Lovie Simone has one of the most interesting filmographies among young actors working today. She gained acclaim as Zora in Greenleaf, where she held her own among a cast of experienced performers.
The role introduced her to a wide audience and gave her a platform to show range early on. Since then, she has picked projects that never feel safe or repetitive. She does not lean on popularity or trends. She makes choices that push her as an actor.
In Selah and the Spades, she played a teen leader with a sharp mind and a tough edge. In The Craft: Legacy, she brought nuance to a supernatural role that could have been flat.
Her performance in Share offered a softer side as she played a friend trying to help someone through trauma. Even in Manhunt, where the story is rooted in history, she made her presence known without needing extra dialogue.
She continues to work in both TV and film without limiting herself to one kind of role. Whether she is leading or supporting, she leaves a mark. Here are ten roles that show what she can do and why people should start paying closer attention.
All Lovie Simone TV shows and movies, ranked
1. Selah and the Spades (2019)

Lovie Simone plays Selah Summers, who leads a powerful underground student group at an elite boarding school. The film explores how Selah struggles to hold control as graduation approaches and a new recruit begins to mirror her style. Simone plays the character with steady confidence that makes every decision feel sharp and personal. She does not just lead the film but gives it its entire shape and tone.
Her performance shows how ambition and fear can exist at the same time in someone so young. Simone carries the entire film without overacting or trying to make Selah likeable. She holds back in the right moments and pushes forward when the story needs it. The result is a performance that makes Selah unforgettable and firmly places Simone on the map as a lead talent.
2. The Young Wife (2023)

In The Young Wife, Simone plays Meditation Mary, who becomes a rare voice of calm during a wedding day that spirals into noise and confusion. The film follows a woman trying to navigate love while surrounded by guests who bring stress and uncertainty. Simone does not speak much but stands out in the chaos because she stays still and focused.
She offers small moments of comfort that give the film its few moments of peace. Her screen time is brief, but her impact is clear. Without her, the film would feel more frantic and less grounded. This role proves Simone can do more with silence than most actors can with long speeches.
3. Share (2019)

Simone plays Jenna, who supports her friend after a party ends in trauma and public exposure. The film follows a teenager who finds disturbing footage of herself and has to deal with the consequences. Jenna never turns away and stays present even when others begin to distance themselves. Simone makes Jenna feel honest and natural without trying to be the hero.
Her reactions feel like what a real friend would do. That realism adds weight to the story because it shows that not everyone fails the lead. Jenna does not have a big arc, but her steady presence makes the pain in the film easier to carry. Simone brings quiet strength that keeps the film grounded.
4. Monster (2018)

In Monster, Simone plays Renee Pickford, who is close to Steve Harmon’s family. Steve is a teenager on trial for felony murder, and the story focuses on how society chooses to see him. Renee is not part of the legal fight, but she gives the audience a view of Steve’s life outside the courtroom. Simone keeps Renee’s emotions tight and measured.
She does not try to dominate scenes but gives Steve something normal to hold on to. In a film full of fear and doubt, Renee gives small reminders of life before everything changed. Simone’s performance does not seek attention, but it helps balance a story that constantly shifts between cold legal processes and personal loss.
5. The Craft: Legacy (2020)

Simone plays Tabby, who joins a group of teenage girls learning witchcraft while dealing with their own personal struggles. The film updates the 1996 cult classic and gives each girl a unique voice. Tabby is outspoken, smart, and aware of how power can be misused. Simone never plays her for laughs or drama but keeps her honest and focused.
She makes Tabby feel like the person who holds the group together when things begin to break down. Even when the film stumbles, Simone stays consistent. Her performance helps push the film’s larger message about identity and boundaries without feeling forced. Tabby may not be the loudest voice in the group, but she often says what matters most.
6. Greenleaf (2016–2020)

Lovie Simone plays Zora, who is the teenage daughter of Jacob and Kerissa in a family that runs a powerful Southern megachurch. The show dives into secrets, scandals, and power struggles inside the church, and Zora’s arc adds a raw layer to the story. She starts as defiant and emotional, but eventually faces serious issues like abuse and personal freedom. Simone makes each phase of Zora’s growth feel honest without forcing any emotional extremes.
Across five seasons, Zora becomes one of the most complex characters on the show. Simone handles intense scenes without ever going over the top. She brings frustration and fear into moments that could have been brushed off as teenage rebellion. That consistency helped turn a side character into someone viewers tracked closely week after week.
7. Forever (2025)

In Forever, Simone plays Keisha Clark, who is the voice of reason in a story about first love and teen confusion. The Netflix series adapts Judy Blume’s iconic novel and updates it for today’s world. Keisha is not the main character, but she plays a key part in helping others navigate their feelings without judgment. Simone brings calm honesty to every scene without trying to steal the spotlight.
Keisha stands out because she listens more than she speaks. That gives the show moments of quiet that feel real. Simone plays her like someone you would actually want to talk to in high school. It is a small role, but it leaves a lasting effect because of how grounded it feels in a story full of emotional firsts.
8. Power Book III: Raising Kanan (2021)

Simone plays Davina Harrison, who is the first girl Kanan cares about before his life spins deeper into crime. The show is a prequel to Power and follows Kanan’s teenage years in Queens during the early 1990s. Davina knows pain, but she carries herself with strength. She has lost family and tries to stay out of trouble while raising her younger sister.
Simone never plays her like a damsel. Instead, Davina feels like someone holding on tight to whatever normal she has left. Her scenes with Kanan show a softer side of him, which makes her important to the story even after she leaves. Simone’s quiet performance adds emotional weight to a world filled with chaos and violence.
9. Manhunt (2024)

In Manhunt, Simone plays Mary Simms, who is a free Black woman living in Washington during the search for John Wilkes Booth. The show tells the story of Lincoln’s assassination and the people who worked behind the scenes to catch his killer. Mary is based on a real historical figure and represents voices often missing from Civil War stories.
Simone brings focus and calm to the role. She is not at the center of the plot, but her presence connects the bigger political chase to everyday life. She shows what it meant to live in that time without needing dramatic speeches. Her performance gives the series a layer of reality it would not have had otherwise.
10. Social Distance (2020)

In the episode Pomp and Circumstance Lovie Simone plays Ayana, who is a high school senior dealing with the loss of her graduation and everyday routine. The series takes place during the early days of the COVID-19 lockdowns and is told through webcams and video calls. Ayana tries to keep friendships alive while her parents pressure her about school and life.
Simone’s performance avoids drama and leans into truth. She shows what it felt like to be stuck in your room while the world made no sense. There are no big breakdowns, just small moments that reflect real sadness and real effort. Simone helped the show feel like a time capsule for what teens were going through.
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