Chase Infiniti Runs Away With One Battle After Another. Who Is She?

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Leonardo DiCaprio headlines Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, One Battle After Another, but many viewers will be captivated by Chase Infiniti. The 25-year-old actress plays Charlene (sometimes called Willa), the 16-year-old daughter of revolutionary parents, and finds herself caught up in their past. Though DiCaprio is the main star, the story truly centers on Infiniti’s character. Critic Alison Willmore of Vulture praised Infiniti’s performance, noting she possesses a remarkable maturity for her age. The film follows Charlene’s journey as she transforms from a headstrong teenager into a resourceful and powerful woman. A key part of Infiniti’s impact is that she’s relatively unknown. The movie features a stellar cast including DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, and Benicio del Toro, but Infiniti, new to film, carries the emotional weight of the story. Who is this rising star? Read on to learn all about Chase Infiniti.

Is that her real name?

Chase Infiniti, originally named Chase Infiniti Payne, decided to drop her last name, which is common. Growing up in Indianapolis, she was raised by her father, who owned a construction company, and her mother, who stayed at home. Her first name is a nod to Nicole Kidman’s character, Chase Meridian, in the film *Batman Forever*, while her middle name, Infiniti, comes from Buzz Lightyear’s famous line, “To infinity, and beyond!” from *Toy Story*. Although she doesn’t come from a family with industry connections, she seems destined for stardom.

What else has she been in?

Infiniti previously appeared in the Apple TV+ limited series *Presumed Innocent*, which was nominated for an Emmy. She played the daughter of the characters portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga, delivering a skillful performance.

According to Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi, the strength of Chase’s performance in *Presumed Innocent* lies in her ability to portray the heartbreaking moment a young woman realizes her father is flawed, not admirable. Hadadi notes this adds significant emotional weight to the story, even if the plot doesn’t fully support the character. She also points out it’s excellent preparation for Chase’s role as the daughter of a troubled character, Leo.

How did she get cast in One Battle?

Infiniti’s casting story is already becoming Hollywood legend. According to *Vanity Fair*, director Paul Anderson says he looked at countless actresses before choosing Infiniti for the role, feeling she embodied the qualities he was searching for. Interestingly, Infiniti didn’t know much about the film, Anderson, or the other actors when she submitted her initial audition tape. She simply thought the project sounded exciting and wanted to try something action-packed. After a successful screen test with Leonardo DiCaprio, Anderson sealed the deal by observing her in a karate class. Infiniti, a beginner white belt among more experienced students, was nervous but impressed him enough to earn the role on the spot.

What’s next for her?

So, right now she’s in the middle of an Oscars push for her latest film, which is exciting! But the really cool news is she landed the lead role in the *Handmaid’s Tale* sequel, *The Testaments* – she’s playing June (Elisabeth Moss)’s daughter, Agnes. Apparently, the showrunner, Bruce Miller, was totally blown away by her. He told *THR* he first saw her in *Presumed Innocent*, then watched her audition, and even checked out videos of her doing K-pop dances! He was impressed by how easily she could switch between all these different things. They’ve already finished filming the first season, and it’s expected to come out sometime in 2026. Honestly, after this, I think her career has no limits – it could really take off!

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2025-09-27 00:54