Isla Johnston Biography: Career, Age, Movies, and Life Story

Isla Johnston is a British actress who first gained international recognition for playing young Beth Harmon in Netflix’s hit miniseries The Queen’s Gambit. Her performance introduced audiences to a talented young performer who could communicate intelligence, vulnerability, and determination through subtle expressions and confident screen presence.

Born and raised in Suffolk, England, Isla grew up on a farm and discovered acting through a school production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Although her breakout role brought considerable attention, she continued to focus on her education and personal life while taking on selected acting projects. In 2026, her career reached another important milestone when she was named a Screen International Star of Tomorrow and prepared to play Joan of Arc in Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming historical film Jehanne d’Arc.

Her journey from a school theatre performance to internationally recognized productions offers an interesting look at an actress building her career on her own terms.

Isla Johnston Profile Summary

Isla Johnston’s Early Life in Suffolk

Isla Johnston grew up in the English countryside in Suffolk, where her family lived and worked on a farm. The rural setting was an important part of her childhood. Her family cultivated crops including wheat, barley, rapeseed, and sugar beet, giving her a very different upbringing from children who grow up in major entertainment centers.

In an interview with Vogue, Johnston described her childhood surroundings as being in the middle of nowhere. She recalled riding ponies regularly and spending time outdoors with her younger brother and cousins.

Growing up around horses later became relevant to her acting career. Her experience riding ponies gave her a useful foundation for the physical demands of playing Joan of Arc, a historical figure associated with horseback riding and warfare.

Johnston did not begin her journey as a child star with an elaborate plan to become famous. Her interest in performing developed through opportunities at school and participation in children’s theatre. Those early experiences eventually led to professional auditions and her first television roles.

Isla Johnston’s Parents and Family Background

Johnston has kept much of her family life private, but she has shared some details about her parents and upbringing in interviews.

Her family background is particularly interesting because it combines rural life with connections to the creative world. Her mother previously worked as a model, while her father works in information technology. Their different professional experiences formed part of the environment in which Johnston grew up.

Her Mother’s Background

Johnston’s mother previously worked as a model in New York before returning to the United Kingdom. She later took responsibility for managing her husband’s family’s farmland in Suffolk.

Her mother’s experience in modeling provided a connection to the fashion industry long before Johnston began attracting attention from designers. In 2025, her mother accompanied her on a trip to New York for a Vogue feature, where they also visited places connected to her mother’s earlier years in the city.

This connection became especially relevant as Johnston began receiving attention from luxury fashion brands. However, her acting achievements developed through her own auditions, performances, and professional opportunities.

Her Father’s Background

Johnston’s father works in IT and comes from a family with agricultural interests in Suffolk. The family’s farmland was part of the rural environment in which she spent her childhood.

Unlike his daughter’s growing public profile, he has remained largely outside entertainment news. Johnston has not shared extensive details about his career or personal life, and there is little reason to speculate beyond what she has discussed publicly.

Does Isla Johnston Have Any Siblings?

Yes. Isla Johnston has a younger brother. She mentioned him while discussing her family in her Vogue interview.

Her brother has generally stayed out of the public spotlight. Johnston’s comments about him offer a small glimpse into her family life, but she has not made him a public figure through her career.

Isla Johnston’s Education and First Acting Experience

Before becoming widely recognized, Johnston attended school in Suffolk. She has described attending a small school where drama was not a major part of the regular school experience.

Her first significant connection to acting came through the Shakespeare Schools Theatre Festival, a program that gives children opportunities to perform Shakespeare’s plays.

Johnston played Lady Macbeth in her first production. The role introduced her to the stage and gave her an early opportunity to explore performance through one of Shakespeare’s best-known characters.

Another memorable early experience happened when she was around eight years old. She attended an audition connected to Jurassic World with her cousin. She did not receive the role, but a casting director suggested to her mother that she consider finding an agent for her.

That suggestion helped point Johnston toward professional acting opportunities. She subsequently attended more auditions and began securing small parts.

Education remained important as her acting career developed. After the success of The Queen’s Gambit, she chose to concentrate on school rather than accept every audition that came her way.

In 2025, Johnston completed her A-levels in drama, art history, and history. She earned an A* in drama and had previously considered studying a subject such as archaeology. Her decision to return to acting more seriously came after she had completed this important stage of her education.

Isla Johnston’s Career Beginnings

Johnston began appearing in professional television productions in 2018. Her first credited screen role was Fiona in the British Channel 4 miniseries National Treasure: Kiri.

The drama explored the disappearance of a young girl and the consequences for the people involved in her life. For Johnston, the project provided an early opportunity to work in front of a professional camera.

In 2019, she appeared as Sarah Kemp in an episode of the long-running BBC medical drama Doctors. Although these early roles were relatively small, they gave her experience working with television directors and established performers.

Her career changed significantly when she auditioned for The Queen’s Gambit. At approximately 11 years old, Johnston secured a role that would introduce her to viewers across the world.

Isla Johnston in The Queen’s Gambit

The Queen’s Gambit premiered on Netflix in October 2020 and became one of the platform’s most widely discussed limited series.

The story follows Beth Harmon, a gifted chess player who navigates childhood trauma, addiction, loneliness, and intense competition. Anya Taylor-Joy portrays Beth during her later years, while Johnston plays the character as a child.

Johnston’s role was central to establishing Beth’s early personality. Her performance showed a young girl who was highly observant and intellectually gifted but struggled to connect with the people around her.

One memorable detail was Johnston’s transformation for the part. She agreed to have her hair cut and dyed red rather than wear a wig. In a later interview, she explained that she was comfortable with the change because her hair would grow back.

The hairstyle became part of her appearance for several years, even after filming had ended. She recalled that classmates reacted to her unusual haircut when she started at a new school.

The series’ success brought Johnston a wave of audition opportunities. Instead of immediately pursuing every available role, however, she chose to focus on school and enjoy a more ordinary teenage life.

That decision helped shape the pace of her early career. She continued acting selectively while completing her education, returning to the industry with renewed focus as she approached adulthood.

Isla Johnston’s Movies and Television Shows

Johnston has worked across several genres, including historical drama, science fiction, psychological storytelling, and horror. Her screen credits show how she has gradually moved beyond the role that first made her recognizable.

Invasion

In 2021, Johnston appeared in Apple’s science-fiction series Invasion. The story follows people across different parts of the world as humanity faces an alien threat.

She played Lucy Spencer, appearing in four episodes. The series gave her experience in a production that relied on suspense, emotional conflict, and a large-scale science-fiction setting.

Life After Life

In 2022, Johnston appeared in the BBC adaptation of Kate Atkinson’s novel Life After Life. She played young Ursula Todd, a character whose life unfolds through repeated beginnings and alternative outcomes.

The series explores how different decisions and circumstances can change the course of one person’s life. Johnston’s role required her to portray an early version of a character later played by Thomasin McKenzie.

The Carpenter’s Son

Johnston appeared opposite Nicolas Cage in the 2025 horror film The Carpenter’s Son. She played the Stranger, a mysterious figure connected to the film’s dark religious themes.

The project represented a notable change from the historical and television dramas in which she had previously appeared. Its unsettling atmosphere and supernatural subject matter allowed her to explore a different kind of performance.

Visitation

Johnston is also attached to Visitation, a horror film directed by Nicolas Pesce in which she plays Maria. The project adds another feature-film role to her developing career.

Isla Johnston as Joan of Arc in Jehanne d’Arc

One of the most important developments in Johnston’s career is her casting as Joan of Arc in Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming historical film Jehanne d’Arc.

Joan of Arc was a French heroine who played a major role in the Hundred Years’ War. As a teenager, she became associated with French military campaigns and helped change the course of the conflict before being captured and executed in 1431.

Playing Joan requires more than resembling a historical figure. The role involves physical preparation, horseback riding, combat work, and portraying a young woman who challenged expectations during a violent period in European history.

Johnston’s rural upbringing gave her experience riding horses, an ability that proved useful during the casting process. She also participated in an extensive audition process that included classical and contemporary material.

Luhrmann ultimately selected her for the lead role. In September 2026, Screen International named Johnston one of its Stars of Tomorrow, highlighting her casting and emerging career.

The film could mark a major turning point for Johnston. It places her at the center of a historical production directed by a filmmaker known for visually distinctive films such as Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge! and Elvis.

The production’s release plans should be followed through official announcements, as filming and distribution schedules can change.

Isla Johnston and LOEWE’s Fashion Partnership

Johnston’s growing profile has also brought opportunities in fashion. In 2026, she was reported as a LOEWE ambassador under the creative direction of Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez.

The Spanish luxury fashion house is known for its leather craftsmanship, contemporary clothing, and accessories. Johnston’s association with the brand reflects the increasing connection between emerging actors and luxury fashion campaigns.

Her earlier appearance in a Swarovski campaign also gave her experience working beyond film and television.

These fashion opportunities add another dimension to her public career. Still, acting remains the foundation of her professional identity, and her upcoming film roles are likely to be particularly important in shaping her reputation.

Isla Johnston’s Personal Life and Relationship Status

Johnston generally keeps her personal life separate from her acting career. She has spoken about her childhood, education, and family in interviews, but she does not regularly share extensive details about her private relationships.

There is no publicly confirmed information establishing that she has a husband or a long-term partner. It would therefore be misleading to assign her a specific relationship status beyond saying that she keeps this aspect of her life private.

Her decision to prioritize education after The Queen’s Gambit offers a clearer example of how she has approached life outside work. Rather than immediately building a high-profile career, she continued studying and considered other interests before deciding to return to acting more seriously.

Isla Johnston’s Net Worth and Income

Isla Johnston’s personal net worth has not been reliably established through verified financial disclosures.

Her acting work in television and film, along with reported fashion partnerships, may provide income. However, individual contract values, residual payments, and endorsement fees have not been publicly documented in enough detail to calculate her wealth accurately.

The success of The Queen’s Gambit increased her visibility, while later roles have expanded her professional opportunities. Her casting in Jehanne d’Arc could further raise her profile, but it would be premature to attach a specific monetary value to her career.

Isla Johnston’s Achievements and Future Career

Johnston’s achievements include her breakthrough role in The Queen’s Gambit, a growing list of television and film credits, and her selection for Screen International’s 2026 Stars of Tomorrow.

Her career is notable not only for the roles she has secured but also for the choices she has made along the way. She continued her education after gaining recognition and returned to acting with a clearer commitment to making it her profession.

The role of Joan of Arc could introduce her to a much wider audience. It will also give her an opportunity to carry a feature film as its central performer rather than appear in a supporting or younger version of a character.

As her career develops, Johnston’s work in historical drama, horror, and television will help determine the direction she takes next.

Final Thoughts

Isla Johnston’s story began in rural Suffolk, far from the major film sets where she now works. Her first stage experience came through a children’s Shakespeare festival, and her breakthrough arrived when she was still a schoolgirl playing young Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit.

Since then, she has balanced acting with education while building experience in several genres. Her casting as Joan of Arc and recognition as a 2026 Star of Tomorrow represent significant steps in her transition toward leading roles.

With a growing body of work and major projects ahead, Johnston is an actress whose next performances will be worth following.

FAQs About Isla Johnston

1. How old is Isla Johnston?

Isla Johnston is 20 years old as of October 2026, based on the commonly listed birth date of February 21, 2006.

2. What is Isla Johnston famous for?

She is best known for playing young Beth Harmon in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, released in 2020.

3. Where is Isla Johnston from?

She grew up in Suffolk, England, where her family lived and worked on a farm.

4. Who are Isla Johnston’s parents?

Her mother previously worked as a model and later managed the family’s farmland. Her father works in IT.

5. Does Isla Johnston have any siblings?

Yes. She has a younger brother, although he generally stays out of the public spotlight.

6. What movies and TV shows has Isla Johnston appeared in?

Her credits include National Treasure: Kiri, The Queen’s Gambit, Invasion, Life After Life, and The Carpenter’s Son. She is also attached to Visitation and Jehanne d’Arc.

7. Is Isla Johnston playing Joan of Arc?

Yes. She has been cast as Joan of Arc in Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming historical film Jehanne d’Arc.

8. What is Isla Johnston’s net worth?

Her net worth has not been reliably disclosed. Although she has acting credits and fashion partnerships, there is not enough verified financial information to provide an accurate estimate.

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