Honestly, if you were a teenager in the early 2010s, there is a very specific type of heartbreak you probably carry. It’s the kind that only comes from a favorite show getting axed on a massive cliffhanger. For a lot of us, that show was Jane by Design, and the face of that obsession was Erica Dasher.
She blew up almost overnight as Jane Quimby, the girl living a double life in high school and high fashion. But what happened after the "Donovan Decker" lights went out? Looking back at Erica Dasher movies and TV shows, you realize she’s always been more than just a "teen star." She’s a producer, a director, and a total chameleon who has popped up in some of your favorite procedurals without you even realizing it.
The Breakout: Jane by Design and the Double Life
Let’s talk about the fashion-forward elephant in the room. In 2012, ABC Family (rest in peace) gave us Jane by Design. Erica Dasher played Jane, a quirky kid who gets mistaken for an adult and lands a job as the assistant to a terrifyingly chic fashion executive played by Andie MacDowell.
It was basically The Devil Wears Prada meets Pretty in Pink.
People loved it. The chemistry between Erica and Nick Roux (who played her best friend Billy Nutter) was the kind of stuff Tumblr dreams were made of. But here’s a wild fact: Erica actually broke her ankle right before testing for the role. She showed up to the final audition in a medical boot. Instead of recasting, they used a body double for some of the walking shots in the pilot. That’s commitment.
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The show only lasted 18 episodes. One season. Then, bam—canceled. We never got to see Jane and Billy truly navigate that "endgame" status, and the cliffhanger where her secret was almost out still stings.
Why Jane Quimby Still Matters
- The Vibe: She wasn't the "cool" girl. She was vulnerable and messy.
- The Style: The show’s costume designer, Olivia Miles-Payne, turned Erica into a style icon for a whole generation of DIY fashionistas.
- The Mentorship: Erica has often said that working with Andie MacDowell changed her life, even helping her pivot into directing later on.
Erica Dasher Movies and TV Shows: The Full List
If you've been trying to track her down since 2012, you've actually had plenty of chances to see her work. She didn't just vanish; she just started picking projects that were a bit more "indie" or leaned into her love for production.
The Major TV Credits
After Jane, Erica started guest-starring in some heavy hitters. You might have spotted her in:
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2013): She played Carrie Sinclair in the episode "Ghosts of the Past." Total 180 from her fashion days.
- NCIS: New Orleans (2015): She appeared as Sofia Freeman in the "Blue Christmas" episode.
- Timeless (2018): This was a cool one. She played the real-life historical figure Alice Paul. It showed off a much more serious, dramatic side of her acting.
- Guidance (2016): She took the lead in the second season of this Go90 series as Alana Maynor. It was a gritty high school thriller, proving she could still lead a series with ease.
Film and Indie Projects
Erica's filmography is a mix of quirky comedies and dark thrillers. It’s a bit unpredictable, which is kind of her brand.
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- Dating Daisy (2016): A romantic comedy where she plays Liz. It’s a very "real" look at relationships in your 20s.
- The Body Tree (2017): She headed to Siberia for this one. It’s a supernatural thriller/horror flick where she plays Alice. If you want to see her far away from a runway, this is it.
- Saint Clare (2024): This is one of her most recent bigger projects, playing Amity Liston. It’s a dark, comedic thriller starring Bella Thorne, and Erica fits right into that moody, stylized world.
Behind the Camera: The Producer Side
A lot of fans don't realize Erica went to USC to study theater and philosophy with the goal of being a director and producer. Acting was almost an accident. She co-founded a production company called Not Just Dead Bodies back in 2007.
She produced a documentary called Speak Easy about competitive acting (High School Forensics), which is actually super niche and fascinating. She’s also directed music videos for Rainey Qualley (Andie MacDowell’s daughter).
Honestly, it feels like she’s more interested in the storytelling than the stardom. That’s probably why her career feels so diverse. She isn't chasing the blockbuster; she’s chasing the vibe.
What's Next for Erica?
As we move through 2026, Erica is still very much active. While she hasn't returned to a massive network lead role since the Jane days, she’s become a staple in the indie horror and thriller scene. There's a certain "cult favorite" energy to her career now.
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If you're looking for actionable ways to catch up on her work, here’s what you should do:
- Rewatch the Classics: Jane by Design is often floating around on platforms like Amazon Prime or Hulu (depending on your region). It holds up surprisingly well as a nostalgic 2010s time capsule.
- Dig into the Shorts: Erica has done a ton of short films like Something Round (2019) and Ouroboros (2019). These are usually where she does her most experimental acting.
- Follow the Directing: Keep an eye on her credits as a director. She has a very specific visual eye that likely stems from her time in the fashion-heavy world of her early 20s.
Erica Dasher is one of those actors who feels like a friend you grew up with. Whether she’s playing a suffragette on Timeless or a teen fashionista, she brings a specific kind of "goofy but sincere" energy that is hard to find in Hollywood.
If you're a fan of her earlier work, it's worth checking out The Body Tree or Guidance to see how she's evolved. She's definitely moved past the "assistant" roles and into something much more complex.
To keep up with her latest projects, checking her updated filmography on sites like IMDb or following her production company’s occasional updates is the best way to ensure you don't miss her next pivot into directing or another "thriller heroine" role.