Peyton List has established herself as a versatile young talent in Hollywood, moving beyond her early Disney Channel fame to take on complex roles in multiple genres. She started as a child actress in films like 27 Dresses and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. List has developed into a formidable performer, handling family-friendly content, intense teen dramas, and horror films. Unlike many young performers, she has made a successful transition from child star to mature actress. Her portrayal of Tory Nichols in Cobra Kai has helped the Netflix series maintain its critical standing, with 'Certified Fresh' ratings across all seasons. List has also explored darker material in horror films like The Inheritance. Even in projects with mixed reviews, her performances stand out, driving viewership regardless of critical reception.
About this list
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Plays: School SpiritsMaddie Nears
Peyton List stars in Paramount+'s supernatural teen drama.School SpiritsList plays Maddie Nears, a high school student trapped in the afterlife investigating her death. Critics widely praised List's portrayal. Collider's Kelcie Matson called her performance "every bit as riveting if not more so" in season two. The show earned a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for its second season and a 93% audience rating.
List leads an ensemble cast including Kristian Ventura, Spencer MacPherson, Kiara Pichardo, Sarah Yarkin, Nick Pugliese, Rainbow Wedell, Josh Zuckerman, and Milo Manheim. They move through the supernatural world of Split River High School.
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Plays: Cobra KaiTory Nichols
In Cobra KaiCobra KaiPeyton List gives Tory Nichols depth. She turns a simple rival into a layered, sympathetic character. List shows Tory changing from an angry teen to a young woman facing hard times and finding her morals. Her acting shines across six seasons, helping the show earn strong reviews.
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Plays: Emma RossEmma Ross
Peyton List's career changed when she played Emma Ross in the Disney Channel sitcom.JessieList played Jessie at age 13. List portrayed the wealthy Ross family's fashion-obsessed eldest child. List helped make the show one of Disney Channel's most popular programs from 2011 to 2015, building a large fan base.
List showed strong comedic timing and depth as her character changed across seasons. The series followed Jessie Prescott (Debby Ryan), a small-town girl who became a nanny for the four Ross children in New York City. List's portrayal balanced normal teenage worries with real growth. List took Emma past the typical "rich girl" type.
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Plays: Girl Haunts BoyBea
In Girl Haunts BoyGirl Haunts BoyPeyton List handled tough roles well. The supernatural romance let her explore love, loss, and connection outside the physical world. This shows her range exploring different projects.
This film got better reviews than some of List's other genre work. This project showed List's rising appeal in young adult stories mixing romance and fantasy, drawing viewers who followed her move from Disney Channel to more mature content.
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Plays: Bunk'dEmma Ross
FollowingJessiePeyton List played Emma Ross in the spin-off.Bunk'dThis followed the Ross children at the rustic summer camp where their parents met. This shift let List develop Emma more, showing her change from an awkward city girl to a confident camp counselor and role model.
The spin-off 'Bunk'd' showed Emma's growth as she handled new duties at Camp Kikiwaka. She left after three seasons for other projects.Bunk'dThis extended role across both series showed her skill in evolving a character while keeping continuity. This portrayal made List one of Disney Channel's most dependable young stars before she moved to more mature roles.
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Plays: Kami Abernathy
Peyton List expanded her range in The InheritanceAs Kami Abernathy, the youngest daughter of a billionaire who summons his estranged children under strange conditions, Peyton List stepped into the horror genre. She played a social media influencer whose inheritance faced danger. Her character got tangled in a deadly game because her father feared someone plotted to kill him.
After Netflix dropped the film, Vertical took overThe InheritanceVertical got The Inheritance for distribution, and it became a surprise hit on Hulu. The 84-minute horror film featured List with veterans Bob Gunton, Briana Middleton, Rachel Nichols, and Austin Stowell.
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Plays: Holly Hills
Peyton List made her mark in family movies as Holly Hills in The Inheritance.Diary of a Wimpy KidPeyton List appeared in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series. She was in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days.Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Peyton List played Greg Heffley's crush with charm and truth. She brought the character from Jeff Kinney's books to life.
These films gave Peyton List experience in big studio productions. They built her presence outside of television. Working on these popular family films helped her become more versatile. This let her build film production skills while keeping her TV work.
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Plays: Young Jane
One of Peyton List's early major film roles was in the 2008 romantic comedy27 Dresses, where she played the younger Katherine Heigl's character Jane at age ten. This brief role was an important early credit in a major studio film, giving List set experience with big actors.
Her natural screen presence and ability to show Heigl's character's core stood out. Working with director Anne Fletcher on this Fox 2000 Pictures film gave List film industry experience early on. This set the base for her later Disney Channel success and more.
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