Raised in San Diego by a criminal defence attorney and an event planner, Jamie Clayton started her career as a make-up artist in New York City. She slowly moved her way up from a co-host and make-up artist on VH1's first makeover show TRANSform Me to starring in scripted series like HBO’s Hung, th Emmy-nominated web series Dirty Work, and the TV series Are We There Yet?.

What really put the actress on the world’s radar is her role of Nomi in the Wachowskis' Netflix TV series Sense8. After its abrupt cancellation, Clayton went on to have a pretty successful career, but the recent release of Hulu's Hellraiser reboot, in which she plays the character of Pinhead, has sealed the deal for her to become an actress to certainly look out for in the future. With that in mind, let us look at her best performances throughout her career.

7 The L Word: Generation Q (2019-21)

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Showtime

Produced by Showtime, The L Word: Generation Q is a sequel series to The L Word, which used to run from 2004 to 2009. Similarly to its predecessor, Generation Q is set in California and is focused on diverse LGBTQ+ individuals as they deal with heartbreak, love, sex, setbacks, and growth. Clayton has been a recurring character on the show, playing one of Tess Van De Berg, a recovering alcoholic and a manager of a gay bar called Dana's. Tess is instantly likable, given how beautifully her relationship with main character Shane is portrayed, with all the touching, small smiles, and introduction to families. It's truly a treat to watch Clayton act in this series.

Related: Hellraiser: Jamie Clayton's Transformation Into Pinhead Revealed in Timelapse Video

6 Designated Survivor (2019)

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ABC

Originally developed for and airing on ABC, Designated Survivor was eventually picked up by Netflix for its third and final season after its network cancelation. The story follows Thomas Kirkman, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who is the only survivor of an attack that kills the US President and everyone in line to takeover. As a result, Thomas becomes the new President of the United States. Thrust in this unexpected new role, he must learn how to be President while tackling the threats that come.

Clayton plays Sasha Booker, Thomas' sister-in-law who moves back to the States from Paris when the President is accused of being transphobic. Although she doesn't enjoy the spotlight, Sasha is a very powerful character necessary for the storyline. It's a shame the show got canceled after the third season as they had just started discussing important social topics, such as child marriage, trans bathroom panic, and the opioid crisis.

5 Dirty Work (2012)

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Fourth Wall Studios

Dirty Work is one of the first gigs that Clayton managed to snatch for herself. The series is an interactive comedy produced by Fourth Wall Studios. It follows the lives of three people from Los Angeles who work as crime scenes cleaners. The show only has three episodes, but are definitely worth a watch due to Dirty Work's overall immersive storytelling. Clayton plays the character of Michelle and easily excels in comedy.

4 Hellraiser (2022)

Jamie Clayton with pins as Pinhead in 2022 Hellraiser
Hulu

Recently released on Hulu, Hellraiser is the second adaptation of the 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker. After a few pre-production complications, it was ultimately decided that David Bruckner would be the one to direct the movie, with Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski writing the screenplay. The movie stars Odessa A'zion, Brandon Flynn, and, of course, Clayton as Pinhead. The plot follows recovering addict Riley (A'zion), who gets her hands on an ancient puzzle box, whose purpose is to summon the demonic beings known as Cenobites. Hellraiser received both praise and criticism, with the majority of praise directed at Clayton's portrayal of the morally neutral being. The franchise has always explored themes of gender, sexual standards, and foreign entities in various belief systems, and this one is no different.

3 Roswell, New Mexico (2019-22)

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The CW

Named after the city of the same name, Roswell, New Mexico is a science fiction drama series developed by The CW. Earlier this year, it was announced that the fourth season would be its last. The story follows Liz, a daughter of undocumented immigrants, who returns to her hometown and finds out that her teenage crush is actually an alien. She protects his secret, but it gets harder when the alien attacks become the talk of politicians. Clayton plays Grace Powell in a recurring role, one of the character's sisters who is on the run from the military.

Related: Hellraiser's Jamie Clayton Breaks Down Getting Into Character as Pinhead

2 Equal (2020)

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HBO

Premiering on HBO Max, Equal is a four-part docuseries that highlights important events in LGBTQ+ history. It mixes real footage and dramatizations featuring queer actors like Clayton, Samira Wiley, and Anthony Rapp. Clayton plays actress and singer Christine Jorgensen, the first known American trans woman to get sex reassignment surgery.

1 Sense8 (2015-18)

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Netflix

And of course, we have to put Sense8 at the top of our list, not only because Clayton is finally one of the lead characters in a series, but because her performance is impressive. Created by The Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski, Sense8 follows eight different characters from across the world who find themselves mentally and emotionally linked. The group, known as "sensates," must escape the clutches of an evil organization hunting them down. Since they are connected, they are able to communicate with each other from any place in the world and draw on each other's skills, memories, and experiences to help them individually. Sense8 was a beloved Netflix series precisely beause of its themes centered on queerness, unity, and empathy. Clayton plays transgender hacker Nomi, whose quick-thinking and intellect initially helps to bring everyone together.