net. September 15, 2016. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  13. ^ Kit, Borys (September 15, 2016). "Drew Goddard's 'Bad Times at the El Royale' Adds Newcomer Cailee Spaeny". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  14. ^ Galuppo, Mia (June 21, 2019). "'The Craft' Reboot Finds Lead With Cailee Spaeny (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  15. ^ Romano, Nick (February 17, 2021). "Kate Winslet gets her prestige murder mystery drama in HBO's Mare of Easttown trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  16. ^ Petski, Denise (July 23, 2021). "'The First Lady': Ellen Burstyn, Eliza Scanlen, Cailee Spaeny To Recur On Showtime Anthology Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  17. ^ Jackson, Angelique (September 12, 2022). "Jacob Elordi to Play Elvis, Cailee Spaeny Is Priscilla Presley in Sofia Coppola's Film 'Priscilla'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  18. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (September 4, 2023). "'Priscilla' Review: Sofia Coppola's Piercingly Authentic Inside Drama About the Troubled Love Story of Priscilla and Elvis Presley". Variety. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  19. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy; Ntim, Zac (September 9, 2023). "Venice Winners: Golden Lion Goes To Yorgos Lanthimos For 'Poor Things'; Hamaguchi, Sarsgaard, Spaeny Also Score — Full List". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  20. ^ "Cailee Spaeny Brings Florals to the 2024 Golden Globes Red Carpet". The Fashion Enthusiast. January 7, 2024. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  21. ^ Kroll, Justin (November 16, 2022). "Cailee Spaeny Circling New Alien Movie At 20th Century Fox And Scott Free". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  22. ^ Grobar, Matt (January 21, 2022). "Alex Garland Reteams With A24 For Action Epic Civil War; Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura & More Set To Star". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  23. ^ "'Alien: Romulus' launches Cailee Spaeny into winning gross-out orbit". EW.com. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  24. ^ Petski, Denise (October 22, 2024). "'Beef' Confirms Season 2 With Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton & Cailee Spaeny". Deadline. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  25. ^ Kroll, Justin (May 27, 2024). "Josh O'Connor And Cailee Spaeny Join Daniel Craig In Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  26. ^ Siwak, Miranda (November 3, 2023). "Who Is Cailee Spaeny? 5 Things to Know About the Actress Playing Priscilla Presley in Sofia Coppola's Biopic". Yahoo Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  27. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 20, 2024). "The 2023 Chicago Indie Critics (CIC) Windie Award Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  28. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 3, 2025). "The 2024 Columbus Film Critics Association (COFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  29. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 21, 2023). "The 2023 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  30. ^ "Golden Globes 2024: full list of nominations". The Guardian. December 11, 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  31. ^ Davis, Clayton; Lang, Brent (October 24, 2023). "Gotham Awards Nominations: 'All of Us Strangers' Leads With Four Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on October 24, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  32. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 6, 2024). "The 2023 Greater Western New York Film Critics Association (GWNYFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  33. ^ Neglia, Matt (July 3, 2024). "The 2024 Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) Midseason Astra Award Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  34. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 18, 2023). "The 2023 North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  35. ^ Neglia, Matt (March 3, 2024). "The 2023 Online Film & Television Association (OFTA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  36. ^ "2023 Nominees | International Press Academy". Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  37. ^ Roxborough, Scott; Ritman, Alex (September 9, 2023). "Venice: Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Poor Things' Wins Best Film (Full Winners List)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cailee Spaeny.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.