Alisha Wainwright truly made a name for herself when she stepped into the role of Maia Roberts on the fantasy series Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments (2016–). While Alisha Wainwright has always kept much of her personal history under wraps, rarely sharing details about her past in interviews, her journey into acting began with a small but notable appearance in the 2008 comedy short film Murder on Her Mind. Interestingly, it would be another four years before Alisha Wainwright took on another on-screen role.
In 2012, Alisha Wainwright returned to the screen with a part on the wildly popular YouTube series Smosh (YouTube, 2005–), which helped boost her visibility. She followed that up in 2013 with a role in the short film Second Rate Deal, slowly building momentum in her career. Then, in 2014, Alisha Wainwright landed her first major network television role—a guest appearance on CBS’s long-running crime drama Criminal Minds (CBS, 2005–). That same year, she also appeared in the feature film Just Before I Go, marking her growing presence in both TV and film.
From there, Alisha Wainwright continued to expand her repertoire, taking on roles in several well-known series. She appeared on Perception (TNT, 2012–15), had a part in Switched at Birth (Freeform, 2011–17), and even lent her voice to the animated Disney web series Disney Star Darlings (YouTube, 2015–16), where she brought the character Leona to life. But it was in 2017 when Alisha Wainwright truly broke through.
That year, she joined the cast of Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments as Maia Roberts—a role that started as a supporting character but quickly evolved. Thanks to strong audience response and her compelling performance, Alisha Wainwright was promoted to a series regular, solidifying her place in the show and earning her widespread recognition. It was this role that ultimately defined her early career and showcased Alisha Wainwright’s talent on a much larger stage.
Alisha Wainwright has certainly made her mark in the world of film, and when it comes to her most acclaimed work, Palmer (2021) stands out as Alisha Wainwright’s highest-rated project to date. The heartfelt drama showcased Alisha Wainwright’s strong performance and earned positive reviews from both critics and audiences alike. On the other hand, one of her earlier ventures, Death of a Telemarketer (2020), received more mixed or negative feedback, making it Alisha Wainwright’s lowest-rated film so far. While every actor has their ups and downs, Alisha Wainwright continues to build a diverse and compelling body of work.