Alexandra Daddario is a celebrity whose name might not be familiar to everyone, but she is someone who, when she appears on-screen, audiences are likely to recognize. Since he has been acting, Daddario has been a regular on film and television screens. She has been the lead, a supporting character, and a bit part in genres that stretch from slasher movies to prestige television.

Daddario has gained a passionate and loyal fan base, one that has fan-cast her in high-profile roles from Wonder Woman to Zatanna. While Daddario's films might not be the most critically acclaimed, she is still a beloved star. Was there one iconic role that made Alexandra Daddario famous, or was it a variety of roles? Daddario's fame is due to many factors, including the projects she has taken on, which have helped make her an icon. Here is what has made Alexandra Daddario so famous.

Her Family Is Famous

The White Lotus Rachel
HBO

Alexandra Daddario is famous, but so is her family. She is the daughter of the former head of the New York City Police Department counterterrorism unit Richard Daddario and lawyer Christina Daddario. Her grandfather was Emilio Q. Daddario, a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for Connecticut from 1959 to 1971.

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This is not to suggest she or her brother Matthew Daddario, who is also an actor, only are famous because of their family. They have talent of their own, but they did have the advantage of having family members with high-paying positions and likely connections. This helped get her foot in the door, but it was Alexandra Daddario's acting ability that has kept her around in the public eye.

Percy Jackson Kicked Off Her Career

Percy Jackson Alexandra Daddario
20th Century Fox

Daddario had recurring rules on All My Children and White Collar, in addition to bit parts on popular television series like Law & Order, but it was her part in 2010's Percy Jackson & Olympians: The Lightning Thief that truly put her on the map. Daddario plays the part of Annabeth Chase, one of the main characters and central love interest of the title character. Daddario reprised her role in the 2013 sequel Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters. The Percy Jackson movies were not well received by fans, but Daddario's performance was a favorite among those who watched the movie.

This part eventually launched Daddario as a movie star. She went from brief nameless parts to starring in raunchy comedy movies like Hallpass, horror films like Texas Chainsaw 3D, and romantic comedies like When We First Met. She also became a regular in Dwayne Johnson movies, first appearing as his daughter in San Andreas and then as a fellow lifeguard in Baywatch.

She's Been In Some of the Biggest Television Series

Anne Rice Mayfair Witches
AMC

While Daddario has been in some major movies, what makes her notable is the vast amount of television she has done. Most actors tend to get tied to one particular television series in their career and typically have a hard time shaking it. Daddario, on the other hand, has been a major player in some high-profile television series and has managed to stand out in each one but also jump between projects.

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Following her role in the first Percy Jackson, Daddario had a recurring role in the third season of Parenthood. In 2014, she guest starred in New Girl and had a memorable four-episode arc in the first season of True Detective, which is agreed upon by most as the best season of the series. She was one of the stars of the series Why Women Kill for its first season in 2019. In 2021, she had a recurring role in The Girlfriend Experience Season 3 while also being one of the lead stars on the Emmy award-winning series The White Lotus.

She now stars on Mayfair Witches on AMC, part of the Immortal Universe series connected to Interview with the Vampire. Daddario is, at this point, a television good luck charm and is a queen in the medium, having appeared in some of the most talked about television in the modern era.

She Is An Icon In Many Terms

Alexandra Daddario in We Summon the Darkness
Saban Films

Alexandra Daddario's career has been so vast, and across so many genres, she has many fan bases. Her role in horror projects like Mayfair Witches, Texas Chainsaw 3D, and We Summon Darkness have earned her the title of a scream queen. Action-based films like the Percy Jackson films and San Andreas have cemented her in the minds of audiences as an action heroine, so it makes sense why so many people want her to be the lead in a superhero project.

Daddario's sticking looks have also put her on many most beautiful actress list online, making her a sex symbol. Daddario has both played up this status straightforwardly in projects like Baywatch but also has had fun subverting it in humorous ways, as seen in The Layover. Why Women Kill walks in both worlds as the series starts with her as one of the most appealing and beautiful women who captivate people only for dark truths to be revealed later on and questioning the idea of how much is projected onto her because of her looks.

This vast career across film and television, in different genres and a wide variety of titles, have made Alexandra Daddario famous.