You probably know her as the girl who just couldn't get the "zombie thing" right. Honestly, it’s hard to shake the image of Brighton Sharbino standing in a sunny field while Carol tells her to "look at the flowers." It was one of those moments in television history that just stays with you, right up there with the Red Wedding. But if you think Brighton Sharbino TV shows start and end with a tragic pecan grove in Georgia, you're missing out on a career that’s actually surprisingly varied.
She didn't just pop out of nowhere for The Walking Dead.
Actually, she’s been working since she was a little kid. Born in Flower Mound, Texas, back in 2002, she was doing the whole child-actor thing way before she was ever running from walkers. We’re talking guest spots on some of the biggest shows of the late 2000s and early 2010s. It's a weird trip looking back at her filmography because you’ll be watching a random rerun and suddenly go, "Wait, is that Lizzie?"
That One Episode of Hannah Montana (and Other Early Gigs)
Most people forget she was in Hannah Montana. She played a character named Cammi in the episode "Hannah's Gonna Get This." It’s a total 180 from her later, darker roles. She was just this cute kid in a bright Disney World.
But even back then, she was racking up credits on heavy-hitters. She appeared in Friday Night Lights—basically a rite of passage for any actor working in Texas—and had a guest role in The New Normal. She even played a young Abby Sciuto in NCIS. If you’re an NCIS die-hard, you know how protective fans are of Abby, so casting Brighton to play the mini-version of Pauley Perrette was a pretty big deal at the time.
The Walking Dead: The Role That Changed Everything
We have to talk about Lizzie Samuels. If we’re looking at Brighton Sharbino TV shows through the lens of impact, this is the peak. She joined the cast in Season 4. At first, she just seemed like another kid trying to survive the apocalypse. But things got weird. Fast.
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Lizzie started naming the walkers. She thought they were just "different."
Watching her descent into whatever psychological break she was having was genuinely uncomfortable. Brighton played it with this eerie, wide-eyed sincerity that made you feel bad for her while also being totally terrified of her. When she killed her own sister, Mika, just to prove they’d "come back," it broke the internet before that was even a common phrase. It remains one of the highest-rated (and most controversial) episodes of the entire series.
- Character: Lizzie Samuels
- Episodes: 9 (Season 4 and a brief Season 5 hallucination)
- Legacy: The "Look at the flowers" meme is still alive and well in 2026.
Beyond the Apocalypse: True Detective and Once Upon a Time
Right after she left the world of zombies, she landed a role in True Detective. She played Macie Hart, the daughter of Woody Harrelson’s character. It wasn't a huge role, but being part of that first season—which basically redefined prestige TV—solidified her as a "serious" young actress.
Then she did a complete flip and went to the world of fairy tales. In Once Upon a Time, she played the young version of the Snow Queen (Ingrid).
She once mentioned in an interview how much she loved that role because, for once, they weren't putting dirt on her face. She actually got to wear a dress and look like a princess. After months of filming in the woods for AMC, you can’t really blame her for enjoying a little bit of Disney magic.
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The Move to Web Series and Modern Projects
As she got older, Brighton started leaning into the digital space, which makes sense for her generation. She starred as the antagonist, Allison Betts, in the Brat series Zoe Valentine. If you haven't seen it, she plays the "mean girl" perfectly. It’s a far cry from the traumatized Lizzie Samuels, showing she’s got the range to play the bully just as well as the victim.
She also starred in and produced a series called Players back in 2020. This was a big move for her. It showed she wasn't just waiting for the phone to ring; she was actually getting involved in the production side of things.
Recent Work: From The Man in the White Van to Welcome to Chippendales
Lately, she’s been popping up in some really interesting places. She played a younger version of Brooke Shields in the Hulu series Welcome to Chippendales. It was a small but stylistically cool role that fit perfectly into the 80s aesthetic of the show.
Then there’s The Man in the White Van, which took her back to her thriller roots. She’s also been seen at high-profile premieres lately, like the season 6 premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale in 2025. She stays busy. Whether it's guesting on Law & Order: SVU or Criminal Minds, she’s one of those actors who just keeps the momentum going without needing to be on a magazine cover every week.
What should you watch first?
If you're looking to dive into her work, here’s the "pro-tip" watchlist:
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- The Walking Dead (Season 4, Episode 14, "The Grove"): This is mandatory. It's her best performance. Period.
- Miracles from Heaven: If you want something that won't give you nightmares. She plays Abby Beam, and it's a very touching, faith-based drama.
- Zoe Valentine: To see her play a modern, snarky teenager.
- Radioflash: A 2019 survival thriller where she’s the lead. It’s basically her version of an "action hero" movie.
Brighton Sharbino has managed to outgrow the "child star" label that traps so many people. She’s transitioned into a working adult actress who can handle dark, heavy material just as easily as lighthearted drama. She’s also part of a bit of a dynasty—her sister Saxon was in Poltergeist and Trust Me, and her brother Sawyer is also in the industry.
The coolest thing about following Brighton Sharbino TV shows is seeing how she’s navigated the shift from child actor to a producer and lead. She didn't fade away after her character was killed off in the most famous way possible. Instead, she used that "flower-looking" fame to build a steady, respectable career in a very tough industry.
To keep up with her latest projects, keep an eye on streaming platforms like Hulu and Paramount+, where she’s been making more frequent appearances in prestige dramas. Her shift into more mature, grounded roles suggests she’s moving away from the "horror kid" trope and toward more complex, character-driven storytelling.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the Sharbino Siblings YouTube channel if you want to see her personality outside of scripted roles; it’s a lot of vlogs and family chaos.
- Look for her in the 2024/2025 festival circuit films—she's been leaning more into indie projects that prioritize acting chops over big budgets.