She may be a newcomer to Hollywood, but Cailee Spaeny has already accomplished more in her young career than most actors could dream of. From intense indie dramas to blockbuster franchises, the star has shown remarkable range – and she’s only just getting started.
Spaeny’s journey is an impressive rise for an actress who grew up with eight siblings in southern Missouri. She first found her calling in theater before moving to film and breaking into the spotlight in 2018 with the science fiction thriller Uprising in the PacificLater, it was her raw and fearless performance in smaller films that proved her depth.
The year 2023 was Spaeny’s true breakthrough. Her searingly sensitive portrayal of Priscilla Presley in Sofia Coppola’s successful biopic Priscilla has rightly earned worldwide attention and critical acclaim, with many praising her “transformative” performance. Although she’s only been a professional actress for less than a decade, Spaeny has a filmography worth checking out. Here are all of her film roles to date, ranked.
9 Vice (2018)
Vice is a dramatization of Dick Cheney’s ambitious political life. A biographical satire, it traces his days as a Yake dropout to his appointment as the youngest White House Chief of Staff under President Ford in 1974, as well as his relationship with his wife, Lynne. As the power behind the title, Vice President Dick Cheney pulls the strings through manipulation during the geopolitical shifts of Bush’s two years in office and changes the world.
Spaeny has a short supporting role
Vice is a film that unravels the mystery of one of the most influential figures in modern history and features a star-studded ensemble cast including Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Tyler Perry and Sam Rockwell. McKay directs carefully, bringing out the nuance, ambition and moral conflict of each character over the years of their transformation.
Although the film was a disappointment at the box office, Vice won several awards. Spaeny played a supporting role, but her involvement in such a high-profile project is worth mentioning.
8 Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
The action takes place in 1969 on a fateful night in a run-down hotel on the border between California and Nevada. Bad times at the El Royale is a neo-noir thriller. It centers on six strangers and a hotel clerk who keep a close eye on each other as dark pasts and hidden agendas come to light. Secrets upon secrets are revealed and nothing is as it seems at the El Royale.
A stylish neo-noir thriller
Written and directed by Drew Goddard, Bad time as El Royale is a highlight in the crime genre thanks to its masterful direction and precise atmospheric staging. The ensemble, which includes Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo and Chris Hemsworth, delivers solid performances.
Cailee Spaeny holds her own among the A-listers as Rose, the sister of Dakota Johnson’s character. Her layered and intriguing narrative puts her in situations where she is kidnapped and must fight back, revealing her ability to play complex characters.
7 How it ends (2021)
Apocalyptic films are usually dark and intense as the plot moves toward the end of the world. How it endswritten and directed by Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones, takes a different approach to the concept. The film follows Liza as she navigates the streets of Los Angeles before a meteor is set to destroy the Earth. She is joined by her metaphysical younger self on her journey to settle issues with friends and family.
A deeply felt apocalyptic journey
A quirky and entertaining comedy, How it ends combines drama and introspection to tell a refreshing story about a young woman struggling with regret and the power of forgiveness. While Lister-Jones captures the surreal moments before the impending apocalypse incredibly well, Spaeny also brings poignancy, wisdom, and innocence to her portrayal of young Liza. The film includes similar interactions between several other characters thanks to the imaginative and insightful storytelling.
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6 The Witch House: The Legacy (2020)
A sequel to the 1996 film. The Craft: Legacy was written and directed by Zoe Lister-Jones. In the supernatural horror film, Cailee Spaeny plays Lily Schechner, who moves to a new town with her mother and is bullied at her school. Frankie, Tabby, and Lourdes are three friends who try to practice magic but fail because they need a fourth member to complete their coven. When Lily uses her wits to fight back the school bully, the girls befriend her and begin experimenting with spells and magic together.
Anchor for a fan-favorite franchise
There’s something that has entertained viewers for decades about watching teenage witches perform magic and eventually face the consequences of their uncontrolled powers. Lister-Jones puts a fresh spin on the classic story, capturing Spaeny’s development from outsider to powerful witch that is both compelling and emotionally charged and nuanced. The film also tackles empowering themes of girlhood and friendship.
5 Uprising in the Pacific (2018)
Set ten years after the events of the first film, Uprising in the Pacific follows former Jaeger pilot Jake Pentecost, son of Stacker Pentecost, who gets the chance to live up to his father’s legacy by returning to the Pan-Pacific Defense Corps after transmissions from a power core lead him to Amara Namani, a young prodigy played by Cailee Spaeny who has built her own mini-Jaeger. The two work together to face a new Kaiju threat intent on destroying humanity.
A solid introduction to the sci-fi genre
Wars can be won, but battles never end. And sometimes even victory doesn’t get you where you want to go. Uprising in the Pacific is a film that builds on the same idea and expands Guillermo del Toro’s universe by introducing us to new characters and more exciting action. Spaeny’s role as Amara brings youthful energy to the film, while John Boyega oozes determination from start to finish. Despite the impressive visual effects, the sequel was criticized for deviating from the essence of the original and lacking depth.
4 Based on gender (2018)
Based on gender tells the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Starting with her struggles, from women’s equality to what she had to overcome to become a U.S. judge, especially after her husband was diagnosed with cancer and she had to care for their young daughter Jane. The film follows how she litigated groundbreaking cases as an ACLU attorney and eventually rose to become the second female justice on the highest court in the land, changing American law forever.
Spaeny’s leading roles were not long in coming
A biographical legal drama that deserves much more attention than it gets. Based on gender is a tribute to Ginsburg’s legacy. The film received positive reviews for its direction and screenplay, which struck a good balance between drama and emotional high points. Spaeny played Jane, Ruth’s daughter. Her performance gave the story a personal touch. Despite her teenage years, Spaeny held her own with aplomb against heavyweight leads Felicity Jones and Armie Hammer.
3 Civil War (2024)
Written and directed by Alex Garland, Civil War is set in a speculative near-future where the United States is torn apart by a conflict between the despotic federal government and secessionist movements. We follow a team of war journalists, including the famous Lee Smith, her colleague Joel, and their mentor Sammy, as they travel from New York City to Washington DC to interview the isolated President. Cailee Spaeny plays Jessie Cullen, an aspiring photojournalist who comes along.
A gripping dystopian thriller
A24’s most expensive film to date, with a budget of $50 million, Civil Warmanaged to recoup its investment by grossing over $122 million worldwide. The film is a masterpiece of tension and atmosphere; its direction and cinematography offer a highly realistic and haunting portrayal of what a nation looks like in the midst of turmoil. Spaeny’s role as Jessie is both raw and compelling, standing out among the roles played by Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura and Stephen McKinley Henderson.
2 Alien: Romulus (2024)
Cailee Spaeny is currently on everyone’s lips because Alien: Romulusthe ninth installment in the Alien series. The film takes viewers to the year 2142, where Rain Carradine (Spaeny) leads a group of young space colonizers on a dangerous mission to an abandoned space station to recover cryogenic chambers. However, they soon discover that the spaceship is infested with deadly Xenomorphs and their clones. Rain and the team must use their wits to survive the threat.
Reinvents a terrifying space horror
An exciting addition to the cult franchise. Alien: Romulus is praised for its effortless combination of horror and science fiction elements. Directed by Fede Álvarez, the film revives one of the greatest film franchises with intense action and unsettling suspense.
Spaeny is a force to be reckoned with in the role of Rain. She is both fierce and vulnerable. Critics consider her “the best weapon in the arsenal” and even call her “the equivalent of the fearless Ripley,” which is high praise for a rising star.
1 Priscilla (2023)
In PriscillaCailee Spaeny plays the sensitive, doe-eyed Priscilla Beaulieu. The film is a compelling portrait of the woman behind the legend; it offers an intimate look at Priscilla and her complex relationship with Elvis Presley. From their first meeting in Germany, Priscilla’s move to Graceland to be with Elvis, her tumultuous romance with the icon, to the challenges she faced while living in his shadow, the film delves into the emotional highs and lows of Priscilla’s struggle for identity and independence.
Cailee Spaeny’s career-defining work (so far)
Written and directed by Sofia Coppola and based on Priscilla Presley’s memoir Elvis and Me, this biographical drama is beautifully crafted and captures the essence of the characters and their story with skill, empathy and depth. Spaeny delivers a raw and deeply moving portrayal of the title character, earning her critical acclaim, audience applause and a Golden Globe nomination. In addition, Priscilla is praised for its impressive direction and period-accurate production design.
