Jessie Mei Li: 12 facts about the Shadow and Bone actor you should know

1. Who is Jessie Mei Li? Get to know the Shadow and Bone actor here

If you’re binge-watching Shadow and Bone, you’ll have probably already fallen in love with Alina Starkov actress Jessie Mei Li. The British actor is getting huge amounts of praise for their portrayal of the literary hero, and now it’s time to get to know the star behind the character a little better. [@jessie_mei_li via Instagram]

2. How old is Jessie Mei Li?

Jessie Mei Li is 27 years old. Jessie was born on August 27th in 1995. If you’re wondering about Jessie’s star sign, her August birthday means she is a Virgo. [@shadowandbone via Instagram]

3. How tall is Jessie Mei Li?

There’s no confirmation of Jessie Mei Li’s height online but based on photos of them and their All About Eve co-star Gillian Anderson, they stand at a similar height. Jessie looks to be around 5ft 3 inches tall, which is roughly 1.6m. [@jessie_mei_li via Instagram]

4. Where is Jessie Mei Li from?

Jessie Mei Li is a British actor who was born in Brighton, East Sussex. Jessie was born to an English mother and a Chinese-born, Hong Kong-raised father. Jessie grew up in Surrey and later joined the National Youth Theatre before training with the Identity School of Acting. [@jessie_mei_li via Instagram]

5. What are Jessie Mei Li's pronouns?

Jessie Mei Li goes by she/they pronouns. Jessie hasn’t spoken publicly about her gender identity. Their preferred pronouns were shared alongside a rainbow flag emoji in their Instagram bio in 2021. [@jessie_mei_li via Instagram]

6. Is Jessie Mei Li on Instagram?

Jessie Mei Li is not as active on social as some of her other cast members. In fact, Jessie deleted all of her old Instagram posts in August 2020. You can find them on Instagram at @jessie_mei_li where you’ll find a few selfies, funny videos and tons of pictures from Shadow and Bone. [@jessie_mei_li via Instagram]

7. Jessie Mei Li is a vegan

Jessie Mei Li is vegan, although they haven't discussed their lifestyle in detail just yet. Back in 2021, fans peeped the phrase ‘vgang’, along a couple of leaf emojis in their Instagram bio. [@shadowandbone via Instagram]

8. Jessie Mei Li plays Alina Starkov in Shadow and Bone

Jessie Mei Li plays Alina Starkov in Netflix’s Shadow and Bone series. Long-time fans of the novel series are already obsessed with Jessie’s portrayal of Alina, as is the author Leigh Bardugo. In an interview with Express.co.uk, Bardugo said: “I got to Jessie[’s audition tape]. And I watched it, and I shut my laptop and I didn’t bother with the rest of them, because I knew it was her.” [Netflix]

9. What movies and TV shows has Jessie Mei Li been in?

Jessie Mei Li is somewhat of a newcomer to the small screen. Shadow and Bone is Jessie’s first major TV project – and she’s the main character! Prior to the Netflix series, Jessie played Christina Jocko in docudrama Locked Up Abroad and appeared in a few short films. A filmed version of the 2019 production of All About Eve, where Jessie played Claudia, was broadcast in cinemas by National Theatre Live. You might also recognise Jessie from 2021's Last Night In Soho. [Netflix]

10. Jessie Mei Li is also a stage actor

In 2019, Jessie Mei Li made their stage debut in the West End production of All About Eve. Jessie played the role of Claudia Casswell alongside Gillian Anderson (as Margo Channing) and Lily James (as Eve Harrington). [Getty]

11. Who is Jessie Mei Li dating?

As fans will know from their social media presence, Jessie Mei Li doesn’t share much of personal life online. It’s not known if they are dating anyone at the moment. [@jessie_mei_li via Instagram]

12. What is Jessie Mei Li's net worth?

There’s currently no confirmed information about Jessie Mei Li’s net worth just yet. Thanks to her leading role in what is sure to be a hugely successful series for Netflix, expect her net worth to rise in the next few years. Some Netflix actors who star in new TV series are reported to earn around $20,000-$30,000 per episode. [Netflix]