Before she was "Lesbian Jesus" headlining sold-out tours, Hayley Kiyoko was the girl you probably saw on your TV screen every single afternoon without even realizing it. Honestly, it’s kinda wild to look back at the late 2000s and see how much of a fixture she was in the teenage zeitgeist. Most people today associate her strictly with her music—the synth-pop anthems and those self-directed music videos that basically saved lives—but her acting resume is deep. Like, "CSI: Cyber" lead role deep.
You’ve got to understand that for a long time, Hayley was navigating a Hollywood that didn't quite know where to put a biracial, queer woman. She was booking roles, sure, but she was often playing the "edgy" best friend or the tech genius.
Now, in 2026, we’re seeing the ultimate pivot. She isn't just appearing in movies anymore; she’s making them. With her directorial debut Girls Like Girls hitting theaters this summer, the conversation around hayley kiyoko movies and shows has shifted from "where have I seen her before?" to "what is she building next?"
The Disney Era and the Velma Era
Let’s be real: if you were a kid in 2009, Hayley Kiyoko was Velma Dinkley. Period.
She played the iconic, orange-turtleneck-wearing sleuth in Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins and the 2010 sequel Curse of the Lake Monster. It’s actually funny to think about now because Velma has since been canonically confirmed as queer in recent animations, but back then, Hayley was just bringing a grounded, smart energy to a role that could have been a caricature.
Then came Lemonade Mouth.
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If you haven't seen this Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), you’re missing out on the peak of the "misfits in detention" trope. Hayley played Stella Yamada, the rebellious, bass-playing heart of the band. It was arguably her most visible role for years. Stella wasn't the typical Disney princess; she was loud, she stood up to authority, and she wore combat boots. For a lot of girls, that was a lightbulb moment.
Beyond the Mouse House: CSI and Five Points
After the Disney glow-up, Hayley moved into more "serious" territory. She spent two seasons on CSI: Cyber playing Raven Ramirez.
Think about that for a sec.
She was a series regular on a major network procedural, working alongside Academy Award winner Patricia Arquette and James Van Der Beek. She was the rookie tech who knew her way around the dark web. It was a solid gig, but you could tell her creative soul was itching for something more personal.
That "something more" started to show up in Five Points, a Facebook Watch series produced by Kerry Washington. Hayley played Lexi Himitsu, and the show dealt with some pretty heavy high school drama from multiple perspectives. It was raw and a little messy—in a good way. It felt like she was finally moving away from the polished sheen of her early career into stories that actually felt like real life.
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Notable TV Guest Spots
- Wizards of Waverly Place: She played Stevie Nichols, the "bad influence" wizard who tried to start a revolution.
- The Fosters: A recurring role as Gabi, part of the "Girls United" group home storyline.
- Insecure: A quick but memorable appearance as Miko.
- The Vampire Diaries: She played Megan, a character who... well, didn't last very long (it is a vampire show, after all).
The Big Jump to Directing: Girls Like Girls (2026)
This is the big one. This is the moment everything has been building toward.
On June 19, 2026, Focus Features is releasing Girls Like Girls. If that title sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the name of the 2015 song that changed everything for her. It’s the name of her bestselling novel. And now, it’s a feature film.
Hayley isn't just the inspiration; she’s the director and the co-writer (alongside Stefanie Scott, who, fun fact, was actually in the original music video a decade ago). The movie stars Maya da Costa and Myra Molloy as Coley and Sonya.
It’s a "sun-drenched" coming-of-age story set over one summer. Basically, it’s the movie Hayley says she needed when she was a kid. It’s also proof that her time spent on sets like Insidious: Chapter 3 and Jem and the Holograms wasn't just about acting—it was about observing how a movie gets made from the ground up.
Why Her Acting History Actually Matters
People love to separate "Hayley the Actor" from "Hayley the Pop Star." But you can't.
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Her acting background is exactly why her music videos feel like mini-movies. When you watch the video for "Gravel to Tempo" or "Sleepover," you’re watching a trained actress and a burgeoning director. She understands pacing. She knows how to communicate a whole internal monologue with just a look.
She’s also been vocal about the struggles. She’s mentioned how hard it was to find roles as a biracial woman in an industry that likes to put people in boxes. By moving into the director's chair, she’s literally building her own boxes.
What to Watch Right Now
If you want to catch up on the essential hayley kiyoko movies and shows before the new film drops, here is the non-negotiable list:
- Lemonade Mouth (2011): Essential for the vibes and the music. "Determine" is still a bop.
- Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (2009): For the nostalgia and to see a young Hayley nailing a classic character.
- Five Points (2018-2019): To see her dramatic range in a more modern setting.
- XOXO (2016): This Netflix movie about an EDM festival is just fun. She plays Shannie, and it’s a great "vibe" movie.
- Girls Like Girls (2015 Music Video): Okay, it’s a music video, but it’s the blueprint for her 2026 film. Watch it to see where the vision started.
Hayley Kiyoko has spent nearly twenty years in front of the camera, evolving from a Disney kid into a powerhouse creator. She’s not just "in" shows anymore; she’s the one calling the shots.
Keep an eye on the June release of her film. It’s likely going to be a massive moment for queer cinema, and it’s the culmination of a career that started with a talking dog and a van.
How to support her current projects:
- Check local listings for Girls Like Girls screenings starting June 19, 2026.
- Read her novel Girls Like Girls to get the full backstory of the characters before seeing the movie.
- Stream her 2025 album Where There's Room For Us which likely features tracks from the film's score.