Amalia Yoo is an American television, film, and stage actress known for portraying Leila Kwan Zimmer in the Netflix drama series Grand Army. She later expanded her screen career through film roles before making her Broadway debut as Raelynn Nix in John Proctor Is the Villain.

Her Broadway performance brought her significant professional recognition, including a Drama Desk Award in 2025. Yoo’s career reflects a progression from youth theatre and formal arts education to prominent work across television, film, and the New York stage.

Profile Summary

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Early Life and Background

Amalia Emma Lola Yoo was born on June 26, 2002, in New York City. She attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, a public school recognized for its specialized programs in drama and other creative disciplines.

Yoo also developed her acting experience through stage training and youth theatre. Beginning in 2016, she studied drama at GoodCapp Arts, a program founded by playwright and educator Katie Cappiello.

Her early theatre work included performances in productions of Cappiello’s SLUT: The Play. Yoo initially appeared in a smaller role before later playing the central character, Joey. This stage experience preceded her transition into professional television acting.

Career and Professional Journey

Television Breakthrough in Grand Army

Yoo received her first major television role in Grand Army, a drama series created by Katie Cappiello and released by Netflix in October 2020. The program followed several students dealing with social, academic, and personal pressures at a fictional public high school in Brooklyn.

Yoo played Leila Kwan Zimmer, one of the series’ principal characters. The role required her to portray a teenager navigating questions involving identity, acceptance, relationships, and social responsibility.

Grand Army ran for one season, but it gave Yoo broad exposure as a young screen actress. Her portrayal of Leila became one of the most recognizable parts of her early career.

Transition into Film

Following Grand Army, Yoo pursued opportunities in feature films. She joined the cast of the romantic comedy The Other Zoey, which was released in 2023.

That year, she also appeared as Natalie in No Hard Feelings, a comedy starring Jennifer Lawrence and Andrew Barth Feldman. These supporting credits allowed Yoo to gain experience in film while continuing to build on her television work.

Return to the New York Stage

Yoo maintained a connection to theatre as her screen career developed. In early 2025, she appeared in the Atlantic Theater Company production of Grief Camp, written by Eliya Smith and directed by Les Waters.

The production marked an important stage engagement before Yoo’s Broadway debut later that year.

Broadway Debut in John Proctor Is the Villain

Yoo made her Broadway debut as Raelynn Nix in the 2025 production of John Proctor Is the Villain. Written by Kimberly Belflower and directed by Danya Taymor, the play opened at the Booth Theatre in April 2025.

Set in a high school classroom, the play follows students studying Arthur Miller’s The Crucible while examining questions about power, friendship, gender, and accountability. Yoo’s character, Raelynn, holds a central position within the student group.

The production represented a major career milestone for Yoo, moving her from earlier youth theatre and Off-Broadway work to a prominent Broadway role.

Major Achievements and Recognition

Yoo’s casting in Grand Army was her first major professional breakthrough. Playing Leila Kwan Zimmer established her as a television actress and introduced her work to an international streaming audience.

Her Broadway debut in John Proctor Is the Villain became another significant achievement. The performance demonstrated her ability to work across television, film, and live theatre rather than remaining associated with a single medium.

In 2025, Yoo won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play for her portrayal of Raelynn Nix. The gender-neutral category recognized featured performers from eligible New York theatre productions.

The Drama Desk win was Yoo’s most prominent individual acting award at that stage of her career. It also distinguished her performance during her first Broadway production.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Amalia Yoo?

Amalia Yoo is 24 years old as of July 2026. She was born on June 26, 2002, in New York City.

What is Amalia Yoo best known for?

She is best known for playing Leila Kwan Zimmer in Netflix’s Grand Army and Raelynn Nix in the Broadway production of John Proctor Is the Villain.

Who did Amalia Yoo play in Grand Army?

Yoo portrayed Leila Kwan Zimmer, one of the principal students featured in the 2020 Netflix drama series.

Where did Amalia Yoo attend school?

She attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City.

What award did Amalia Yoo win?

Yoo won the 2025 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play for her performance in John Proctor Is the Villain.

Conclusion

Amalia Yoo is an American actress whose career spans television, film, and theatre. After developing her skills through arts education and youth stage productions, she gained wider recognition as Leila Kwan Zimmer in Grand Army.

Her subsequent film work and return to the New York stage led to her 2025 Broadway debut as Raelynn Nix in John Proctor Is the Villain. Her performance earned a Drama Desk Award, marking a significant achievement in the early years of her professional career.