The 10 Best Cailee Spaeny Roles

Cailee Spaeny has built a strikingly versatile screen résumé, moving from sci-fi blockbusters to intimate character studies and prestige television with ease. Below are ten standout roles that showcase her range across genre, scale, and format—each one a clear marker of how quickly she’s become a go-to presence for directors and showrunners alike.

‘Priscilla’ (2023) – Priscilla Presley

Sofia Coppola’s biographical drama centers on Priscilla Beaulieu’s coming-of-age and marriage to Elvis Presley, told from Priscilla’s perspective. Spaeny portrays Priscilla across adolescence into adulthood, charting the personal dynamics inside Graceland and beyond. The film is produced by A24 and based on the memoir ‘Elvis and Me’. Spaeny’s work earned the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival.

‘Civil War’ (2024) – Jessie

Written and directed by Alex Garland, ‘Civil War’ follows a team of journalists traveling through a fractured United States to document the conflict as it unfolds. Spaeny plays Jessie, an aspiring photojournalist embedded with a veteran photographer portrayed by Kirsten Dunst. The production emphasizes frontline reporting, media ethics, and the hazards of war coverage. A24 released the film, with principal photography spanning multiple states to capture large-scale set pieces.

‘Alien: Romulus’ (2024) – Rain Carradine

Fede Álvarez directs this entry in the ‘Alien’ franchise, set between the events of the original film and its first sequel. Spaeny stars as Rain Carradine, a young colonist who encounters the xenomorph threat in a derelict installation. The film blends practical creature effects with modern visual effects while returning to the series’ survival-horror roots. It was released theatrically by 20th Century Studios.

‘Mare of Easttown’ (2021) – Erin McMenamin

This HBO limited series, created by Brad Ingelsby, follows a small-town detective played by Kate Winslet investigating a homicide that rattles the community. Spaeny appears as Erin McMenamin, a central figure whose case drives the narrative and intertwines the town’s family and social networks. The show was produced by Wiip and HBO with Craig Zobel directing all episodes. Its ensemble structure gives Spaeny’s character a pivotal place in the mystery’s unfolding.

‘Devs’ (2020) – Lyndon

Alex Garland’s tech thriller for FX on Hulu explores a secretive quantum computing division inside a Silicon Valley company. Spaeny plays Lyndon, a prodigy on the Devs team whose work on probabilistic models becomes crucial to the project’s ambitions. The series examines determinism, surveillance, and corporate power within high-security research. Filming took place in California with a design language that fused brutalist architecture and minimalist interfaces.

‘The Craft: Legacy’ (2020) – Lily Schechner

Written and directed by Zoe Lister-Jones, this stand-alone continuation of ‘The Craft’ introduces a new coven of teenage witches. Spaeny leads as Lily, the newcomer whose abilities catalyze the group’s rise and subsequent reckoning with consequences. The film connects to the original continuity while focusing on contemporary themes of identity and consent. It was released by Columbia Pictures in partnership with Blumhouse.

‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ (2018) – Rose Summerspring

Drew Goddard’s neo-noir ensemble thriller is set at a motel straddling the California-Nevada border, where guests conceal dangerous secrets. Spaeny portrays Rose Summerspring, a runaway whose ties to other characters drive the story’s reveals. The cast includes Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, and Chris Hemsworth. Twisty narrative structure and period production design frame Rose’s storyline within intersecting timelines.

‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’ (2018) – Amara Namani

This sequel to ‘Pacific Rim’ is directed by Steven S. DeKnight and expands the Jaeger pilot program to a new generation. Spaeny plays Amara Namani, a self-taught engineer who reverse-engineers a mini-Jaeger and is recruited into cadet training. The film features large-scale visual effects, international locations, and returns of core franchise elements like drift compatibility. Legendary Entertainment produced, with Universal handling distribution in several territories.

‘On the Basis of Sex’ (2018) – Jane Ginsburg

Mimi Leder’s legal biopic charts Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s early career and her landmark gender-discrimination case. Spaeny appears as Jane Ginsburg, whose experiences help shape family stakes within the narrative. The film stars Felicity Jones as Ruth and Armie Hammer as Martin Ginsburg. Focus Features released the production, which emphasizes courtroom strategy and historical context.

‘The First Lady’ (2022) – Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

Showtime’s anthology series examines the lives and influence of three First Ladies across separate narrative threads. Spaeny portrays Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, daughter of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, within the arc led by Gillian Anderson’s portrayal of Eleanor. The series intercuts parallel timelines to highlight public service, family dynamics, and political decision-making. Created by Aaron Cooley, it blends dramatization with historical detail.

Share your favorite Cailee Spaeny performance in the comments and tell us which role you think deserves more attention!