For actor Chase Infiniti, the last six months have been a life-altering whirlwind. At 24, she has made a stunning cinematic debut in Paul Thomas Anderson's critically lauded film, One Battle After Another, which has been crowned the Guardian's number one film of 2025.
A dream debut in a cinematic heavyweight
Infiniti was thrust into the deep end for her first major movie role, playing Willa, the teenage daughter of former revolutionaries. The part demanded she master shoot-outs, high-octane car chases, and karate, all while holding her own opposite a cast of Hollywood titans including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, and Regina King.
"My whole life has literally changed in the last six months," the actor revealed, reflecting on the rapid shift in her career trajectory.
The arduous path to landing the role
Contrary to a plot from an action film, there was no martial arts tournament to win the part. Instead, Infiniti endured a rigorous six-month audition process while working on another project. It began with a self-tape sent from California, culminating in a nerve-wracking in-person callback.
"The casting director called me and was like: 'Hey, Paul Thomas Anderson would love to do an in-person callback, and it’s going to be a chemistry read with Leonardo DiCaprio and Regina Hall,'" she recalled.
This was followed by further auditions, camera tests, and a final hurdle: four days of intensive karate training, which the director himself came to observe. It was after this gruelling session that Anderson offered her the role.
Facing fears and finding family on set
The prospect of acting alongside such established stars was initially daunting. "I was definitely freaking out the first time that they told me," Infiniti admitted, noting that her parents' excitement surpassed her own. However, her nerves settled when work began.
"Standing in front of DiCaprio, the facade kind of fades the second that they call 'Action'," she said. "He’s such a kind person, and really funny. So even the first time I met him, it was really easy to drop in from the start."
She also found a powerful ally in co-star Regina King, who offered support even before filming commenced. "She’s just such a special person and such a genuine human being, and I love her very much," Infiniti stated.
Personal connections and powerful themes
The film tackles heavy themes of racism and racial hatred, which Infiniti, as a mixed-race person, found personally resonant. "Unfortunately, they’re not themes that are so strange to me, given the state of the world – who I am, where I am, and how I look," she explained.
Director Paul Thomas Anderson created a safe space for her to explore these difficult topics, encouraging her to draw from her own experiences. "He completely entrusted her over to me, which I’m so grateful for now," she said.
This contrasts with her own adolescence. Asked what she was like at 16, she confessed: "I was scared. I had a really hard time figuring out where I fitted in." She found solace and belonging only in theatre and performing, which she pursued at a musical theatre school in Indianapolis.
The story behind the unique name
Infiniti's distinctive name is a testament to her parents' love of cinema. Her first name, Chase, is inspired by Nicole Kidman's character, Chase Meridian, in Batman Forever. Her middle name, Infiniti (her surname is Payne), pays homage to Buzz Lightyear's iconic catchphrase, "To infinity and beyond!" from Toy Story.
Looking beyond the battle
Fresh from this breakthrough, Infiniti has already completed her next project: a role in The Testaments, the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, where she plays Agnes, the daughter of Elisabeth Moss's character, June.
When asked about her favourite film of the year aside from her own, she praised Ryan Coogler's Sinners. "Getting to see people that look like you on the screen with an incredible story like that... you just feel how much love and effort Ryan Coogler put into it," she said, planning a Christmas rewatch.
From a teenager seeking her place in the world to a breakout star sharing the screen with legends, Chase Infiniti's journey is only just beginning.
