Top 3 TV Shows Featuring Ayla Johnston — The Rising Global Cinema Star Set to Play Joan of Arc

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The actress's name isn't widely known yet, but she's the one who played young Beth Harmon in "The Queen's Gambit" and has already appeared in Apple TV+ projects ("Invasion") and BBC ("Life After Life").

Her new project is a major undertaking — Baz Luhrmann's epic film about the life of Joan of Arc. According to Deadline, the director has chosen Isla to portray one of history's most famous figures.

Now viewers have reason to take a closer look at her career — she's got a role ahead that could transform her into a global star. For now, here are three series where you can already see her acting talent in action.
A girl with red hair wearing a white shirt sits at a chess board
Isla Johnston in "The Queen's Gambit" series and in real life
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"The Queen's Gambit" (2020)

Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Marielle Heller, Moses Ingram, Isla Johnston

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
"The Queen's Gambit" series trailer
Netflix turned chess into world-class drama. The story of Beth Harmon, an orphan with a brilliant mind and painful addiction, captivated critics and audiences alike.

Isla Johnston played young Beth. The look of a girl encountering a chess board for the first time became one of the series' most recognizable moments.

"Invasion" (2021-2025)

Cast: Golshifteh Farahani, Shiori Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, Isla Johnston

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 57%
"Invasion" series trailer
On Apple TV+, Isla played Lucy Spencer — a child living through an alien invasion.

The plot follows Earth facing an attack from another life form, with viewers witnessing the catastrophe through different people's eyes around the world.

"Life After Life" (2022)

Cast: Lesley Manville, Isla Johnston, Thomasin McKenzie

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
"Life After Life" series trailer
The BBC miniseries based on Kate Atkinson's novel tells the story of a girl who's endlessly reborn after each death.

Isla played little Ursula Todd — and it's through her that viewers first encounter the cyclical nature of her fate. The project earned rave reviews from critics, with audiences praising both the acting and the deeply crafted story.

Baz Luhrmann rarely misses when casting actors: just think of Nicole Kidman after "Moulin Rouge" or Austin Butler after "Elvis." Now it's Isla's turn — and it looks like her Joan of Arc will be the role everyone's talking about. Earlier on zoomboola.com, we covered the roles of Timothée Chalamet's sister, who will appear in the "The Devil Wears Prada" sequel.