If you grew up watching British teen dramas, you probably remember the electric presence Kaya Scodelario brought to screen at just 14 years old. That breakout turn as Effy Stonem on Skins (rated 8.2 on IMDb) became a cultural touchstone and launched one of the more compelling career arcs in modern cinema. From there, she pivoted into franchise films, horror thrillers, and prestige Netflix productions—never quite fitting into a single genre. This guide maps every major role, with verified ratings and the stories behind them.

Debut TV Show: Skins (2007) · Maze Runner Rating: 6.8/10 · Pirates of the Caribbean Rating: 6.5/10 · Key Films: Maze Runner series, Crawl · TV Debut Role: Effy Stonem

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • No confirmed 2025 projects yet
  • Limited box office data for her films
  • No award nominations publicly verified
3Timeline signal
  • 2007–2010, 2013: Skins run
  • 2014–2018: Maze Runner trilogy
  • 2017: Pirates of the Caribbean
  • 2024–present: The Gentlemen
4What’s next
  • The Gentlemen season 2 likely on Netflix
  • Senna available on Netflix
Category Details
Notable TV Skins (Effy Stonem, 2007–2010, 2013)
Blockbuster Role Pirates of the Caribbean (Carina Smyth, 2017)
Franchise Maze Runner (Teresa Agnes, 2014–2018)
Highest-Rated Work Spinning Out (7.9 IMDb)

Kaya Scodelario Skins

Kaya Scodelario’s career began with a role that defined a generation of British television. She was 14 when she stepped onto screens as Effy Stonem in Skins, a British teen drama that ran from 2007 to 2010, with a special return in 2013. Wikipedia confirms she played the character as a main role across those years.

Effy Stonem role

Effy was written as a teenage party girl—quiet, enigmatic, and quietly destructive. Scodelario brought a magnetic stillness to the role that made Effy one of the most talked-about characters in the show’s run. Bolavip notes that her performance at such a young age signaled unusual range.

Series impact

Skins received an IMDb rating of 8.2, making it Scodelario’s highest-ranking series to date according to Screen Rant. The show’s influence on teen drama formatting—and Scodelario’s contribution to it—remains a benchmark for the genre.

The upshot

Skins was the proving ground. Every franchise role that followed built on what she developed there: the ability to command silence as effectively as dialogue.

Kaya Scodelario Maze Runner

The Maze Runner franchise marked Scodelario’s transition from indie credibility to blockbuster leading status. She signed on in April 2013 as Teresa Agnes, a key character in the trilogy based on James Dashner’s novels. Wikipedia documents her appearance across all three films.

The Maze Runner (2014)

The first film introduced Teresa as a new arrival in the Glade, positioned as both ally and counterpoint to protagonist Thomas. The adaptation drew strong youth audiences, establishing Scodelario in science fiction franchise territory.

The Scorch Trials (2015)

The sequel expanded the scope significantly, with Teresa’s allegiances becoming a central tension. Screen Rant reports an IMDb rating of 6.3, with the expanded cast and darker tone polarizing critics but retaining audience interest.

The Death Cure (2018)

The final chapter wrapped Teresa’s arc with high stakes action and emotional resolution. The three-film commitment represented one of the more substantial franchise roles for Scodelario, anchoring the female lead across nearly five years of production.

Why this matters

The Maze Runner trilogy gave Scodelario something rare: sustained presence across a multi-film franchise without the role being defined solely by romance or support. Teresa was plot-critical from start to finish.

Kaya Scodelario movies and TV Shows Pirates of the Caribbean

In 2017, Scodelario joined one of cinema’s most recognizable franchises with a leading role. She played Carina Smyth in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, released May 26, 2017. Wikipedia confirms the character and release date.

Dead Men Tell No Tales role

Carina Smyth was written as a brilliant and determined astronomer—a rare female-driven role in the franchise. Bolavip describes her as a character who held her own among the franchise’s established cast, bringing intelligence and resolve to the action-heavy narrative.

Carina Smyth character

The role positioned Scodelario as a central protagonist alongside the returning Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, rather than a supporting player. This was a deliberate casting choice to inject fresh energy into the franchise, and Carina’s scientific background provided a different kind of hero for audiences to follow.

The catch

The film received a 6.5 IMDb rating—solid for franchise entry, but below the original trilogy’s peaks. Scodelario’s individual performance was largely praised even where the script drew mixed reactions.

Kaya Scodelario movies and TV shows Wuthering Heights

Before her franchise breakout, Scodelario took on a classical literature role that demonstrated her range for dramatic acting. She played Catherine Earnshaw in the 2011 film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel. Wikipedia confirms this as a leading role post-Skins.

2011 film adaptation

The adaptation cast Scodelario in the complex role of Catherine Earnshaw—a character defined by passionate contradictions and a turbulent relationship with Heathcliff. This was a deliberate contrast to the contemporary setting of Skins, showing she could inhabit period drama with equal conviction.

Leading role

Taking on Wuthering Heights as a lead at that stage of her career was a statement of intent. It showed she wasn’t limiting herself to genre work or waiting for the right offer—she was actively seeking roles that pushed her dramatically.

Kaya Scodelario Movies and TV Shows 2025

Recent years have seen Scodelario gravitate toward streaming platforms and prestige productions. She filmed two Netflix series in 2023—the period crime series The Gentlemen and the biographical racing drama Senna. Wikipedia documents both projects.

New movie updates

In Senna, Scodelario played Laura Harrison—a fictional reporter character—opposite the central portrayal of Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna. The series launched on Netflix and gave her exposure to a global audience beyond the theatrical market.

The Gentlemen (2024–present)

The Netflix series The Gentlemen, inspired by Guy Ritchie’s film of the same name, cast Scodelario as Susie Glass in what the Wikipedia entry confirms is a main role. The show debuted in 2024 and continues into 2025 as a streaming-first production.

What to watch

The Gentlemen represents Scodelario’s most sustained current television commitment. If season 2 arrives as expected, it will mark her first multi-season returning role since Skins.

Kaya Scodelario filmography overview

Beyond the marquee franchises, Scodelario has built a diverse filmography across multiple genres and formats. Here’s how the broader career breaks down.

Early films (2009–2014)

  • Moon (2009) as Eve Bell
  • Clash of the Titans (2010) as Peshet
  • Wuthering Heights (2011) as Catherine Earnshaw
  • Southcliffe (2013) as Anna Salter
  • The Truth About Emanuel (2013) as Emanuel
  • Tiger House (2014) as Kelly

Horror and thriller roles

Scodelario played Haley Keller in Crawl, released July 2019. Wikipedia documents the role as a survival thriller set against a devastating hurricane with deadly alligators. The film received positive reviews for its lean, intense execution.

In 2021, she took on Claire Redfield in Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. Bolavip notes her portrayal was praised for bringing grounded intensity and survivor instinct to the video game adaptation franchise.

Dramatic work

The Netflix ice skater drama Spinning Out saw Scodelario play Kat Baker, a competitive figure skater confronting mental health struggles and familial pressure. Screen Rant reports an IMDb rating of 7.9—her highest-rated project overall, suggesting strong audience response to the dramatic material.

She also appeared in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) as Carole Ann Boone, a biographic crime thriller about serial killer Ted Bundy, per Screen Rant.

Bottom line: Kaya Scodelario has built a career that spans prestige television, franchise blockbusters, and genre films—rare versatility for an actor who started at 14. Skins remains her highest-rated work, but the Maze Runner trilogy and Pirates of the Caribbean gave her international visibility that few teen drama alumni achieve. For franchise seekers: the Maze Runner and Pirates films are where to start. For drama fans: Spinning Out and The Gentlemen show her current trajectory.

Career timeline

Year Project Role
2007 Skins debut as Effy Stonem Effy Stonem (main cast)
2009–2010 Moon, Clash of the Titans Supporting roles
2011 Wuthering Heights Catherine Earnshaw (lead)
2014 The Maze Runner Teresa Agnes
2015–2018 Maze Runner sequels Teresa Agnes
2017 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Carina Smyth
2019 Crawl, Extremely Wicked Lead roles
2021 Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City Claire Redfield
2024–present The Gentlemen (Netflix) Susie Glass (main cast)

The three-film commitment represented one of the more substantial franchise roles for Scodelario, anchoring the female lead across nearly five years of production.

— Analysis based on Wikipedia filmography records

Spinning Out received an IMDb rating of 7.9—her highest-rated project overall, suggesting strong audience response to the dramatic material.

— Screen Rant film ratings analysis

What the career pattern tells us

Looking at the full arc, a clear strategy emerges: Scodelario has consistently chosen roles that offer creative latitude rather than simply chasing franchise size. The Maze Runner and Pirates came with commercial scale, but films like The Truth About Emanuel and Spinning Out show she prioritizes material that challenges her acting range.

The move to Netflix with both Senna and The Gentlemen reflects a broader industry shift toward streaming-first prestige productions. Scodelario’s 7.9 rating on Spinning Out suggests audiences respond well when she takes on emotionally complex material.

Her current trajectory points toward a balance of franchise legacy work and streaming series—potentially making her one of the more strategically positioned actors from the British teen drama generation.

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Kaya Scodelario’s breakout as Effy in Skins led to roles like Teresa in Maze Runner, detailed in this complete filmography guidecomplete filmography guide.

Frequently asked questions

What are Kaya Scodelario’s most famous movies?

The Maze Runner trilogy (2014–2018) and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) are her most widely recognized films. Both were commercial releases with significant global reach.

What role did Kaya Scodelario play in The Maze Runner?

She played Teresa Agnes across all three films: The Maze Runner (2014), The Scorch Trials (2015), and The Death Cure (2018). Teresa was one of the main characters alongside Thomas, played by Dylan O’Brien.

Did Kaya Scodelario appear in Pirates of the Caribbean?

Yes. She played Carina Smyth, a brilliant astronomer, in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), released May 26, 2017. The film received a 6.5 IMDb rating.

What was Kaya Scodelario’s first TV show?

Skins (2007), where she played Effy Stonem starting at age 14. The series earned an 8.2 IMDb rating and ran through 2010 with a special return in 2013.

What is Kaya Scodelario’s role in Wuthering Heights?

She played Catherine Earnshaw, the central character in Andrea Arnold’s 2011 film adaptation of the Emily Brontë novel. This was one of her first leading roles post-Skins.

Are there new Kaya Scodelario movies in 2025?

The Gentlemen (Netflix, 2024–present) is her most current project. Beyond that, no specific 2025 film announcements have been publicly verified.

What ratings do Kaya Scodelario’s films have on IMDb?

Skins holds her highest rating at 8.2, followed by Spinning Out at 7.9. The Scorch Trials scored 6.3, and Dead Men Tell No Tales received 6.5.