Alanna Masterson, following the path set by her three older actor brothers, carved out her own space in the entertainment industry by becoming a familiar face on television. Her big break came when she was cast as Tara Chambler, a zombie survivor, in the popular comic book adaptation The Walking Dead (AMC, 2010–present). Born in 1988 on Long Island, New York, Alanna was raised in Los Angeles, where she grew up observing her siblings—Jordan, Danny, and Christopher—on set, which ultimately inspired her to pursue acting.
At just six years old, she made her television debut in a role that would foreshadow her future success, portraying a young Colleen Carlton on the long-running soap opera The Young and the Restless (CBS, 1973–present). Encouraged by her early exposure to the industry and her family’s presence in it, Alanna continued to build her resume. She landed the lead in Definitely Maybe, a comedy written by Peter Krause, though the show never progressed beyond the pilot stage.
Before landing her defining role, Alanna appeared in episodes of Malcolm in the Middle (Fox, 2000–06) alongside Christopher and in Greek (ABC Family, 2007–11) with Jordan. She also played Zoe McCarthy, daughter of George McCarthy, in the sci-fi series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox, 2008–09), and portrayed a teenager caught in a bizarre situation on Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 2005–present), where she fell off a roof while under the influence of hallucinogenic mushrooms.
In 2010, Alanna took on the role of Abby in the high school web series First Day, appearing in seven episodes. That same year, she expanded her acting range by making her feature film debut as Dora Bell Hutchison in the indie drama Peach Plum Pear (2011), where she played a small-town girl imparting life lessons to a city boy. Alanna continued her trend of working alongside family when she joined Danny in his sitcom Men at Work (TBS, 2012–14), playing the quirky character Mopey Hipster Girl.
However, it was in 2013 that Alanna Masterson truly stepped into the spotlight. She joined the fourth season of The Walking Dead, portraying Tara Chambler, a former police academy student who finds refuge with Rick’s group after leaving behind the violent regime of the Governor. Tara’s character was not only a pivotal addition to the series but also marked a milestone as the show’s first openly gay character, further establishing Alanna Masterson as a notable presence in television.
Alanna Masterson has been part of several films throughout her career, but one that really stands out is Irreplaceable You (2018). Interestingly, this same movie is not only her highest-rated film but also her lowest-rated one, depending on how audiences and critics viewed it. While Alanna Masterson’s performance in Irreplaceable You (2018) received praise from some quarters, others were less enthusiastic, leading to a mixed reception overall. It’s quite unique for an actress like Alanna Masterson to have the same film represent both ends of the rating spectrum. As of now, Irreplaceable You (2018) remains the most talked-about project in Alanna Masterson’s filmography, for better or worse.