Isla Johnston
Isla Johnston | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2018-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).
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
| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Kiri | Fiona | 1 episode |
| 2019 | Doctors | Sarah Kemp | 1 episode |
| 2020 | The Queen's Gambit | Young Beth | 4 episodes |
| 2021 | Invasion | Lucy Spencer | 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Life After Life | Young Ursula | 4 episodes |
| 2025 | The Carpenter's Son | The Stranger | Film |
| TBA | Visitation† | Post-production |
References
- ^ a b Maher, Kevin (21 Nov 2025). "The Carpenter's Son review — Nicolas Cage is ludicrous as Jesus's dad". The Times. Retrieved 16 Jan 2026.
- ^ a b Schama, Chloe (22 September 2025). "How Isla Johnston Became Baz Luhrmann's New Star-In-The-Making". Vogue.co.uk. Retrieved 15 Jan 2026.
- ^ "St John's Drama Outreach Sparks a Star's Rise to Hollywood". sjcs.co.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ Persaud, Christine (Nov 25, 2020). "The Queen's Gambit: Where Else You've Seen The Cast". Screen Rant. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "One Good Thing: Netflix's The Queen's Gambit makes chess mesmerizing. Really!". Vox. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ Canfield, David (26 July 2021). "Finding the Heart and Soul of The Queen's Gambit". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ Stevenson, Rick. "What Happened To The Queen's Gambit Cast". Looper. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ Carr, Flora (27 April 2022). "Meet the cast of Life After Life". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ Kit, Borys (18 January 2023). "Olivia Cooke Starring in eOne Horror Thriller 'Visitation'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.