You probably remember the eyes first. Huge, unblinking, and carrying a weight that felt way too heavy for a kid. When The Queen’s Gambit exploded onto Netflix in 2020, everyone was talking about Anya Taylor-Joy, and rightly so. But the foundation of that entire phenomenon—the reason we actually cared about Beth Harmon’s survival—was Isla Johnston. She played the younger Beth, trapped in that grim orphanage basement, learning chess from a janitor while chasing down green tranquilizer pills.
Honestly, it’s rare for a child actor to anchor a prestige drama so effectively that you’re almost sad when they age up. But Isla did it. Fast forward to 2026, and she’s no longer just "the girl from the chess show." She has quietly built a resume that spans psychological horror, sci-fi epics, and now, one of the most anticipated biopics of the decade.
If you’ve been trying to track down all the Isla Johnston movies and tv shows worth your time, you'll notice she doesn't just take every role that comes her way. She picks projects that are a little weird, a little dark, and usually very intense.
From Orphanage Basements to Global Invasions
Isla’s career didn't start with Netflix. She actually kicked things off in British television with a role in the miniseries Kiri back in 2018. She played Fiona. It was a small start, but it put her on the radar of UK casting directors. She even popped up in an episode of the long-running BBC soap Doctors as Sarah Kemp.
Then came the "Big One."
In The Queen's Gambit, Isla appeared in four episodes. That’s more than just a flashback cameo. She had to establish the character's addiction, her genius, and her social isolation. Most people don't realize how much of the show's "vibe" was set by her performance in that basement.
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After the world went chess-mad, she jumped into big-budget sci-fi. In the Apple TV+ series Invasion, she played Lucy Spencer. It was a completely different beast—modern, high-stakes, and focused on a global catastrophe. It proved she could handle the "blockbuster" side of the industry just as well as the indie-drama side.
The 2025 Breakthrough: Playing Satan and Saints
If 2020 was her introduction, late 2025 was her coronation.
A few months ago, we saw her take a massive swing in The Carpenter’s Son. This isn't your Sunday school Bible story. It’s a supernatural horror-thriller inspired by the apocryphal Infancy Gospel of Thomas. Nicolas Cage plays the Carpenter (Joseph), and Noah Jupe plays the Boy (Jesus).
Isla plays "The Stranger." Or, as critics at The Times recently put it, she plays a "vulnerable female Satan."
Reviews called her performance captivating and compared her to Robert De Niro’s menacing turn in Angel Heart. It’s a gutsy move for an eighteen-year-old actress to play the literal devil opposite Nicolas Cage, but she pulled it off. The film hit U.S. theaters in November 2025 and is currently one of the most talked-about (and controversial) horror films on the circuit.
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Current Filmography and Key Roles
- The Queen's Gambit (2020): Young Beth Harmon. The role that changed everything.
- Invasion (2021-2025): Lucy Spencer. A recurring role in one of Apple’s biggest sci-fi bets.
- Life After Life (2022): Young Ursula. She played the younger version of Thomasin McKenzie’s character in this BBC adaptation.
- The Carpenter's Son (2025): The Stranger/Satan. A dark, transformative role alongside Nicolas Cage.
- Visitation (Post-Production): A lead role in a horror film alongside Olivia Cooke.
Why Baz Luhrmann Just Bet the House on Her
The biggest news regarding Isla Johnston movies and tv shows broke just a few months ago. Baz Luhrmann—the guy behind Elvis and Moulin Rouge!—has officially cast Isla as the lead in his upcoming epic, Jehanne d’Arc.
Yes, she is playing Joan of Arc.
There was a massive search for this role. Rumors were flying that Jenna Ortega or Bella Ramsey might take it. But Luhrmann apparently "winnowed the field" down to Isla. It makes sense. If you need someone who can look like a peasant girl one second and a divine, terrifying military leader the next, Isla has the range.
Working with Luhrmann usually means a few things:
- The costumes will be insane.
- The movie will be a visual explosion.
- The lead actor is probably going to become an A-list superstar (look at Austin Butler).
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Career
People often think Isla "disappeared" after 2020. They see the gap between The Queen's Gambit and her recent leading roles and assume she was a one-hit-wonder.
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In reality, she went back to school.
She recently finished her A-Levels in the UK, including Art History and Drama (where she reportedly got an A*). It’s a refreshingly normal path. Instead of burning out by doing five mediocre teen movies, she stayed in Suffolk, lived on her family's farm, and waited for roles that actually mattered.
How to Watch Her Best Work Right Now
If you want to catch up, start with Life After Life. It’s often overlooked because it’s a BBC production, but her performance as Young Ursula is haunting. It deals with reincarnation and the "what ifs" of history. It’s the perfect bridge between her child-actor days and the more mature roles she’s taking on now.
Then, find a screening of The Carpenter's Son. It’s weird, it’s polarizing, and it’s probably the best showcase of her "darker" side before she goes full "Saint" for Baz Luhrmann in 2026.
Your Next Steps:
- Track the release of Jehanne d’Arc: Since production is ramping up, keep an eye on Warner Bros. press releases for the first look at her in 15th-century armor.
- Watch Life After Life: It’s available on BBC iPlayer (UK) and various streaming platforms globally; it’s the best "hidden gem" in her filmography.
- Check out Visitation: This horror film starring Isla and Olivia Cooke is currently in post-production and is expected to hit the festival circuit later this year.