Who is Isabel May? Isabel May, born November 21, 2000, in Santa Monica, California, is a rising star in Hollywood. Standing at 5 feet 9 inches, she began her acting journey at 14. Her breakthrough role came as Katie Cooper in Netflix's Alexa & Katie. She also shined as Veronica Duncan in Young Sheldon. Isabel's portrayal of Elsa Dutton in 1883, a prequel to Yellowstone, earned her critical acclaim. Beyond acting, she enjoys reading, cooking, and playing the piano. With a promising career ahead, Isabel May continues to captivate audiences with her talent and dedication.
Key Takeaways:
- Isabel May's rise to fame from her early acting struggles to her breakout role in "1883" showcases the power of perseverance and dedication in achieving success in Hollywood.
- Despite her rising stardom, Isabel May remains grounded, cherishing her private life and simple pleasures while continuing to impress audiences with her versatile acting skills in various upcoming projects.
Early Life and Background
Isabel May's journey to stardom began in sunny California, where she was born and raised. Her early years set the stage for her future in acting.
- Birthdate and Place: Isabel May was born on November 21, 2000, in Santa Monica, California, USA.
- Height: She stands tall at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 meters).
- Early Life: May is an only child and grew up in the Venice area of Santa Monica, Los Angeles.
- Education: She attended regular school through ninth grade before switching to homeschooling to focus on her acting career.
- Family Support: Her family has been very supportive of her career, allowing her to focus on acting from a young age.
Acting Beginnings
Isabel's acting career didn't start overnight. It took years of auditions and perseverance before she landed her first role.
- Acting Beginnings: May started auditioning for roles at the age of 14 but didn't land her first role until she was 15.
- No Acting Experience: Despite having no acting experience or formal training, May landed the role of Katie Cooper in Alexa & Katie.
- Auditioning Process: She auditioned for roles for three years before landing her first part. During this time, she continued her education online to focus on acting.
- First Job: Her first job was in the entertainment industry, which she landed just five months after leaving regular school.
Breakthrough Roles
Isabel's big break came with her role in Alexa & Katie, which opened doors to more significant opportunities.
- Breakthrough Role: Her breakthrough role was as Katie Cooper in the Netflix series Alexa & Katie, which she played from 2018 to 2020.
- Role in Alexa & Katie: In Alexa & Katie, May portrayed a high school student who navigates the challenges of adolescence with her best friend Alexa. The show was nominated for an Emmy in the Children’s Programming category.
- Recurring Role in Young Sheldon: May also had a recurring role as Veronica Duncan in the CBS series Young Sheldon from 2018 to 2020.
- Lead Role in Run Hide Fight: She played the lead role of Zoe Hull in the film Run Hide Fight, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2020.
Rise to Fame with 1883
Isabel's role in 1883 catapulted her to new heights, earning her critical acclaim and industry recognition.
- Narrator and Lead in 1883: May is best known for her role as Elsa Dutton, the lead character and narrator, in the Paramount+ series 1883, a prequel to Yellowstone. She received positive reviews from critics and was named one of the most promising young stars in Hollywood by The Hollywood Reporter.
- Reprise Role in 1923: May reprised her role as Elsa Dutton in the sequel series 1923, which also starred Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
- Awards and Recognition: For her role in 1883, May won the Outstanding Actress in a Made for Television Movie/Limited-Series at the 24th Women's Image Network Awards.
- Inspiration: She inspired Taylor Sheridan in creating the prequel of Yellowstone, 1883. Sheridan wrote the script for 1883 after finding Isabel auditioning for "Mayor of Kingstown," thus she didn't audition for her role as Elsa Dutton on 1883.
- Horse Riding Experience: Despite having never ridden a horse before shooting 1883, other cast members thought she was a good horse rider.
- Country Superstars: Before shooting 1883, May didn't know that Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were country superstars.
Recent and Upcoming Projects
Isabel continues to take on new roles, showcasing her versatility and talent.
- Supporting Role in I Want You Back: She appeared in a supporting role as Leighton in the romantic comedy film I Want You Back in 2022.
- Casting in Wonder Twins: May was initially cast in the DC Extended Universe's Wonder Twins but the project was canceled due to budget cuts at Warner Bros. Discovery.
- Role in The Smack: She was cast as a female lead opposite Casey Affleck in the independent thriller film The Smack.
- Role in Sunflower: In 2023, May was cast opposite Jurnee Smollett in the thriller film Sunflower for Lionsgate.
- Filmography: May has appeared in several films including Age of Summer, Let's Scare Julie, Run Hide Fight, and The Moon & Back.
- Television Credits: Her television credits include Alexa & Katie, Young Sheldon, 1883, and 1923.
- Voice Role in American Masters: In 2024, she voiced Alta Hilsdale in the TV series American Masters.
- Role in Masters of the Air: She played Marjorie "Marge" Spencer in the TV series Masters of the Air.
Personal Life and Interests
Despite her rising fame, Isabel keeps her personal life private and enjoys simple pleasures.
- Personal Life: May is known to be private about her personal life but has mentioned that she is a homebody who enjoys reading and cooking.
- Homeschooling: After ninth grade, May was homeschooled to concentrate on her acting career. She secured her first job just five months later.
- Independent Film Experience: She had an interesting experience with the independent film Let's Scare Julie, which was shot in one continuous take without stopping.
- Thriller Genre: May enjoys thrillers and horror movies but prefers those with a tad of horror rather than excessive gore.
- Improvisation Skills: In Let's Scare Julie, she enjoyed improvising scenes, which made the experience feel very real and exciting.
- French Language Skills: May can speak some French and has a fondness for the culture and history of France.
- Piano Skills: She plays the piano and enjoys music.
- Cooking and Baking: May loves to cook and bake when she has the time, and she finds it a great way to relax.
- Marathon Reading: She is a marathon reader and can go all day and night without stopping.
- Travel Experience: May stayed with her family in a little village in France one summer, which was a wonderful experience she would love to repeat someday.
- Bucket List: Her bucket list includes visiting regions of the world with significant populations of endangered wildlife to offer her support.
- Animal Lover: May loves animals and believes they deserve all our love and respect.
Career Advice and Future Prospects
Isabel's journey offers valuable insights and inspiration for aspiring actors.
- Career Advice: May advises young actors to follow their hearts and not get stuck in the past or present. She believes that life is short and one should do what feels right.
- Balancing Career and Personal Life: Despite being young and new to the industry, May has managed to balance her career and personal life with the help of her amazing family and a private life.
- Private Life: May prefers to keep her personal life private but enjoys spending time at home with a good book.
- Rising Star: She is considered a rising star in Hollywood, known for her talent and dedication to her craft.
- Positive Reviews: Her performances have received positive reviews from critics, highlighting her potential as a leading actress.
- Acting Style: May's acting style is praised for its authenticity and depth, making her characters relatable and engaging.
- Character Development: She has shown her ability to develop complex characters, as seen in her portrayal of Elsa Dutton in 1883.
- Narrative Skills: As a narrator in 1883, May brought the story to life with her compelling voice and narrative skills.
- Collaborations: She has collaborated with renowned actors and directors, including Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in 1883.
- Industry Recognition: Her work has been recognized by industry professionals, including being named one of the most promising young stars in Hollywood by The Hollywood Reporter.
- Future Projects: With several upcoming projects, including Sunflower and Masters of the Air, Isabel May is set to continue making waves in the entertainment industry.
Isabel May: A Rising Star to Watch
Isabel May's journey from a young actress to a Hollywood rising star is truly inspiring. Born in Santa Monica, she began auditioning at 14 and landed her first role at 15. Her breakthrough came with Alexa & Katie, followed by roles in Young Sheldon and Run Hide Fight. However, her portrayal of Elsa Dutton in 1883 really put her on the map. Critics praised her performance, and she even won an award for it. Beyond acting, Isabel loves reading, cooking, and animals. Her dedication to her craft and ability to balance her career with personal life make her a standout. With upcoming projects like Sunflower and Masters of the Air, Isabel May is definitely a name to remember. Keep an eye on her—she's just getting started.
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