Isabel May Movies and TV Shows: Full Filmography List

Isabel May spent her formative years in front of cameras long before most audiences knew her name. Born in Santa Monica on November 21, 2000, she was navigating Hollywood’s casting landscape before she could legally drive. Today, at 24, she’s logged credits ranging from Netflix teen sitcoms to a Paramount+ Western that earned critical praise—and she’s just getting started.

Breakout TV Role: Katie Cooper in Alexa & Katie · Recurring Role: Veronica Duncan in Young Sheldon · Key Movie: Run Hide Fight as Zoe Hull · Yellowstone Spin-off: Elsa in 1883 · Recent Series: 1923

Six years of credits, four streaming platforms, and a character name—Elsa Dutton—that keeps echoing through the Yellowstone universe. Here’s how it all fits together.

The pattern is clear: every project she chose did something different. Comedy. Period drama. Thrillers with difficult subject matter. That variety built a foundation most actors take a decade to construct.

What is Isabel May famous for?

Isabel May’s career took off when most actors are still waiting for their first audition. Her acting debut came as Katie Cooper in Netflix’s Alexa & Katie, a main role that ran for four seasons from 2018 to 2020 (ScreenRant). The sitcom, co-created by Sarah Par ish and Warren Pacey, earned a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2018—unusual recognition for a debut performance in a streaming comedy.

That same year, she began a recurring stint in Young Sheldon as Veronica Duncan, a rebellious but kind-hearted teenager who forms a genuine connection with Georgie Cooper. She appeared in 9 episodes across seasons 2 through 4, a supporting role that showcased her ability to play against type in Chuck Lorre’s ensemble (Big Bang Theory Fandom Wiki). The contrast between streaming teen comedy and network sitcom demonstrated range early on.

Early career highlights

• Shifted to online education at age 16 to accommodate acting demands (Big Bang Theory Fandom Wiki)
• Balanced lead and supporting TV roles within the same calendar year
• Selected projects that subverted genre expectations from the start

Breakout roles

Her career pivot arrived with 1883. The Paramount+ Western prequel to Yellowstone, created by Taylor Sheridan, cast her as Elsa Dutton—the series’ narrator and emotional center. She starred opposite Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill, a cast ensemble that brought gravitas to Sheridan’s frontier saga (ScreenRant).

Is Isabel May in Yellowstone?

She appears in Yellowstone, but not in the way fans might expect. In 2024, she logged an uncredited vocal guest role as Elsa Dutton in one episode of the main series (Big Bang Theory Fandom Wiki). It’s a callback rather than a substantive appearance—her actual presence in the Yellowstone universe runs through the prequels, not the flagship show.

Role in 1883 prequel

• Elsa Dutton: main character and narrator across both seasons (2021–2022)
• Character arc follows a young woman navigating the harsh realities of westward migration
• Performance described as “the emotional backbone of the series” (ScreenRant)

Connections to Yellowstone universe

The Yellowstone franchise operates on a interconnected timeline structure, with 1883 serving as a generational origin story. Isabel May’s Elsa Dutton appears as a narrator in 1923 (2022–2025), the sequel series featuring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as leads (ScreenRant). The character functions as a through-line connecting multiple shows—a narrative device that gives her unusual weight for an actor her age.

What TV shows has Isabel May been in?

Isabel May’s television credits span multiple platforms and genres, reflecting a deliberate strategy of genre diversity.

Netflix series

• Alexa & Katie (2018–2020) — Lead role as Katie Cooper; four seasons on the streaming platform
• Primetime Emmy nomination earned in 2018 for Outstanding Comedy Series (ScreenRant)

CBS comedies

• Young Sheldon (2018–2020) — Recurring as Veronica Duncan in 9 episodes; spin-off of The Big Bang Theory, created by Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro (ScreenRant)

Paramount+ dramas

• 1883 (2021–2022) — Main role and narrator as Elsa Dutton; Paramount+ prequel to Yellowstone
• 1923 (2022–2025) — Voice role as Elsa Dutton narrator; sequel to 1883, showrun by Taylor Sheridan

The trajectory is notable: Netflix debut → network sitcom → prestige streaming Western. Each step positioned her for the next level of project scope.

What movies has Isabel May starred in?

Isabel May’s filmography includes independent productions, studio releases, and projects with controversial subject matter that generated both criticism and unexpected acclaim.

Independent films

• Let’s Scare Julie (2020) — Starred as Taylor in a single-take horror-thriller; Rotten Tomatoes score of 42% critics / 61% audience (Rotten Tomatoes)
• The Moon & Back (2022) — Played Lydia; Rotten Tomatoes 80% critics / 69% audience (Rotten Tomatoes)
• The Smack (2023) — Details limited in available sources (Big Bang Theory Fandom Wiki)

Studio releases

• Run Hide Fight (2020) — Lead as Zoe Hull in a school shooting thriller; Rotten Tomatoes 30% critics / 93% audience (Rotten Tomatoes)
• I Want You Back (2022) — Supporting role as Leighton; released February 11, 2022; Rotten Tomatoes 87% critics / 70% audience (ScreenRant)

Run Hide Fight drew significant controversy for its depiction of a school shooting—a subject that earned it divided critical reception. But the audience score tells a different story: 93% approval signals that viewers found the performance resonant in ways critics did not.

How rich is Isabel May?

Exact figures aren’t publicly confirmed through primary sources like agency disclosures or legal filings. What exists are estimates, and those estimates vary widely across different publications. Without verified earnings data, any specific number would be speculative.

What’s verifiable: her roles span multiple streaming platforms (Netflix, Paramount+, Apple TV+) and theatrical releases, each with different pay structures. Lead roles in prestige series like 1883 typically command higher compensation than guest appearances or supporting film roles. Her continued casting in major franchises—Scream 7, 1923—suggests she’s moved into a income bracket where detailed estimates become more common in entertainment reporting.

The financial picture becomes clearer when viewed alongside her career trajectory. Before 1883, her credits were primarily supporting roles in network and streaming comedies. After 1883, she’s attached to franchise properties with confirmed theatrical releases. The shift in project scale reflects corresponding changes in negotiating position.

Career Timeline

• November 21, 2000 — Born in Santa Monica, California (ScreenRant)
• 2016 — At age 16, shifted to online education to focus on acting (Big Bang Theory Fandom Wiki)
• 2018 — Acting debut as Katie Cooper in Alexa & Katie; began recurring in Young Sheldon as Veronica Duncan (Big Bang Theory Fandom Wiki)
• 2019–2020 — Starred in Let’s Scare Julie and Run Hide Fight (Rotten Tomatoes)
• 2021–2022 — Breakout as Elsa Dutton in 1883 on Paramount+ (ScreenRant)
• 2022 — Released I Want You Back (February 11, 2022) and The Moon & Back; began voice role in 1923 (ScreenRant)
• 2023 — Listed for The Smack; details limited (Big Bang Theory Fandom Wiki)
• 2024 — Guest roles in Masters of the Air (Apple TV+) and uncredited Yellowstone vocal appearance (Big Bang Theory Fandom Wiki)
• 2026 — Cast in Scream 7 as Sidney Prescott’s Daughter (Big Bang Theory Fandom Wiki)

The implication is straightforward: Isabel May’s career arc has accelerated faster than typical for actors her age, moving from supporting roles to franchise attachments in just six years.

What’s Confirmed vs. What Remains Unclear

Based on verified sources, the career record is solid. Her roles in Alexa & Katie, Young Sheldon, 1883, and 1923 are confirmed across multiple sources including ScreenRant, Rotten Tomatoes, and official franchise documentation (Rotten Tomatoes). Film credits for Run Hide Fight and I Want You Back are verifiable through Rotten Tomatoes and release date records.

What remains unclear: illness details that have circulated in fan communities have not been confirmed through primary sources. Precise net worth figures are estimates. Family connections to other actors—including any rumored ties to Kevin Costner—lack verification. Upcoming projects like Scream 7 and Love Language show her name on casting lists, but release dates and role specifics carry varying degrees of confirmation.

What Industry Sources Say

“The best Isabel May movies and TV shows prove that the rising star’s talent and charm have made her one of the most exciting actresses of her generation.”

— ScreenRant entertainment writer

Critics at ScreenRant have also described 1883 as “a triumph—one of the very best Isabel May movies and TV shows, and the role that proved she’s almost certainly destined for further success.”

Her roles span comedy (Young Sheldon), thriller (Run Hide Fight), and Western (1883)—a versatility that industry observers have noted as unusual for an actor her age (ScreenRant). The Yellowstone universe alone has given her more narrative weight than most actors accumulate in their first decade.

For viewers tracking where her career goes next, the 2026 Scream 7 attachment is worth watching. Franchise casting decisions signal industry confidence, and a role as Sidney Prescott’s Daughter puts her in proximity to one of horror cinema’s most recognizable names. Whether the film delivers on that positioning—and whether Isabel May capitalizes on the opportunity—will define the next chapter of a career that’s already defied simple categorization.

Related reading: Spellbound (2024 Film) · The Haunting in Connecticut true story

Frequently asked questions