Having logged over two decades in front of the camera, King has pulled off one of Hollywood’s hardest tricks: transitioning seamlessly from a beloved child star into a formidable leading lady, executive producer, and Emmy-nominated powerhouse.
Whether she is wielding a sword in high-concept action flicks, delivering heart-wrenching dramatic performances, or anchoring record-shattering romantic comedies, King brings an infectious energy and fierce work ethic to every frame. To celebrate her 27th birthday, here is a look back at her impressive career evolution—and her seven absolute best roles so far.
The Hollywood Journey: Evolution of a Versatile Talent
Joey King made her screen debut at just four years old in national commercials before landing guest spots on sitcoms like The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Her big-screen breakthrough arrived in 2010 when she beat out thousands of young actors to play the iconic, imaginative Ramona Quimby in Ramona and Beezus.
While many child actors find themselves pigeonholed, King spent her teenage years building a wildly diverse portfolio. She tackled blockbuster thrillers like White House Down and peak-TV prestige dramas like Fargo.
By 2018, King triggered a global pop-culture phenomenon when she starred as Elle Evans in Netflix’s The Kissing Booth. The smash hit turned her into a streaming titan, but instead of staying in her comfort zone, King immediately pivoted. She shaved her head and took on dark, complex biographical drama in Hulu’s The Act, earning Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG nominations.
Today, King isn’t just taking top billing in films like Bullet Train and We Were the Lucky Ones—she is also calling the shots behind the camera as an executive producer through her production banner.
Joey King’s 7 Best Roles, Ranked
1. Gypsy-Rose Blanchard in The Act (2019)
King’s performance in this true-crime limited series remains her crowning artistic achievement. Playing a real-life victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy who was driven to murder her abusive mother, King underwent a staggering physical and psychological transformation. She brought deep empathy, unsettling innocence, and quiet terror to a incredibly delicate story, earning a well-deserved Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress.
2. Prince in Bullet Train (2022)
Going toe-to-toe with Brad Pitt in a hyper-stylized action thriller takes serious moxie, and King delivered in spades. As “Prince,” a psychopath disguised as an innocent British schoolgirl carrying a hidden pistol and a cold-blooded agenda, King stole every scene she was in. She struck the perfect balance between deadpan dark humor and terrifying unpredictability.
3. Halina Kurc in We Were the Lucky Ones (2024)
In this powerful adaptation of Georgia Hunter’s bestselling novel, King anchored a sweeping historical drama about a Jewish family separated during World War II. Playing the resilient, fiercely brave Halina, King showcased mature, quiet authority as a young woman risking her life on the black market to keep her family alive.
4. Greta Grimly in Fargo (Season 1)
Long before she was headlining blockbusters, a 14-year-old King turned heads in FX’s critically acclaimed anthology series Fargo. Playing the perceptive, loving daughter of Colin Hanks’ small-town police deputy, King brought warmth, humor, and grounded intelligence to a darkly cynical story world.
5. Elle Evans in The Kissing Booth Trilogy (2018–2021)
Love it or hate it, The Kissing Booth turned Joey King into an international superstar. As the quirky, expressive high-school senior navigating young love and friendship tests, King’s natural comedic timing and physical comedy skills carried the franchise into a massive global hit for Netflix.
6. The Princess in The Princess (2022)
If anyone doubted King’s capabilities as a physical action star, The Princess put those doubts to rest. Playing a royal who refuses to marry a sociopathic suitor and fights her way up a castle tower like John Wick in a corset, King performed a staggering amount of her own martial arts stuntwork, carving out a unique lane as a modern action heroine.
7. Ramona Quimby in Ramona and Beezus (2010)
Rounding out the list is the role that started it all. Starring alongside Selena Gomez, a 10-year-old King captured the chaotic, imaginative, and big-hearted spirit of Beverly Cleary’s beloved literary character. Her innate charisma proved from day one that she was born to be in front of the camera.
With upcoming prestige projects on her slate and her influence growing as a producer, Joey King is entering her late twenties at the absolute top of her game.