If you’ve spent any time watching daytime soaps or checking out indie dramas over the last decade, you’ve probably seen Hannah Nordberg. She’s one of those actors who seems to have been everywhere and nowhere all at once. Born on August 26, 2004, in Santa Monica, Nordberg hit the ground running as a child star, but her trajectory isn’t your typical "Hollywood kid" story.
Most people first clocked her when she took over the role of Josslyn Jacks on General Hospital back in 2014. It was a big deal at the time. Replacing a previous actor in a legacy role is always a gamble, but Nordberg brought this weirdly mature, grounded energy to Carly and Jax’s daughter. Then, just as fans were getting used to her, she was gone. She didn't disappear, though; she just started picking projects that were, frankly, way more interesting than standard soap opera fare.
The Roles That Defined Hannah Nordberg Movies and TV Shows
When you look at the full list of Hannah Nordberg movies and TV shows, it’s clear she has a thing for playing the "burdened" child. She isn't just doing bubbly Disney sitcoms, though she’s dipped her toes in that water too. She has this knack for looking like she’s carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, which is probably why Ewan McGregor cast her in American Pastoral.
American Pastoral and the Pivot to Drama
In the 2016 film American Pastoral, Nordberg played the younger version of Merry Levov (the character later played by Dakota Fanning). It’s a heavy, complicated role involving a stutter and a family falling apart during the Vietnam War era. Honestly, it’s a tough watch. But Nordberg’s performance as the 12-year-old Merry is what anchors the first act of the film. She managed to make the stutter feel like a genuine part of the character’s internal struggle, not just a "theatrical trick."
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Overboard (2018)
You might also recognize her from the 2018 remake of Overboard. She played Emily Sullivan, one of the three daughters of Anna Faris’s character. While the movie itself got mixed reviews, the chemistry between the "sisters"—played by Nordberg, Alyvia Alyn Lind, and Payton Lepinski—was arguably the best part of the film. It showed a totally different side of her: funny, snarky, and very much a modern kid.
Why She Isn't Just "That Kid From the Dolly Parton Movies"
If you’re a fan of holiday specials, you definitely know her as Judy Ogle. Nordberg appeared in both Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors (2015) and the sequel Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love (2016).
Playing Dolly’s best friend required a specific kind of old-school Southern charm. She nailed it. But what’s fascinating is how she jumped from those wholesome, faith-based stories straight into things like The Remains, a horror flick where she plays a girl named Victoria who discovers a haunted chest in her new house. The contrast is wild. One day she's in a 1950s Tennessee holler, the next she's fighting off supernatural entities.
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Voice Acting and Fancy Nancy
More recently, she’s been leaning into voice work. If you have kids or younger siblings, you’ve probably heard her as Grace White in Disney’s Fancy Nancy. Grace is Nancy’s "frenemy"—the wealthy, slightly braggy girl who eventually learns some humility. It's a testament to her range that she can go from a gritty HBO pilot like The Devil You Know (directed by Gus Van Sant, no less) to voicing a cartoon character for preschoolers.
Where is Hannah Nordberg Now?
As of 2026, Nordberg has transitioned into much more adult-oriented work. She recently finished her training at The Lir Academy in Dublin, graduating with a BA in Acting in 2025. This is a massive shift. A lot of child actors just keep trying to book whatever they can to stay relevant, but Nordberg basically paused the Hollywood machine to go get a "proper" Shakespearean-style education in Ireland.
She’s now a "certified" stage combatant (unarmed and rapier/dagger!) and has been performing in heavy-duty plays like Antigone and Much Ado About Nothing.
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Recent and Upcoming Work
- Euphoria: She had a guest spot as Emma, directed by Sam Levinson.
- Pam & Tommy: She appeared as Young Pam in the Hulu limited series.
- The Naked Gun (2025): While the reboot starring Liam Neeson was the big talk of 2025, Nordberg's name has been circulating around several indie projects coming out of the UK and Ireland following her graduation.
The "child star" label doesn't really fit her anymore. She’s 21 now. She’s more of a theater-trained character actor who just happens to have a decade of professional film sets under her belt.
The Complete Filmography at a Glance
If you're trying to binge-watch her work, here is the breakdown of the most significant projects she's been a part of.
- Little Miss Sunshine (Musical, 2013): This was her big break. She played Olive Hoover off-Broadway. If you can find clips of her singing "I Want to Be a Beauty Queen," do it. The kid had pipes.
- General Hospital (2014-2015): The Josslyn Jacks years. This is where the core fanbase started.
- Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors (2015): Playing Judy Ogle. This is peak "heartwarming" Hannah.
- American Pastoral (2016): The serious, dramatic turn as Young Merry.
- The Remains (2016): Her first real foray into horror.
- An American Girl Story: Ivy & Julie 1976 (2017): She played Julie Albright, a classic 70s kid dealing with her parents' divorce.
- Overboard (2018): Playing Emily, the oldest of the three Sullivan girls.
- Fancy Nancy (2018-2022): The voice of Grace.
- Girl Code (2019): A shorter-lived series, but she played the role of Kat.
What to Expect Next
Honestly, Nordberg is in a "rebranding" phase. By moving to Ireland for school, she effectively stepped out of the LA bubble. She’s now represented by Curtis Brown in the UK and Paradigm in the US. This usually means an actor is looking for "prestige" roles—think A24 movies, BBC dramas, or West End plays.
If you want to follow her career now, don't look at the Disney Channel. Look at the film festival circuits. She’s clearly prioritizing craft over celebrity, which is a rare move for someone who started on a soap opera.
To stay updated, you should keep an eye on British indie casting announcements. Since she’s now based (at least partially) in Europe, that’s where her most interesting adult work is likely to emerge. You can also check out her profile on The Lir Academy’s website to see her latest stage credits; it’s a great way to see how much her acting style has evolved since the General Hospital days.