Last updated on the 3 June 2025 by Maeve
Mini Biography
Born: 27 August 1995, Brighton, East Sussex, England.
Jessie Mei Li was raised in a multicultural household. Her mother is English and her father is Chinese and Jessie has frequently reflected on both the challenges and the cultural richness that came with growing up as a biracial individual in the UK. She spent most of her formative years in the town of Redhill in Surrey.
Jessie attended Reigate College for her secondary education, where she initially showed interest in academics and later developed a passion for performance. Before pursuing acting professionally, she briefly studied languages at university but dropped out, feeling disconnected from the path. She later trained part-time at the Identity School of Acting in London, a decision that set the stage for her acting career.
Her major breakthrough came in 2021 with the leading role of Alina Starkov in “Shadow and Bone”, a Netflix adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s popular Grishaverse novels. Her portrayal of the sun-summoning protagonist received praise for bringing depth and nuance to a complex character. Prior to this, Jessie appeared in a stage production of “All About Eve” at London’s Noël Coward Theatre, acting alongside Gillian Anderson and Lily James. She also played a role in Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller “Last Night in Soho” (2021).
In her personal life, Jessie is known for her candidness about mental health, including her own experiences with ADHD and depersonalisation disorder. She promotes increased awareness and encourages open conversations about mental health challenges.
While she maintains a relatively private lifestyle, On social media, Jessie leverages her platform to advocate for diversity, inclusion and mental well-being. This commitment stems from her personal values and a desire to create a social impact that extends beyond her work as an actress.
Suggested viewing
Shadow and Bone (2021)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.6
“Shadow and Bone” is based on a fantasy novel written by Leigh Bardugo, set in a war-torn world where a young mapmaker named Alina Starkov discovers a power that could save her country from darkness, while also navigating political intrigue, dangerous alliances, and a mysterious group of magical soldiers known as Grisha.
Top cast: Jessie Mei Li, Ben Barnes, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Danielle Galligan, Calahan Skogman.
