You’re scrolling through Netflix, you hit play on the raunchy high school comedy Incoming, and suddenly you’re staring at the screen thinking, "I know her." Specifically, the girl playing Bailey. She’s the sophomore crush of the main character, Benj, and she basically anchors the emotional stakes of a movie that otherwise involves a lot of... well, literal "crap" hitting the fan.
Isabella Ferreira is the actress who plays Bailey in Incoming.
If you recognized her immediately, you’re probably a fan of teen dramas, or maybe you just have a really good memory for faces from the Hulu era. She isn't just a random newcomer; she’s been building a massive resume in the "coming-of-age" genre for years. Honestly, she’s become the go-to for characters who need to be both the "cool girl" and someone with actual depth.
Why Isabella Ferreira Looks So Familiar
Most people recognize Isabella from her breakout role as Pilar Salazar in the Hulu hit Love, Victor. In that show, she played Victor’s younger sister—the angsty, socially conscious, and fiercely protective sibling who often had the best one-liners in the house. She stayed with that show for its entire three-season run, which is why her face feels so tied to the modern teen TV landscape.
But her career started way before she was navigating the drama at Creekwood High. One of her first big breaks was actually a stint on Orange Is the New Black. She played Eva Diaz, one of Aleida’s daughters. It was a smaller role, sure, but being part of a prestige Netflix powerhouse like that is a hell of a way to start.
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She also appeared in the 2019 Joker movie. If you blink, you might miss her, but she’s the "flirting woman on the bus" early in the film. It's wild to think she went from a brief moment in a gritty DC psych-thriller to leading a Netflix comedy about freshmen trying to survive their first big party.
The Career Path to "Incoming"
If you’ve been keeping up with indie-leaning teen movies, you might have also caught her in the 2022 film Crush on Hulu. She played Gabriela, which further cemented her as a staple in the Gen Z acting circle.
Isabella has this specific vibe—she’s 23 in real life (born December 20, 2002), but she’s managed to master the "sophomore in high school" energy. In Incoming, she has to play against Mason Thames (who plays Benj). The age gap in real life is a few years, but on screen, the dynamic works because she brings a certain level of maturity that makes Benj’s obsession with her feel like a classic "freshman pining for the older girl" trope.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Cast
There’s been a lot of confusion online lately—partly because of how fast the industry moves—about who exactly is in this movie. Some people have been mixing up Isabella Ferreira with other rising stars like Chloe East. While Chloe East has been everywhere lately (she was incredible in Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans and the A24 horror Heretic), she is not in Incoming.
It's an easy mistake to make. Both actresses are leading the charge in the current "Next Big Thing" category of Hollywood. But in the world of Incoming, it’s all Isabella.
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The movie itself was written and directed by Dave and John Chernin. If those names sound familiar, it’s because they were writers on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. That explains why the humor in Incoming feels a bit more "jagged" and mean-spirited than your average Disney+ teen flick. You’ve got Bobby Cannavale playing a chaotic chemistry teacher and Kaitlin Olson (a Sunny legend) as the mom. Amidst all that veteran comedy talent, Isabella Ferreira has to hold the "grounded" center of the story.
The Reality of Filming Those Awkward Scenes
Let's be real: Incoming is not a "safe" movie. It’s a hard-R comedy. There’s one specific scene involving Isabella’s character, Bailey, that everyone talks about—the accidental "wardrobe malfunction" that kicks off Benj’s obsession.
In interviews, the cast has talked about how weird it is to film those scenes. Even though Isabella was 21 during production, playing a minor in those situations requires a lot of "Intimacy Coordinator" oversight. She’s handled the press for the movie with a lot of grace, basically saying that while the movie is gross-out humor, the actors worked hard to make the friendships feel real.
Isabella Ferreira’s Filmography at a Glance
If you want to see more of her work, here is the roadmap:
- Love, Victor (Hulu): This is her "must-watch" performance. Pilar Salazar is a much more complex character than Bailey.
- Orange Is the New Black (Netflix): Look for her as Eva Diaz in the later seasons.
- Crush (Hulu): A cute, queer teen rom-com where she plays Gabriela.
- Gray Matter (2023): A sci-fi thriller where she plays Calah. This is a big departure from her usual high school roles.
- No Address: A more recent project dealing with the homelessness crisis, showing she's moving into more serious, adult drama.
Why This Role Matters for Her Career
Isabella is at that "tipping point." Playing the lead girl in a Netflix #1 movie is usually the moment an actor goes from "the girl from that show" to a household name.
The Chernins clearly saw something in her that could handle the transition from the sweet, earnest tone of Love, Victor to the chaotic, often disgusting humor of Incoming. It’s a range test. Honestly, she’s one of the few actors in the movie who manages to make the audience actually care about the romance while someone else is literally puking in the background.
Moving Forward After "Incoming"
So, what should you do now? If you liked her performance, definitely go back and watch Love, Victor. It’s a much "warmer" show, but it proves she has the acting chops to carry a long-form story.
Also, keep an eye on her upcoming project No Address. It's going to be a complete 180 from the "party girl/crush" vibe of Incoming.
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The best way to support actors like Isabella is to follow their smaller indie projects. Netflix movies give them the fame, but the indie dramas are where they usually get to show off what they can really do. Check out Gray Matter on Max if you want to see her handle a lead role in a high-concept sci-fi setting. It’s a bit under the radar, but worth the watch for her performance alone.