Jemima West (born 11 August 1987) is a French-English actress. She is bilingual and mostly grew up in Paris. She is best known for playing Isabelle Lightwood in the film adaptation of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and Alice Whelan in the British drama series Indian Summers. She also appeared in the second season of The Borgias as Vittoria.
Early life West's parents are English. Her father is an accountant and her mother is a business interpreter. When she was five years old, her parents moved to Paris. She attended the Sorbonne and graduated in the history of art while taking acting classes in the evening. She can speak both French and English. She has described herself as completely English and has said that she has an easier time working in her mother tongue; she says Paris is her home.
Career West made her acting début at the age of 12 when she appeared in the 1999 film Joan Of Arc, directed by Luc Besson. She later on starred in the short film I'm an Actrice directed by Maïwenn. She also starred in the third season of the Canadian television series, 15/Love.
West later went on to star in the French television shows Ben & Thomas, Trouble Paradis, R.I.S. Police Scientifique and Josephine Ange Gardien which was followed by her second film role in King Guillaume, co-starring alongside Florence Foresti.
In 2009, West starred in Paradis Criminel, a two-part thriller mini-series entitled Who Killed Little Red Riding Hood as Louisa. The mini-series was written and directed by Serge Meynard and went on to win "Best mini-series" at the 2009 La Rochelle TV Film Festival, and garnered 3 million viewers on France 2 on 22 August 2012. The mini-series thus ranks as 8th best-rated fiction of the year on the channel.
In 2010, West had a role in the French mini-series Maison Close, in which she starred as Rose, a young country girl forced to work for her freedom in a brothel. She stars alongside Anne Charrier and Valérie Karsenti.
West played Isabelle Lightwood in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, a film adaptation of the first book in The New York Times best-selling series The Mortal Instruments, written by Cassandra Clare. West co-starred alongside Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Robert Sheehan. The film was released on 21 August 2013.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1999 The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc Girl 2004 I'm an Actrice Fille casting Short film 2009 King Guillaume King Guillaume Short film 2009 Paradis Criminel: Who Killed Little Red Riding Hood Louisa France 2, mini-series 2011 La Morte Amoureuse Marguerite des Ravalets Short film 2011 JC comme Jésus Christ Jemima International title: Play It Like Godard 2012 Lines of Wellington Maureen 2012 Et ton père…! Fleur 2013 Isabelle Lightwood 2014 United Passions Annette Rimet 2015 Kidnapping Freddy Heineken Sonja Holleeder2022RestlessAgathe
Television Year Title Role Notes 2006 15/Love Cassidy Payne YTV, series regular (season 3) 2007 R.I.S. Police scientifique Chloé Muller TF1, episode: "Dépendances" 2008 Grand Star Solveg Space, 3 episodes 2008 Ben et Thomas Liselott Karlsson France 4, Series regular 2009 Éternelle Carla M6, mini-series, 1 episode 2009 Joséphine, ange gardien Pauline TF1, episode : "Joséphine fait de la résistance" 2009 Camping Paradis Shirley TF1, 1 episode 2010 Demain je me marie Emilie TV movie 2010–13 Maison Close Rosalie "Rose" Tranier Canal+, Series regular 2012 The Borgias Vittoria Showtime, 4 episodes 2012 As Linhas de Torres Vedras Maureen France 3, mini-series based on "Lines of Wellington" film 2015 - 2016 Indian Summers Alice Whelan Main role2016Endeavour Kay BelboroughTV series, one episode, "Ride" 2018Vera Laura HalcombeTV series, one episode (season 8:4 "Darkwater")
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