The Transformation Of Isabel May From Childhood To Yellowstone's 1883

While "1883" actress Isabel May might seem like a newcomer to the scene with her breakout role in Taylor Sheridan's "Yellowstone" prequel, she's been acting (or trying to) since she was in middle school. Her fellow cast members speak to her ability, with Sam Elliot saying she could have a long career in the industry. As Elsa, she's fallen in love twice, became a pants-wearing woman, and even suffered an injury from an arrow. 

Although her name is synonymous with Elsa Dutton, that isn't the only high-profile character May has played on screen. From Netflix sitcoms to indie horror, she is working her way through multiple genres of Hollywood and all the new experiences they bring. Her first role after several years of auditioning was a main character, believe it or not, and her career has only continued to rise. 

From learning how to be comedic on camera to experiencing the extreme weather that comes with traveling the Great Plains in the 19th century, the young actress has tried on many hats over her surprisingly short time in Hollywood. Let's take a look at Isabel May's life from being a young reader growing up in the City of Angels to snagging her signature role. 

She auditioned on and off while attending school, though her main focus remained on education. "I did audition for three years, but I was devoted to school, as were my parents," May discussed with Terroir Magazine. "We kind of made a pact, that I had to wait until ninth grade to really commit to something like this." This decision allowed her to continue her education, but have a solid timeframe on when she would take her acting career to the next level.

While she continued to audition and maintain her focus on school, she also had a "normal" job like other teens. In an interview with KTLA 5 in 2019, she detailed her first job as "horrible." She spent a year working retail at Brandy Melville, a clothing store, though she was quick to note she didn't model any of the clothing. "I didn't do the whole modeling thing," she told the news team. "I did the nasty stuff ... such a good experience."

Over the course of these three years, she experienced rejection, but believes it helped her on the journey to where she is today. "Looking back on the many things I was rejected on, I'm so glad it was a rejection," she shared with Terroir Magazine. "It made me a better actor."

The young actress learned the art of comedy in her first role. However, May doesn't think she's a funny person outside of the character. 

In her interview with Pop Star Extraordinaire Maya, she said "I'm too nervous to crack jokes because they never work," though she applauds those that can make a whole room laugh. Before she started working on "Alexa & Katie," she didn't know she could be funny. "I was definitely not as aware of my comedic capabilities when going into this show," May told Young Entertainment Magazine. "I didn't really know that I could be funny."

As she filmed, she learned how to be comedic. "I have quite a long body," the actress discussed with Terroir Magazine. "So I found I could express myself comedically, physically in certain ways." In her interview with Young Entertainment Magazine, she details that she began using her arms more, and over time more physical comedy was written into the show for her character. In trying to figure out how to be funny, she discovered physical comedy was more her speed, allowing her to grow and hone a new skill. "I learned so much on this show that I wasn't aware of," she continued. "The comedy stuff was a little tougher, but in a great way. In a really satisfying way."

May's first prominent film role came in 2019's "Let's Scare Julie" (originally titled "Let's Scare Julie to Death"), a thriller following five teens as they prank their neighbor. Over the course of the evening, things go wrong and the teens begin disappearing one by one. Her involvement with the Jud Cremata project was confirmed by Deadline in 2018. 

It was very different from the sitcom work she had become accustomed to, in genre, intensity and the grueling nature of the film's primary gimmick. "Everything about it was so different to 'Alexa and Katie'," the actress told BELLO Mag. "All aspects of the experience was brand new ... It's a 90 minute uncut take — no stopping, one shot. Really, really fun and creative and strange." 

She was drawn to the project for the challenge, as well as the new filming environment. "I really wanted to experience gritty filmmaking," May discussed with Pop Star Extraordinaire Maya (at the 8:39 mark). "The challenge [of a one-shot take] was appealing." Before that, she had only filmed on a sound stage. In addition to a new type of filming, she got to flex her improv skills. "We didn't have to rely on the script," she described to BELLO Mag. "We got to improvise which was a dream. It felt so real."

One audition led to May landing her role in "1883," and it wasn't even an audition to be Elsa. 

"I tested for something else, another one of [Sheridan's] projects," May told Town & Country. "That didn't go through obviously, and he sent me a letter and said, 'I will find the role for you.'" This other project was "Mayor of Kingstown." "He [Sheridan] flew three girls out to Texas, including myself," she detailed to The Hollywood Reporter. "So I auditioned for that, and I was terribly wrong for it."

Fortunately for May, the third time was the charm. "He called two weeks later and said, 'You're Elsa Dutton. I want you to be Elsa Dutton,'" May told The Hollywood Reporter. "'Well, of course, I'll be Elsa Dutton because you're Taylor Sheridan and it's my dream to work with you.'" It was a no-brainer for the young actress.

The first thing May knew about Elsa was that she was narrating the series. "He [Sheridan] actually wrote Elsa with me in mind," she told The Wrap in 2022, which was something she hadn't fully experienced before. As he finished scripts, they were sent to her, but it took a bit to register that she was the show's voice. "It took until the last episode for that to sink into my head," she discussed with The Hollywood Reporter. "I haven't fully wrapped my head around it."