Raised in San Diego by a criminal defense attorney and event planner, Jamie Clayton began her career as a makeup artist in New York City. She Slowly Moved On From A Co-Host And Makeup Artist On VH1’s First Makeover Show transform me to star in scripted series like HBO hungerthe Emmy nominated web series dirty workand the TV series Are we there yet?.
What really put the actress on the world’s radar is her role of Nomi in the Wachowskis’ Netflix TV series Sense8. After the abrupt cancellation, Clayton had quite a successful career, but the recent release of Hulu’s Hellraiser reboot, in which she plays the character of Pinhead, has sealed the deal for her to become an actress she will definitely look forward to in the future. With that in mind, let’s take a look at her best performances during her career.
7/7 The L-word: Generation Q (2019-21)
Produced by Showtime, The L-word: Generation Q is a sequel to The L-wordwhich ran from 2004 to 2009. Like its predecessor, Generation Q Set in California, it focuses on diverse LGBTQ+ individuals dealing with heartbreak, love, sex, adversity, and growth. Clayton was a recurring character on the show, playing one of Tess Van De Berg, a recovering alcoholic and manager of a gay bar called Dana’s. Tess is instantly sympathetic, considering how beautifully her relationship with main character Shane is portrayed, with all the touching little smiles and introductions to families. It’s a real treat to see Clayton act in this series.
6/7 Designated Survivor (2019)
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Originally developed for and broadcast on ABC, Designated Survivor was eventually picked up by Netflix for its third and final season following the network’s cancellation. The story follows Thomas Kirkman, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who is the sole survivor of an attack that killed the US president and everyone in line to take power. As a result, Thomas becomes the new president of the United States. In this unexpected new role, he must learn how to become president while dealing with the threats that come.
Clayton plays Sasha Booker, Thomas’ sister-in-law who returns to the United States from Paris when the president is accused of being transphobic. Although she doesn’t like the spotlight, Sasha is a very powerful character that is necessary for the storyline. It’s a shame that the show was canceled after the third season, as they had just started discussing important social topics, such as child marriage, trans bathroom panic, and the opioid crisis.
5/7 Dirty Work (2012)
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dirty work is one of the first gigs Clayton managed to secure for himself. The series is an interactive comedy produced by Fourth Wall Studios. It follows the lives of three Los Angeles people who work as crime scene cleaners. The show only has three episodes, but is definitely worth watching because of dirty work‘s overall compelling stories. Clayton plays the character of Michelle and easily excels at comedy.
4/7 Hell raiser (2022)
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Recently released on Hulu, Hellraiser is the second adaptation of the 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker. After some pre-production complications, it was eventually decided that David Bruckner would be the one to direct the film, with Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski writing the screenplay. The film stars Odessa A’zion, Brandon Flynn and, of course, Clayton as Pinhead. The plot follows recovering addict Riley (A’zion), who gets his hands on an ancient puzzle box, whose goal is to summon the demonic creatures known as Cenobites. Hellraiser received both praise and criticism, with the majority of praise focused on Clayton’s portrayal of the morally neutral being. The franchise has always explored themes of gender, sexual norms, and foreign entities across different belief systems, and this one is no different.
3/7 Roswell, New Mexico (2019-22)
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Named after the city of the same name, Roswell, New Mexico is a science fiction drama series developed by The CW. Earlier this year it was announced that the fourth season would be the last. The story follows Liz, a daughter of undocumented immigrants, who returns to her hometown and discovers that her teenage love is actually an alien. She protects his secret, but things get harder when the alien attacks become the talk of politicians. Clayton plays Grace Powell in a recurring role, one of the character’s sisters who is on the run from the military.
2/7 Equal (2020)
Premiered on HBO Max, Equivalent is a four-part docuseries that highlights key events in LGBTQ+ history. It combines real imagery and dramatization with queer actors like Clayton, Samira Wiley and Anthony Rapp. Clayton plays actress and singer Christine Jorgensen, the first known American trans woman to undergo gender reassignment surgery.
1/7 Sense8 (2015-18)
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And of course we have to put Sense8 tops our list, not only because Clayton is finally one of the main characters in a series, but because her performance is impressive. Created by The Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski, Sense8 follows eight different characters from around the world who feel connected mentally and emotionally. The group, known as “sensates,” must escape the clutches of an evil organization that preys on them. Because they are connected, they can communicate with each other from anywhere in the world and draw on each other’s skills, memories and experiences to help them individually. Sense8 was a beloved Netflix series precisely because of its themes of queerness, unity and empathy. Clayton plays transgender hacker Nomi, whose quick thinking skills and intellect initially help bring everyone together.