Most audiences were first introduced to Shailene Woodley on The Secret Life of the American Teenager. That series wasn't met with great critical acclaim but the cast was young and some were still waiting to blossom into their peak. That was the case with Woodley, who has since become one of the most talented young actors around.
Shailene Woodley started to truly impress with some standout performances in independent films. Then, she landed the lead in a popular young adult film series. Throw in two Golden Globe nominations and some scene-stealing emotional performances and it's clear why so many are enamored by her potential.
White Bird In A Blizzard (6.4)
This is one of those independent movies that showcased how much talent Shailene Woodley had. Released in 2014 and premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, White Bird in a Blizzard put Woodley alongside the likes of Eva Green and Christopher Meloni.
The story, set in 1988, centers around a 17-year-old girl named Kat (Woodley) who must deal with her mother (Green) randomly disappearing one day. Through two timelines, it details how the disappearance impacts everyone, especially Kat. Although reviews were somewhat mixed, Woodley was praised.
Adrift (6.6)
By the time 2018 rolled around, most people were well aware of who Woodley was thanks to several major roles. Still, despite an impressive body of work, this was arguably her most challenging task as Woodley would have to handle the majority of the acting on her own.
Adrift is based on a true story during Hurricane Raymond where a couple gets stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. With her co-star's character injured, Woodley has to carry the film and she delivers. Her performance was once again a high point.
Divergent (6.7)
The 2010s were all the rage for young adult novel adaptations. From The Hunger Games to The Maze Runner to Divergent, they were everywhere. Shailene Woodley secured the coveted part of Tris Prior, the lead character in this franchise, which debuted in 2014.
Tris finds out that she's "Divergent" in a world where people are divided by human virtues so she'll never fit in. Then, she discovers a plot to take out all who are like her. The film was lauded for its action and Woodley's work, while also being a box office success by grossing $288.9 million. The sequels were met with less praise though.
Crossing Jordan (6.9)
For a television series to be considered for this list, Shailene Woodley would have had to appear in at least three episodes. On Crossing Jordan, a series that ran from 2001 until 2007, Woodley showed up in four installments as a young Jordan Cavanaugh.
The focus of the show was Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh, a forensic pathologist who solved crimes with the help of her team. She heads down this path after her mother is killed. The four episodes featuring Woodley ranged in IMDb scores between a 7.5 and an 8.4.
The Spectacular Now (7.1)
It is probably surprising to learn that The Spectacular Now only grossed $6.9 million at the box office. As soon as it premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, it seems like everyone was talking about how it was a fantastic coming of age story with a stellar cast.
Woodley plays Aimee Finecky, a high school girl who falls for her alcoholic classmate Sutter Keely (Miles Teller). Brie Larson, Kyle Chandler, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Bob Odenkirk, and Kaitlyn Dever help round out that tremendous cast. Based on a novel of the same name, this was met with widespread acclaim.
Snowden (7.3)
The true story of Edward Snowden is one of the most interesting in the history of the United States. He was a CIA subcontractor who copied and leaked sensitive and highly classified information from the NSA. Debuting at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, Snowden tells the tale of his life and what he did.
The subject matter is intriguing and the cast is talented, led by Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the title character. Woodley plays his girlfriend Lindsay but there's also Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Scott Eastwood, and more. Despite solid reviews, it was a box office disappointment.
The Descendants (7.3)
This was the movie that truly let people know how good Shailene Woodley is. To this point, people only knew her from The Secret Life of the American Teenager. In 2011's The Descendants, Woodley took on the role of Alexandra King and stole the show.
It's impressive to do that when your co-star is George Clooney. The film follows a father who tries to reconnect with his estranged daughters after their mother is seriously injured. Woodley earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance, while the film also won Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars.
The O.C. (7.5)
Before she ever got any leading roles, Shailene Woodley still managed to appear on a popular series. That would be The O.C., which ran from 2003 until 2007. The show centers on a group of wealthy young friends living in Orange County, California.
Although Woodley wasn't part of the main cast, she did have a recurring role that spanned six total episodes. She portrayed Kaitlin Cooper during the first season, which each episode having a rating on IMDb higher than an 8.0. In later seasons, Willa Holland took on the role.
The Fault In Our Stars (7.7)
Starring in the Divergent franchise was supposed to be Woodley's blockbuster work. However, her highest-grossing movie is actually The Fault in Our Stars. Hitting theaters in 2014, it raked in $307.2 million on a $12 million budget. It's one of the most heartbreaking films of the decade.
Based on a 2012 novel of the same name, the plot is about two teenagers with cancer who meet in a support group and fall in love with each other. The chemistry and performances of Woodley and Ansel Elgort as the two leads were highlights of a beloved movie. It can currently be streamed on Disney+.
Big Little Lies (8.5)
In 2017, Shailene Woodley scored a massive role as one of the leads on HBO's Big Little Lies. Based on a book of the same name, the miniseries tells the story of several women from Monterey, California who get caught up in plenty of drama, including a murder investigation.
Alongside Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Zoë Kravitz, and Laura Dern, Woodley shined. She played Jane Chapman, a mother with a tortured past. The first season was praised for almost every aspect, with nearly everyone, including Woodley, getting nominated for Golden Globes and Emmys. A second season was added, though it was met with a lesser response.