If you’ve been keeping an eye on the horror and musical landscape lately, you’ve definitely bumped into Zoey Luna. Honestly, she is one of those actresses who feels like she’s been around forever because of her screen presence, but her filmography is actually a tight, curated list of projects that punch way above their weight class. She isn't just "booking jobs"; she is basically redefining what it looks like to be a trans Latina in Hollywood without the usual tired tropes.
Most people recognize her from the big studio stuff like The Craft: Legacy or Dear Evan Hansen, but her path started way earlier in the documentary world. It’s kinda wild to think she was sharing her life story on camera before she was even legally allowed to drive.
The Big Break: Lourdes and the New Coven
Let's talk about the movie that put her on everyone’s radar. In 2020, Zoey landed the role of Lourdes in The Craft: Legacy. If you’re a fan of the 1996 original, you know how high the stakes were. Fans are protective of that franchise.
But Zoey’s Lourdes was different. She wasn't a sidekick or a "diversity hire" meant to sit in the background. She was a practicing witch—in real life too, funny enough—who brought a grounded, punk-rock energy to the coven.
One of the best moments in that film is actually a really quiet one. There’s a scene where the girls are talking about the "magic" of giving birth. Zoey’s character just casually mentions that trans girls have their own magic, too. It wasn't a huge, dramatic "coming out" speech with swelling violins. It was just a fact. That’s why people love Zoey Luna movies and TV shows; they treat her identity as a part of her soul, not the entire plot.
Director Zoe Lister-Jones actually worked with GLAAD and consultants like Scott Turner Schofield to make sure the set was safe and the script didn't fall into the usual traps. Zoey has mentioned in interviews that it was one of the first times she felt like the people in charge actually got it before she even walked through the door.
From Musicals to Anthologies: Expanding the Range
After the witchy vibes of The Craft, she pivoted to something totally different: the 2021 film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen.
She played Leila. Now, if you’re looking for her in the original Broadway script, you won't find her—the character was created specifically for the movie to expand the world of the high school. It was a smaller role compared to Lourdes, but being in a massive Universal Pictures production next to Amy Adams and Julianne Moore is no small feat. It showed she could hang in a big-budget musical just as well as a cult horror flick.
Hauntology and the Horror Obsession
Fast forward to 2024, and Zoey went back to her roots in the horror genre with Hauntology.
This one is a queer horror anthology directed by Parker Brennon. Zoey plays Julian, a character who has gone through a "magical transition." What’s cool about this role is how Zoey described it—it was about the beauty of finally seeing yourself the way you were meant to be, but also dealing with the "losses" that come with that change. She’s a huge fan of the "scream queen" era, citing Sarah Michelle Gellar as a major influence. You can really see that DNA in her performance; she knows how to sell a scare without losing the emotional core.
The TV Side: Where It All Began
Before the movies, there was the small screen. Most people don’t realize she appeared in the series finale of Pose.
She played Lacey, a "pier girl" with big dreams. Even though it was a guest spot, Pose was the epicenter of trans storytelling on TV, so it felt like a rite of passage. But her actual TV debut? That goes way back to documentaries and reality guest spots:
- 15: A Quinceañera Story – This was a big deal on HBO. It followed her journey navigating a traditional Latina milestone while being true to herself.
- The T Word – A documentary presented by Laverne Cox that gave a raw look at the lives of trans youth.
- I Am Jazz and I Am Cait – She made appearances here as a young advocate, basically growing up in front of the lens.
What’s Coming Next: SLAY (2026)
If you think she’s slowing down, you’re wrong. As of 2026, the project everyone is buzzing about is Slay.
This isn't just another acting gig. Zoey actually has a writing credit on this one. It’s a coming-of-age slasher directed by Kyra Elise Gardner and co-written with Jimmi Simpson (yes, the guy from Westworld). She’s starring alongside Aya Cash, and it’s being described as a "genre-bender."
This is a huge pivot. Moving from "the actor who gets hired" to "the creator who writes the story" is how you build a long-term career in this industry. She’s explicitly said she wants to be the "Scarlet Witch meets Legally Blonde" of Hollywood. Honestly? I see it.
Why Zoey Luna’s Filmography Hits Different
There’s a lot of talk about "representation" in Hollywood, but it often feels like a checkbox. With Zoey, it feels like a takeover. She’s very vocal about the fact that she doesn't want to play "the victim" or "the educator." She wants to play the hero, the damsel, the villain, and everything in between.
Key Takeaways from Her Career So Far:
- Authenticity over Everything: She pushes for roles where being trans is a detail, not the entire burden of the character.
- Genre Queen: She’s carving out a massive niche in horror, which has a long history of queer subtext that she’s now making "text."
- Creative Control: By moving into screenwriting with Slay, she’s ensuring she doesn't have to wait for Hollywood to write a good script for her—she’ll just do it herself.
If you’re looking to binge her work, start with The Craft: Legacy for the vibes, then hit Hauntology for the acting chops. And keep an eye out for Slay later this year; if the rumors are right, it’s going to be the horror hit of the season.
To keep up with her latest projects, checking industry trackers like MUBI or following her updates on social media is the best way to see what she’s filming next, as she often shares behind-the-scenes peeks of her scripts and on-set life.
