If you’ve been watching Yellowjackets, you already know that Sophie Nélisse is basically the queen of the "unsettling stare." There is something about the way she plays Teen Shauna—this mix of quiet wallflower and terrifyingly capable survivor—that just gets under your skin. Honestly, it's about time the rest of the world caught up. While a lot of people are just discovering her now through the chaos of the Showtime hit, she’s been doing heavy lifting in the industry since she was literally eleven years old.
She isn't just another TV actress. Nélisse is one of those rare performers who can carry a massive, big-budget period piece and then pivot to a gritty indie horror without breaking a sweat. If you’re looking to dive into the best Sophie Nélisse movies and shows, you’ve got a lot of ground to cover, from Oscar-nominated Canadian dramas to 2026’s biggest horror releases.
From Gymnast to The Book Thief: The Early Years
Believe it or not, Sophie Nélisse didn't even want to be an actress at first. She was a high-level gymnast training for the 2016 Olympics. Then, an ankle injury happened. Life-changing? Yeah, pretty much. She pivoted to acting to help pay for her training, but she ended up being so naturally gifted that she landed a role in Monsieur Lazhar (2011).
That movie didn't just do "okay." It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Sophie was only 11, and she walked away with a Genie Award (the Canadian equivalent of an Oscar).
Then came the big one. The Book Thief.
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If you haven't seen it, grab some tissues. Seriously. Playing Liesel Meminger alongside Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson is no small feat for a kid. She had to master a German accent and carry the emotional weight of Nazi-era Germany on her shoulders. Most child actors lean on being "cute." Nélisse leaned on being real. She won the Young Artist Award for that role, and it's still cited today by critics like The Movie Rat as one of the most impressive youth performances of the 2010s.
Why Yellowjackets Changed Everything
Fast forward to 2021. Yellowjackets premieres and suddenly everyone is talking about cannibalism and 90s nostalgia. Sophie plays the younger version of Melanie Lynskey’s Shauna Shipman. It's a tricky gig. You have to match the mannerisms of an established veteran actress while creating your own version of the character.
By Season 3, which wrapped up recently in 2025, Sophie’s performance took a dark, dark turn. We saw Shauna move from being Jackie’s sidekick to becoming the "Antler Queen" (well, sort of—it’s complicated). In interviews with AV Club, Sophie mentioned how she loved exploring Shauna’s "dark sense of humor." She’s no longer just a victim of a plane crash; she’s a force.
There was a huge outcry on Reddit and Twitter (now X) when she didn't get an Emmy nomination for Season 2, especially after that brutal childbirth episode. Many fans felt she was "robbed," and honestly, they aren't wrong. Her ability to snap from laughing on set with co-star Courtney Eaton to filming a traumatic, blood-soaked scene is legendary among the cast.
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The Indie Gems and Horror Hits
If you think she only does "sad girl in the woods" roles, you’re missing out.
- The Kid Detective (2020): This is a total cult classic. She plays Caroline, a girl who hires a washed-up "kid detective" (Adam Brody) to solve a real-life murder. It’s funny, it’s noir, and she’s the perfect straight-man to Brody’s mess of a character.
- 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019): Look, is it high art? No. Is it a fun shark movie where Sophie gets to scream underwater? Absolutely. It showed she could handle a physical, genre-heavy blockbuster.
- Irena's Vow (2024): She returned to her dramatic roots here, playing a real-life Polish nurse who hid twelve Jews in the basement of a German major’s villa during WWII. It’s a return to the gravity of The Book Thief but with a much more mature, hardened edge.
What’s Happening in 2026?
If you're looking for what's next, 2026 is shaping up to be huge for her. The big buzz is around Whistle, a horror film directed by Corin Hardy (The Nun). It just hit North American theaters in February 2026 after a killer run at Fantastic Fest.
The plot is wild: a group of high schoolers find an ancient Aztec death whistle, and when they blow it, their "future deaths" start hunting them. Sophie plays Ellie, and early reviews from places like The Mary Sue are calling it a "terrifying" slasher that feels like a modern Final Destination.
She’s also got Lydia and the Mist Rider on the horizon for later this year. She’s definitely leaning into the supernatural and genre space lately, which fits her "intense" acting style perfectly.
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The Sophie Nélisse Essential Watchlist
If you want to see the full range, don't just stick to the hits. Here is how you should actually watch her filmography to see her evolve:
- Monsieur Lazhar (2011): To see where the raw talent started.
- The Book Thief (2013): The big breakout.
- The Kid Detective (2020): For her comedic timing and chemistry with Adam Brody.
- Yellowjackets (2021-Present): Especially Season 2, Episode 6. Just be prepared.
- Whistle (2026): For her newest turn as a horror scream queen.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following her career, keep an eye on her collaboration with Courtney Eaton. The two lived together while filming Yellowjackets and have been vocal about developing their own projects, including an adaptation of the book Girl in Pieces.
Sophie is also active in the Quebec film scene. If you don't mind subtitles, check out her French-language work like 1:54 or Deux femmes en or (2025). It shows a completely different side of her acting that English-speaking audiences often miss.
The "slow burn" of her career, as she calls it, is exactly why she's staying relevant. She isn't a flash-in-the-pan viral star; she’s a technician. Whether she's surviving the Canadian wilderness or outrunning an Aztec curse, Sophie Nélisse is proving she’s the most versatile actor of her generation. Keep your eyes on the 2026 awards circuit—it might finally be her year.