You’ve seen her face. Maybe it was as the girl with the mysterious, terrifyingly calm eyes in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, or perhaps as the high school queen bee who is way more complicated than she looks. Honestly, Sara Thompson is one of those actresses who just sticks.
She doesn’t just play characters; she sort of haunts them.
While some actors are content to just hit their marks and go home, Thompson has this weirdly effective way of making a supporting role feel like the most important thing on the screen. Whether she's dealing with sci-fi mind-swaps or small-town legal drama, there is a specific intensity she brings that most people honestly overlook until they’re halfway through a binge-watch and realize they're rooting for the "villain."
If you’re trying to track down the best Sara Thompson movies and tv shows, you’ve probably noticed she moves between genres like a chameleon. Let’s break down where you know her from and why those roles actually mattered.
The Big Break: Burden of Truth and The 100
Most people first got a real taste of what Thompson could do in Burden of Truth. Playing Molly Ross, she wasn't just a "sick girl" plot point. She brought a grounded, gritty reality to a show that dealt with some pretty heavy legal and social themes. It was her first major TV gig, and she held her own next to Peter Mooney and Kristin Kreuk. That’s not easy to do when you're the newcomer.
Then came The 100.
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If you’re a fan of the CW’s cult hit, you know Josephine Lightbourne. Talk about a pivot. Josephine was... well, she was a lot. Ruthless, brilliant, and arguably one of the best villains the show ever saw. What’s wild is that because of the show's "mind drive" lore, Thompson had to share this character with Eliza Taylor (who played Clarke Griffin).
Thompson played the "original" Josephine in flashbacks and mind-space scenes. She had to establish a personality so strong that the lead actress could mimic it later. Most people don't realize how much work went into that collaboration. They actually hung out off-set just to sync up their mannerisms. It worked. Josephine became a fan favorite specifically because she was so fun to hate, and that started with Thompson’s performance.
A Quick Reality Check on "The Other" Sarah Thompsons
Before we go further, let's clear up the Google confusion. If you search for "Sarah Thompson," you might find an American actress who was on Angel and 7th Heaven back in the early 2000s. Totally different person. Our Sara Thompson—the one from One of Us Is Lying—is Canadian, born in Winnipeg, and is part of this new wave of North American talent that's taking over streaming platforms.
Taking Over Peacock: One of Us Is Lying
If you haven't seen One of Us Is Lying, stop reading and go watch it. Basically, it's The Breakfast Club but with a murder. Thompson plays Vanessa Clark.
Initially, Vanessa seems like the classic "mean girl" trope. She’s Addy’s best friend, she’s obsessed with her social standing, and she’s kind of a nightmare. But as the show progresses—especially into the second season—Thompson gets to peel back the layers.
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Vanessa becomes surprisingly observant. She’s not just a ditz; she’s a survivor in a high school ecosystem that is literally turning deadly. The "Vanessa episode" in season two is a standout because it forces the audience to see the world through her eyes, and Thompson plays that transition from "annoying sidekick" to "pivotal player" perfectly.
Beyond the Small Screen: Movie Roles
While she’s a powerhouse on TV, her filmography is quietly growing. She showed up in I Still See You (2018) as Janine, acting alongside Bella Thorne. It’s a supernatural thriller where "ghosts" (called Remnants) are just a part of everyday life.
She also had a role in Nomis (also known as Night Hunter), a dark psychological thriller starring Henry Cavill and Ben Kingsley. It’s a heavy film, but seeing her in a cast of that caliber tells you everything you need to know about how the industry views her talent.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Career
People assume she just "appeared" out of nowhere around 2018. The truth is, Sara was a high-level dancer long before she was a full-time actor.
She was classically trained in ballet, jazz, and contemporary. She even won a silver medal at the World Championships in Poland. You can actually see that physical discipline in how she carries herself on camera. There’s a poise to her characters—even when they’re losing their minds—that comes from years of professional dance training.
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The List: Essential Sara Thompson Movies and TV Shows
If you're looking for a "watch list," don't just look for her name in the credits. Look for these specific projects where she actually gets room to breathe:
- The 100 (Season 6): Watch for the mind-space episodes. It’s a masterclass in playing a character that is simultaneously charming and terrifying.
- One of Us Is Lying: Watch the whole thing, but pay attention to her arc in Season 2.
- Burden of Truth: This is her "origin story" as a TV lead. It's much more of a slow-burn drama compared to her sci-fi work.
- Channel Zero (The Hollow Girl): She appeared in this anthology horror series, and honestly, her vibe fits the "creepy-cool" aesthetic of that show perfectly.
- Make It Happen: Her very first role (at age 12!). It’s a dance movie, which makes total sense given her background.
Why Sara Thompson is the One to Watch in 2026
She’s moving into that phase of her career where she’s no longer "the girl from that one show." Producers are starting to build projects around her.
She has a knack for "elevated genre" projects—shows that are technically teen dramas or sci-fi thrillers but have a lot of emotional depth. Plus, her activism work (specifically around mental health and bullying) has given her a reputation for being one of the more authentic voices in the younger Hollywood set.
If you’re a fan, keep an eye on indie film circuits. That’s usually where actors with her kind of range go to really flex their muscles between big streaming contracts.
Your Next Steps for Following Her Career:
Start by catching up on One of Us Is Lying on Peacock if you missed the second season. It’s the best showcase of her ability to turn a stereotype into a human being. After that, track down her guest spot on Channel Zero—it’s short, but it shows off a darker side of her acting that we don't always get to see in her more mainstream roles. If you're on Instagram, she's fairly active and often shares behind-the-scenes looks at her sets, which gives you a good idea of what's coming down the pipeline before the official trailers drop.