Maisy Stella gives restless young women wit and intelligence without making them obliging company. We rate her promise, though The End of Oak Street gives her only part of the family drama her performance suggests.
Fi1m perspective
Audrey Platt's sulk does not make her stupid in The End of Oak Street (2026). Maisy Stella gives her an intelligence that makes the character worth listening to, rather than simply waiting for her to grow out of it. We warmed to Audrey because Stella makes that intelligence apparent without asking us to find the sullenness endearing. It is an encouraging performance in a flawed film, and a useful indication of what Stella does well: she allows a young woman to be difficult without making her uninteresting.
Her television work as Daphne Conrad in Nashville (2012–2018) preceded her first feature lead in Megan Park's My Old Ass (2024). As Elliott, opposite Aubrey Plaza, she gets room for comic timing and a shift from sardonic humour to emotional openness. The character can initially seem self-involved, which is a useful complication for an actor with such an approachable presence. Her humour and openness make the move into a leading part persuasive, without requiring her to smooth away the character's less appealing qualities.
Mitchell's film also provides a useful warning against judging an actor without looking at the part. Ewan McGregor's Greg is left stranded by a script that cannot decide how it feels about him, while Christian Convery's Brian is chiefly required to be in danger. Audrey receives more consideration, and Stella makes use of it without displacing Anne Hathaway, whose Denise remains the reason to see the film. Stella cannot supply the family scenes that David Robert Mitchell leaves unfinished, however much interest she gives us in Audrey.
Maude Apatow's Poetic License (2025) and Ira Sachs' The Man I Love (2026) add different directors to a short film career. There is not yet enough evidence to pronounce on recurring weaknesses, and little reason to hurry. We would like to see a script ask more of the intelligence that Mitchell puts to use, particularly when there are no animals arriving. Start with My Old Ass for the leading role; try The End of Oak Street if the creature film appeals, with modest expectations of its family drama.
Biography
Maisy Stella is a Canadian actress and singer born on 13 December 2003 in Oshawa, Ontario. She first gained attention performing with her elder sister Lennon as the duo Lennon & Maisy.
From 2012 to 2018 she starred as Daphne Conrad in the musical drama series Nashville, appearing alongside her sister and contributing to the soundtrack. In 2017 she released the solo song "Riding Free" for the animated series Spirit: Riding Free.
Stella returned to screen acting with the lead role of Elliott in My Old Ass (2024). She plays Audrey Platt in The End of Oak Street (2026).
