Brianna Hildebrand

Brianna Hildebrand – Life, Career, and Reflections

Explore the life and rise of Brianna Hildebrand: from her early web series roles to breakout performance as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, her LGBTQ+ advocacy, and the values she shares through her craft.

Introduction

Brianna Caitlin Hildebrand (born August 14, 1996) is an American actress whose bold, thoughtful performances and personal openness have made her a standout name in both indie and mainstream media. Known widely for her portrayal of Negasonic Teenage Warhead in the Deadpool franchise, she has also taken on roles in shows like Trinkets, Lucifer, and The Exorcist, giving voice to queer narratives and complex female characters.

Early Life & Background

• Hildebrand was born in College Station, Texas.

• Her parents are Caleb Hildebrand and Veronica Hildebrand.

• She reportedly has mixed ancestry, including German, English, Irish, and Mexican heritage.

• From childhood, she harbored artistic leanings: she bought her first guitar at age 12 and began writing songs.

• Hildebrand attended A&M Consolidated High School in Texas.

She has talked about navigating her identity from a young age, eventually embracing her queer identity publicly.

Career & Breakthrough

Web Series & Early Roles

Her on-screen career began in 2014 with the web series Annie Undocumented, which won Best Web Series at the New York TV Festival. Prism and the short film The Voice Inside (in which she also had producing credits)

Breakthrough with Deadpool

Her breakout came in 2016, when she landed the role of Ellie Phimister / Negasonic Teenage Warhead in Deadpool. Deadpool 2 (2018) and appeared in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) as part of ongoing franchise continuation.

Film & Television Highlights

Some of her notable film and TV work includes:

• First Girl I Loved (2016) — as Sasha; an indie romantic drama that resonated with queer audiences.

• Tragedy Girls (2017) — a dark comedic horror film.

• Playing with Fire (2019) — a family comedy.

• Runt (2020) — a more recent drama.

• The Time Capsule (2022) — continuing her film presence.

• On television:

  • The Exorcist (Season 2) as Verity

  • Trinkets (2019–2020) as Elodie Davis, a starring role in a Netflix teen drama.

  • Lucifer (2021, final season) as Aurora “Rory” Decker-Morningstar.

Her ability to cross between genres—superhero films, independent dramas, horror, and streaming TV—demonstrates her versatility.

Personal Life & Advocacy

• Hildebrand is openly queer and has spoken about her own journey.

• She has credited her father and her manager for support as she came to terms with her sexuality.

• Her roles in First Girl I Loved and Trinkets allowed her to explore queer identity and representation in media, which she values deeply.

Artistic Identity & Themes

Brianna Hildebrand gravitates toward characters who challenge expectations, who exist in norms and margins. Her work often intersects with identity, power, and belonging—especially the narratives of queer youth.

In interviews, she has mentioned enjoying roles that subvert casting norms and allow space for growth. While her signature role (Negasonic Teenage Warhead) is powerful and stoic, she is conscious that she is not defined solely by it and seeks projects that push her boundaries.

Though she began with musical interests (guitar, songwriting), she chose acting as her primary platform.

Selected Quotes & Statements

While Hildebrand is less quoted than veteran stars, a few remarks reflect her perspective:

“I guess what I like most about my character is her attitude … she just doesn’t care.”
— About playing Negasonic Teenage Warhead

In First Girl I Loved, she has said the film “resonated very closely with her and her experiences in high school.”

These statements reveal how she connects personally to her roles and values authenticity in portrayal.

Lessons from Brianna Hildebrand’s Journey

1. Be yourself courageously
   Hildebrand’s openness about her identity and support for LGBTQ+ visibility shows the power of authenticity in public life.

2. Leverage smaller steps
   She built a solid foundation with web series and indie films before moving into big franchises and streaming hits.

3. Choose depth over typecasting
   Even though Deadpool gave her mainstream recognition, she continued seeking roles that challenge and expand her range.

4. Stories matter in representation
   Her work especially in queer narratives (e.g. First Girl I Loved, Trinkets) contributes to more meaningful visibility for marginalized voices.

5. Stay grounded while growing
   She cites the support of family, managers, and grounded relationships as key to navigating fame and identity.