Overview

India Joy Eisley (born October 29, 1993) is an American actress who has worked in television and film since her teenage years. She first became widely known for her role as Ashley Juergens on the ABC Family drama The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Eisley has since taken a mix of mainstream and genre projects, including the action-horror feature Underworld: Awakening and the limited-series drama I Am the Night.

Early life and background

Eisley was born in Los Angeles on October 29, 1993. She is the daughter of musician David Glen Eisley and actress Olivia Hussey, which gave her early exposure to the entertainment industry. Growing up in Southern California, Eisley began acting in adolescence and moved into recurring television work before transitioning to film roles.

Career and notable roles

Eisley’s breakout television role came as Ashley Juergens, a central character on the ensemble family drama that explored teen relationships and their consequences. On screen she is often cast in parts that require a blend of emotional vulnerability and physical intensity.

In film, she played Eve in the 2012 entry of a prominent action-horror franchise, which introduced her to a global genre audience. She also starred as Sawa in the live-action adaptation Kite (2014), and took the title role in the television adaptation My Sweet Audrina (2016). In 2019 Eisley portrayed Fauna Hodel in the TNT limited series I Am the Night, a dramatized account based on real-life events that brought her additional critical attention.

Selected filmography

  • The Secret Life of the American Teenager (television series) — Ashley Juergens
  • Underworld: Awakening (2012) — Eve
  • Kite (2014) — Sawa
  • My Sweet Audrina (television movie, 2016) — Audrina
  • I Am the Night (TNT limited series, 2019) — Fauna Hodel

Reception, style and distinctions

Critics and audiences have noted Eisley’s capacity to carry both intimate dramatic scenes and physically demanding sequences. Her lineage connects her to a previous generation of performers, and she has balanced work in young-adult drama with appearances in genre films and prestige television. Eisley remains active in film and television, periodically choosing roles that emphasize psychological complexity or genre elements.

She maintains ties to Los Angeles, where she was born and where much of her acting career has been based; for more on the city, see Los Angeles. For additional information about her family background, see the profile of her mother Olivia Hussey.