Troian Bellisario Movies And Tv Shows: The Complete Guide

Troian Bellisario has a rare kind of career. She earned massive mainstream fame, yet she kept steering toward personal and creator-led projects. As a result, her filmography feels like two paths that meet in the middle. One path runs through glossy, high-stakes television. The other path runs through indie films, shorts, and directing work.

Most people first met her as Spencer Hastings on Pretty Little Liars. The series ran from 2010 to 2017, and it turned her into a pop-culture staple. However, her work before and after that role tells a much bigger story. Moreover, when you track her choices across genres, you can see a pattern: she chases complexity.

This guide breaks down Troian Bellisario’s key movies and TV shows, explains what each era adds, and gives you a practical viewing order. In addition, it highlights where she steps behind the camera, as that side of her career continues to grow.

The Fast Overview Of Her Career

Bellisario started acting young and gained early experience through TV guest roles. Eventually, she landed the role that defined a decade of teen mystery TV. Then, she pivoted into films that let her take creative control.

Here are the big pillars:

• Breakout role: Spencer Hastings in Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017)
• Signature indie project: Feed, which she developed from a deeply personal place
• Recent TV lead: Officer Traci Harmon in On Call
• Directing credits: Pretty Little Liars and later episodes of other series

Early Career: The Foundation Years

Before Pretty Little Liars, Bellisario built a base through smaller roles. That early stretch matters because it shaped her adaptability. Also, it gave her comfort with different tones, from procedural TV to lighter film work.

Last Rites

Bellisario’s early film debut goes back to Last Rites (1988). It sits at the very start of her on-screen timeline. Consequently, it shows just how long she has worked in the industry.

Guest Appearances And Recurring TV Work

Over the years, she appeared in several TV projects, including early guest roles and recurring appearances. These credits may not dominate fan conversations today. However, they sharpened the skills she later used to carry long scenes and emotional reveals on Pretty Little Liars.

The Breakthrough Era: Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars did more than make Bellisario famous. It gave her a long runway to build a layered character in public, week after week. Spencer Hastings had drive, fear, pride, and vulnerability. Therefore, the role demanded constant emotional switching.

The show’s long run also fostered a fandom culture centered on theories, rewatching, and online debate. As a result, Spencer became a reference point for “intense overachiever” characters that came after.

Just as importantly, Bellisario used the series to expand her craft. For example, she directed an episode during the final season. That step signaled ambition beyond acting, and it also hinted at her longer-term creative direction.

Key Movies: The Performances That Expand Her Range

After her TV breakthrough, Bellisario leaned harder into film. She chose roles that stretch tone, genre, and emotional endurance. In other words, she did not play it safe.

Martyrs

If you want proof that she can anchor intense genre material, start with Martyrs (2015). The film asks a lot of its lead performances because it pushes fear and trauma to the forefront. Still, it shows her willingness to commit to difficult work when the role calls for it.

Clara

Clara (2018) moves in a completely different direction. It sits in the romantic sci-fi space, and it favors introspection over shock. Bellisario plays the title character, and the performance lands softer and more observational than her thriller work. Moreover, the film leans on chemistry and quiet shifts, not big twists.

Feed

Feed often sits at the center of Bellisario’s post-PLL identity, and for good reason. She has talked publicly about how her own experience influenced the story. That context changes how you watch it. Instead of feeling like a detached “message” movie, it plays like a project with personal stakes.

More importantly, Feed highlights her as a creator. She not only starred in the film but also directed it. She also shaped the story and helped bring it to life, which makes it essential viewing if you want the full picture.

Other Film Credits Worth Knowing

Beyond these headline films, her credits include additional movies and a long list of shorts. While shorts rarely become “must-watch” mainstream titles, they often reveal an actor’s taste. In this case, they show a consistent interest in psychological tension, character pressure, and emotional honesty.

Web Series: Lauren And Why It Still Matters

If you want a “hidden gem,” watch Lauren. The series follows Sergeant Lauren Weil and centers on a serious, character-driven story. Because the format runs in shorter episodes, it gives Bellisario space to build tension incrementally. Also, the minimal structure keeps your attention on performance rather than spectacle.

Television After Pretty Little Liars: Selective And Strategic Choices

After seven seasons as one character, most actors need a reset. Bellisario took that reset, and she chose TV roles more selectively. As a result, her post-PLL TV work often feels intentional rather than routine.

On Call

On Call marks a return to a longer-form role in a contemporary procedural framework. She plays Officer Traci Harmon, a senior training officer paired with a rookie. The setup creates natural conflict and growth, and it also puts her back in a weekly storytelling rhythm.

Troian Bellisario As A Director

Bellisario’s directing work deserves more than a footnote. It connects directly to how she chooses roles and builds stories. For instance, her directing credit on Pretty Little Liars shows she learned within the world that made her famous. Later, she expanded that skill into other series directing work as well.

Because directing demands a different kind of control, it also reframes her career trajectory. Instead of asking, “What will she act in next?” you can also ask, “What will she build next?”

A Smart Watch Order For New Fans

If you want a viewing path that feels coherent, follow this order. It balances popularity with depth. Also, it highlights her evolution from actor to creator.

1. Pretty Little Liars (start at season 1 for character foundations)
2. Lauren (for a focused, character-driven lead in a web format)
3. Feed (to see her personal storytelling voice)
4. Clara (for a quieter, reflective shift into sci-fi drama)
5. Martyrs (if you want her most intense genre performance)
6. On Call (to catch her newest major TV lead role)

What Her Filmography Says About Her

Bellisario’s career reads like a series of deliberate pivots. First, she proved she could carry a global hit for years. Then, she took more control of her narrative through personal projects. After that, she expanded into directing, which signals a future that may lean even more into filmmaking.

So, if you only know her as Spencer Hastings, you have a lot ahead of you. However, if you follow the projects where she takes the biggest risks, you’ll see the clearest version of her artistry.