Jenna Boyd (born March 4, 1993) is an American actress. She began her career as a child actress with roles in the 2003 films The Hunted, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star and The Missing, and the 2005 film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. On television, she appeared on all four seasons of the Netflix comedy-drama Atypical (2017–2021).

Early life, education and family

Boyd was born in Bedford, Texas. She was selected at age two in a modeling search. She and her parents and younger brother Cayden (also an actor) moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career. In September 2019, she moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma as part of the Tulsa Remote program.

She is a graduate of Pepperdine University, where she earned a business degree.

Career

Boyd began her career at age three, appearing in episodes of the children's TV show Barney & Friends. She simultaneously acted and figure skated. In Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star she played the daughter of a family hired by the titular character (David Spade) to help him recapture his childhood. Boyd's big break came when she was cast in The Missing, alongside Cate Blanchett and Evan Rachel Wood. Although the film itself was not particularly well-received, critics praised Boyd's performance.

In 2005 Boyd played leukemia-suffering Bailey Graffman in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. She appeared in the Lifetime miniseries The Gathering as the daughter of a doctor (Peter Gallagher) searching for his wife; and in the Ghost Whisperer episode "Children of Ghosts", as a troubled teenager living in a foster home. In 2017, she had the recurring role of Paige Hardaway, girlfriend of the autistic main character Sam Gardner, in the Netflix series Atypical.

In 2017 she stated that she had become a consultant for the multi-level marketing company Rodan + Fields.

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
2003The HuntedLoretta Kravitz
2003Dickie Roberts: Former Child StarSally Finley
2003The MissingDot Gilkeson
2005In an InstantThe Girl
2005The Sisterhood of the Traveling PantsBailey
2012ComplicityRachel
2012Last Ounce of CourageMaddie Rogers
2014RunawayAbby
2022Good MourningSabrina the Stalker
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
2001The Geena Davis ShowKidEpisode: "Car Wash"
2001Titus5-Year-Old ShannonEpisode: "Shannon's Song"
2001Just Shoot Me!Hannah GalloEpisode: "Christmas? Christmas!"
2002Special Unit 2N/Avoice role; episode: "The Piper"
2002Six Feet Under7-Year-Old GirlEpisode: "The Secret"
2002CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationSasha RittleEpisode: "Cross Jurisdictions"
2002Mary ChristmasFelice WallaceTV movie
2003CarnivàleMaddy CraneEpisode: "Milfay"
2007Ghost WhispererJulie ParkerEpisode: "Children of Ghosts"
2007The GatheringElizabeth 'Zee' FosterTV miniseries
2008Criminal MindsJessica EvansonEpisode: "Minimal Loss"
2016Code BlackVanessaEpisode: "Hero Complex"
2017–2021AtypicalPaige HardawayRecurring role

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRoleResult
2003Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a TV Movie, Mini-Series or Special – Supporting Young ActressFelice Wallace in Mary ChristmasNominated
2004Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young ActressSally Finney in Dickie Roberts: Former Child StarNominated
Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young ActressDot Gilkeson in The MissingWon
Phoenix Film Critics Society AwardsBest Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role – FemaleDot Gilkeson in The MissingNominated
Las Vegas Film Critics Society AwardsYouth in FilmDot Gilkeson in The MissingNominated
Saturn AwardBest Performance by a Younger ActorDot Gilkeson in The MissingNominated
2005Teen Choice AwardChoice Movie Breakout Performance – FemaleBailey Graffman in The Sisterhood of the Traveling PantsNominated
2006Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young ActressBailey Graffman in The Sisterhood of the Traveling PantsNominated
2008Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a TV Series – Guest Starring Young ActressJulie Parker in Ghost WhispererNominated

External links