Maisy Stella

Maisy Stella
Stella performing in 2019
Born (2003-12-13) December 13, 2003
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active2012–present
Parents
RelativesLennon Stella (sister)
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Formerly ofLennon & Maisy

Maisy Stella (born December 13, 2003)[1] is a Canadian singer and actress. Her accolades include a Critics' Choice Movie Award and an Independent Spirit Award.

Stella started her career in 2009 and gained early attention as half of the country music cover band Lennon & Maisy, alongside her elder sister Lennon. From 2012 to 2018, they starred together as sisters on the musical television series Nashville, for which they also contributed to the soundtrack discography.

In 2017, Stella released her debut solo song, "Riding Free", for the soundtrack of the animated series Spirit Riding Free. In 2024, she returned to acting and received greater recognition for her leading role in Megan Park's coming-of-age film My Old Ass (2024), for which she won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer. She has since acted in Maude Apatow's comedy drama Poetic License (2025).

Early life

Maisy was born on December 13, 2003, in Oshawa, Ontario. Her parents are MaryLynne and Brad Stella, who are members of the country duo the Stellas, and she has an older sister, Lennon Stella.[2]

Career

2012–2018: Nashville and Lennon & Maisy

Stella had her breakthrough role starring as Daphne Conrad on the ABC/CMT musical drama television series Nashville (2012–2018), where she starred alongside her sister Lennon Stella. The series premiered on October 10, 2012[3] and aired its final episode on July 26, 2018.[4]

During her time on Nashville, she also performed alongside her older sister Lennon Stella as the country music duo Lennon & Maisy, performing mostly covers of songs.[5]

2018–present: Solo work and return to acting

In 2016, Stella appeared on the YouTube web series We Are Savvy. The following year, Stella released her debut solo single, "Riding Free", for the soundtrack of the DreamWorks Animation series Spirit Riding Free.[6]

In 2017, Stella also appeared as a guest judge in an episode of Top Chef Jr.[7]

Stella returned to acting in 2024 with a lead role in Megan Park's coming-of-age comedy film My Old Ass, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews from critics. For her role in the film, Stella was nominated for the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performer[8] and Independent Spirit Award for Best Breakthrough Performance.

In 2026, Stella was cast as Chloe Price in the Amazon Prime Video television adaptation Life Is Strange, based on the 2015 video game.[9]

Stalking incident

In November 2018, Joshua Andrew Stephen Fox, age 41, was arrested by the Metro Nashville Police after having stalked Stella for over a year. According to police, the contact started when he reached out to the Stella family through its website, stating that he had relocated to Nashville from Miami to "be with the family".

On November 8, 2018, the FBI met with Fox at a Panera Bread café near Vanderbilt University after Fox allegedly sent Stella a "sexual invitation", ordering him to stop all contact with Stella and her family. After temporarily deactivating all his social media accounts, Fox reactivated them, and according to police, sent Stella 85 messages and videos, including ones of a sexual nature.

Within the next few days, Fox sent Stella a picture of a woman he had kidnapped and raped at gunpoint. The woman reported the incident the following day, and Fox was arrested in Asheville, North Carolina. He was then transferred to Smith County, Tennessee to face charges of rape and kidnapping. He was released from custody on an $80,000 bond.[10][11]

Filmography

Film appearances
Year Title Role Notes
2024 My Old Ass Elliott Labrant Main role
2024 Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties Herself Cameo
2025 Poetic License Grace Wilson
2026 Flowervale Street TBA Post-production
Television appearances
Year Title Role Notes
2012–2018 Nashville Daphne Conrad Recurring role (season 1); main role (Season 2–6)
2016 We Are Savvy Herself Web series
2017 Top Chef Jr Guest judge
2017–2018 Spirit Riding Free Voices 3 episodes (2 uncredited)
TBA Life Is Strange Chloe Price Main role

Awards and nominations

Organizations Year[a] Category Work Result Ref.
Gotham Awards 2024 Breakthrough Performer My Old Ass Nominated [8]
Michigan Movie Critics Guild Breakthrough Award Nominated [12]
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Best Youth Performance – Female (under 21) Won [13]
Indiana Film Journalists Association Breakout of the Year Nominated [14]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists 2025 Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated [15]
Music City Film Critics Association Best Young Actress Nominated [16]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Young Actor or Actress Won [17]
London Film Critics' Circle Breakthrough Performer Nominated [18]
Independent Spirit Awards Best Breakthrough Performance Won [19]

Notes

  1. ^ Indicates the year of the ceremony.

References

  1. ^ "Famous birthdays for Dec. 13: Taylor Swift, Maisy Stella".
  2. ^ Chang, Juju; Balin, Joanna (November 25, 2013). "The Real 'Nashville': On the Long Road to Stardom". ABC News. Archived from the original on March 17, 2026. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  3. ^ "Nashville: Season 1 – Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  4. ^ "Nashville: Season 6 – Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  5. ^ "Lennon & Maisy :: Home". Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  6. ^ Houghton, Cillea (May 26, 2017). "Maisy Stella Goes Solo for 'Spirit Riding Free' Theme Song". Taste of Country. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  7. ^ "Maisy Stella – Mick Management". MickManagement. Archived from the original on September 23, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Brent Lang and Jordan Moreau (October 29, 2024). "Gotham Awards 2024 Nominations: 'Anora' Leads With Four Nods". Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  9. ^ Otterson, Joe (March 3, 2026). "Life Is Strange TV Series Casts Maisy Stella, Tatum Grace Hopkins as Chloe and Max (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  10. ^ Neysa Alund, Natalie (November 20, 2019). "Man accused of stalking, sending sexual messages to underage 'Nashville' star". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  11. ^ Breslow, Josh (November 20, 2019). "Man accused of stalking, sending sexual messages to underage 'Nashville' actress". WKRN-TV. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  12. ^ Becky (December 6, 2024). "Michigan Movie Critics Guild Announces Nominees for the Best of 2024". Michigan Movie Critics Guild. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  13. ^ "AwardsWatch - 2024 Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) Winners: 'Dune: Part Two' Leads with 6". AwardsWatch. December 13, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  14. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 10, 2024). "The 2024 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  15. ^ "2024 EDA Award Nominees – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS". Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  16. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 3, 2025). "The 2024 Music City Film Critics Association (MCFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  17. ^ Evans, Greg (December 12, 2024). "'Conclave' And 'Wicked' Lead Critics Choice Awards Film Nominations – Full List". Deadline. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  18. ^ Cline, Rich (December 19, 2024). "The Brutalist and Anora lead nominations for CC Film Awards". The Critics' Circle. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  19. ^ "AwardsWatch - 40th Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Anora,' 'I Saw the TV Glow,' 'Shōgun,' 'English Teacher' Lead". AwardsWatch. December 4, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2025.