Isabel May is an American actress born on November 21, 2000, in Santa Monica, California. She first gained attention as Katie Cooper in the Netflix series Alexa & Katie before landing her breakout role as Elsa Dutton in the Paramount+ western drama 1883.
In 2026, she joined the Scream franchise as Tatum Evans, daughter of Sidney Prescott.
Who is Isabel May?
Isabel May is an American actress who built her career across Netflix, CBS, and Paramount+ before crossing into major theatrical releases. She played Katie Cooper in Alexa & Katie, served as narrator and lead in 1883 and its sequel 1923, and starred as Tatum Evans in Scream 7 in 2026.
Her entry into acting came after years of auditioning with no success. She and her parents made the decision to shift to online schooling so she could focus entirely on landing a role.
That pivot paid off quickly. Within six months of switching to online classes, she booked her first professional acting job as Katie in Alexa & Katie.
Taylor Sheridan wrote the prequel series 1883 after seeing Isabel audition for a different project entirely. She did not audition for the role of Elsa Dutton; Sheridan cast her directly, which speaks to the strength of the impression she made.
Her role in the Yellowstone franchise extended well beyond 1883. She returned as Elsa’s narrator voice throughout 1923 and even appeared in the closing moments of the Yellowstone series finale in 2024.
Early Life of Isabel May
Isabel grew up in Santa Monica, California, surrounded by the creative energy of the Los Angeles area. From an early age, she gravitated toward storytelling, reading, and performance.
Her sixth-grade English teacher first noticed her natural talent for narrative and encouraged her parents to explore creative opportunities for her. That moment set off a chain of events that eventually led her to acting auditions.
She began auditioning for roles at age 11. For the next three years, she faced consistent rejection without landing a single role.
Despite the setbacks, she stayed with it. Her parents supported her throughout that difficult stretch, eventually agreeing to shift her schooling online in tenth grade so she could concentrate fully on acting.
Isabel May Age
Isabel May is 25 years old as of 2026, born on November 21, 2000. Her zodiac sign is Scorpio. By the time she turned 21, she had already starred in three major television projects and premiered a film at the Venice Film Festival.
Her career timeline stands out for its pace. She landed her first role at 17, her breakout drama at 21, and her first wide-release theatrical film at 25.
That rapid ascent across multiple genres, from teen comedy to western epic to mainstream horror, reflects both her range as a performer and the consistent work she put in from a very young age.
Isabel May Ethnicity and Nationality
Isabel holds American nationality, born and raised in Santa Monica, California. Her ethnic background is white, and she follows the Christian faith.
She grew up in California’s creative hub, which gave her early access to audition opportunities and the entertainment industry infrastructure. Her upbringing in Santa Monica shaped both her artistic sensibility and her work ethic.
Her parents kept their identities private throughout her rise to fame. Both have been described as highly supportive of her career from the beginning.
Isabel May Height and Weight
Isabel May stands approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, equivalent to about 170 centimeters or 1.70 meters. Her weight is reported at around 123 pounds, or approximately 56 kilograms.
Her build has been noted as lean and athletic, well suited to the physically demanding roles she has taken on. The role of Elsa Dutton in 1883 required presence and endurance across a period-drama setting shot on location.
She carries herself with a confident screen presence that registers strongly both in comedy and in high-stakes dramatic scenes.
Isabel May Education
Isabel began her education in traditional schooling in Santa Monica but made the decision in tenth grade to switch to online classes. This shift allowed her to attend auditions without the constraints of a fixed school schedule.
That educational flexibility proved critical to her career. Within six months of going online with her schooling, she booked the lead role in Alexa & Katie on Netflix, her first professional acting credit.
She has described her English teacher as an early influence who first recognized her storytelling instincts and pushed her toward creative pursuits.
Isabel May Career
Isabel May’s professional acting career spans television, streaming, and film across multiple genres.
Her body of work includes a Netflix comedy series, a CBS sitcom, an art-house horror film, a prestige western, and a major Hollywood horror franchise.
Early Career and Alexa & Katie
Isabel’s first professional role came as Katie Cooper in the Netflix series Alexa & Katie, which premiered in March 2018. The show centered on two best friends navigating high school while one battles cancer.
Isabel played Katie, the healthy best friend, and balanced comedic timing with genuine emotional depth throughout the series.
Alexa & Katie ran for four seasons on Netflix before concluding in June 2020. The show earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Children’s Program in 2018.
Isabel appeared in 39 episodes across the show’s run, giving her substantial experience anchoring a long-form series at the start of her career.
Also in 2018, she landed a recurring role as Veronica Duncan on the CBS series Young Sheldon, the comedy spinoff of The Big Bang Theory.
She played the love interest of Georgie Cooper, Sheldon’s older brother. She appeared in the series from 2018 through 2020 across nine episodes.
Run Hide Fight and 1883 Breakthrough
In 2019, Isabel starred in Let’s Scare Julie, an indie horror film notable for shooting its 90-minute runtime in a single continuous take.
The following year, she took the lead role of Zoe Hull in Run Hide Fight, a thriller about a high school student surviving a school siege. Run Hide Fight premiered at the 77th Venice Film Festival in 2020, marking her first major festival exposure.
Her career took a decisive turn when Taylor Sheridan, the creator of Yellowstone, caught her in an audition for a different project. Sheridan wrote the character of Elsa Dutton with Isabel in mind and cast her directly in 1883 without a formal audition.
The Paramount+ western premiered in December 2021 and starred Isabel as the narrator and main protagonist, with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill playing her parents.
1883 earned strong critical praise, with Isabel’s performance drawing particular attention for its emotional range and screen presence.
She received a nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Made for Television Movie/Limited Series at the 24th Women’s Image Network Awards in 2022, alongside co-star Faith Hill.
1923, Yellowstone, and Scream 7
Isabel reprised her narrator role in 1923, the sequel series set in the Yellowstone universe covering a later generation of the Dutton family.
The series aired from 2022 through 2025. In addition to her work on 1923, she appeared in the Masters of the Air series and in the 2022 romantic comedy I Want You Back.
In 2024, she made a brief but significant appearance in the Yellowstone series finale, providing the narrative closure that longtime fans of Taylor Sheridan’s universe had expected from her character.
Scream 7 marked Isabel’s entry into wide theatrical release. Director Kevin Williamson, who wrote the original 1996 Scream film, cast her as Tatum Evans, the daughter of Sidney Prescott played by Neve Campbell.
The film opened in theaters on February 27, 2026. Her character added a generational family dynamic to the franchise for the first time. As of mid-2026, she also has several upcoming films in various stages of production, including The Last Mrs. Parrish alongside Robert Zemeckis.
Isabel May Filmography
- Age of Summer (2018) — Missing Poster Girl
- Let’s Scare Julie (2019) — Taylor
- Run Hide Fight (2020) — Zoe Hull
- I Want You Back (2022) — Leighton
- Scream 7 (2026) — Tatum Evans
Television:
- Alexa & Katie (2018-2020, Netflix) — Katie Cooper, main role, 39 episodes
- Young Sheldon (2018-2020, CBS) — Veronica Duncan, recurring
- 1883 (2021-2022, Paramount+) — Elsa Dutton, lead and narrator
- Masters of the Air (Apple TV+)
- 1923 (2022-2025, Paramount+) — narrator
Isabel May Awards and Recognition
Isabel received a nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Made for Television Movie/Limited Series at the 24th Women’s Image Network Awards in 2022 for her work in 1883. The nomination placed her alongside co-star Faith Hill, reflecting the critical reception the series received.
Alexa & Katie, which she starred in throughout its run, earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Children’s Program in 2018.
Her casting in Scream 7 brought significant industry attention, as major trades including The Hollywood Reporter, People, and Entertainment Weekly covered the announcement. The role marked her transition from streaming-first talent to wide-release theatrical star.
Isabel May Net Worth
Isabel May’s estimated net worth is $400 thousand as of 2026. Her income comes primarily from television and film acting fees across her work on Netflix, CBS, Paramount+, Apple TV+, and theatrical productions.
Her career has spanned multiple major platforms in a short time. Roles on Netflix, a major CBS sitcom, a Paramount+ flagship series, and a wide-release horror sequel collectively represent substantial earning activity for a performer in her mid-twenties.
Brand endorsements and her fashion presence, including features in major publications, add further income outside her core acting work.
Isabel May Social Media
Isabel maintains an active presence on Instagram under the handle @isabelmay, where she shares career updates, behind-the-scenes content from her projects, and fashion-focused posts.
She keeps her personal life largely off social media and rarely addresses her private life publicly through any platform. Her online presence stays centered on her professional work and public appearances.
Isabel does not maintain a publicly confirmed TikTok or YouTube presence.
The Bottom Line
Isabel May starred in 1883 on Paramount+ as Elsa Dutton from 2021 to 2022, earning a Women’s Image Network Award nomination and cementing her place as one of Taylor Sheridan’s most trusted collaborators. In 2026, she headlined her first wide-release theatrical feature in Scream 7 opposite Neve Campbell.
Born in Santa Monica in 2000, she pivoted from three years of failed auditions to online schooling at age 16, landing her first role in Alexa & Katie within six months of making that change. That early discipline has defined how she has approached each new project since.
She has several productions in the pipeline for 2026 and 2027, including The Last Mrs. Parrish directed by Robert Zemeckis. We hope you enjoyed reading about Isabel May Parents. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
