# Chase Infiniti
**Chase Infiniti** is an American actress born in 2000 in [Indianapolis](https://www.edgepedia.org/indianapolis), Indiana, whose full name is Chase Infiniti Payne and who made her feature film debut as Willa in [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-thomas-anderson)'s action thriller *One Battle After Another* (2025) opposite [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://www.edgepedia.org/leonardo-dicaprio)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14551692/bio/) • [2](https://www.anothermag.com/design-living/16639/chase-infiniti-interview-one-battle-after-another-leonardo-dicaprio). Before the film, she had appeared on television in Apple TV+'s *Presumed Innocent* (2024)[3](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/call-chase-infiniti-vanities), and she followed her film breakthrough by leading Hulu's *The Testaments* (2026), a sequel to *The Handmaid's Tale*[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chase-infiniti).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name and birthplace | Chase Infiniti Payne, born 2000 in Indianapolis, Indiana[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14551692/bio/) |
| Name origin | First name from Nicole Kidman's character Chase Meridian in *Batman Forever*; middle name from Buzz Lightyear's catchphrase "to infinity and beyond"[3](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/call-chase-infiniti-vanities) |
| Training | Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater, Columbia College Chicago, 2022[5](https://www.biography.com/actors/a68038214/chase-infiniti) |
| Screen debut | *Presumed Innocent* (Apple TV+, 2024), as the daughter of Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga's characters[3](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/call-chase-infiniti-vanities) |
| Film debut | Willa Ferguson in Paul Thomas Anderson's *One Battle After Another* (2025), adapted in part from Thomas Pynchon's *Vineland*[2](https://www.anothermag.com/design-living/16639/chase-infiniti-interview-one-battle-after-another-leonardo-dicaprio) |
| Series lead | Agnes MacKenzie in Hulu's *The Testaments* (2026)[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chase-infiniti) |
| Recognition | 2026 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series; Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations for her film debut[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chase-infiniti) • [6](https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/chase-infiniti-cover-interview-one-battle-after-another) |
## Early life and training
Infiniti grew up in Indianapolis in a household that valued creativity although neither parent worked in film; her father ran a construction company and played drums in a jazz band, and the family attended church regularly and went to theater productions[3](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/call-chase-infiniti-vanities) • [7](https://elpais.com/gente/2026-04-06/chase-infiniti-el-nuevo-rostro-de-hollywood-que-nadie-vio-venir-y-ha-llegado-para-quedarse.html). Her mother suggested at age 10 that she audition for a school musical, which Infiniti describes as the start of her performing life: "I want to do this for the rest of my life"[3](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/call-chase-infiniti-vanities).
She went on to earn a [Bachelor of Fine Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-fine-arts) in musical theater from [Columbia College Chicago](https://www.edgepedia.org/columbia-college-chicago) in 2022[5](https://www.biography.com/actors/a68038214/chase-infiniti). While in Chicago she worked as a kickboxing instructor and, with friends, co-founded a K-pop dance collective called the Duple Dance Crew, which has posted cover routines since 2019, including routines of her favorite group, ATEEZ[5](https://www.biography.com/actors/a68038214/chase-infiniti).
## Television and film roles
**Presumed Innocent (2024).** Months after graduating in 2022, Infiniti was cast in Apple TV+'s *Presumed Innocent*, starring [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://www.edgepedia.org/jake-gyllenhaal)[8](https://www.essence.com/of-the-essence/chase-infiniti-has-arrived-bwih-2026/). She played the daughter of Gyllenhaal and [Ruth Negga](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruth-negga)'s characters[3](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/call-chase-infiniti-vanities).
**One Battle After Another (2025).** While still on *Presumed Innocent*, Infiniti received a self-tape request for an untitled Paul Thomas Anderson studio project, submitted a tape, and about a month later did a chemistry read with Leonardo DiCaprio and [Regina Hall](https://www.edgepedia.org/regina-hall)[8](https://www.essence.com/of-the-essence/chase-infiniti-has-arrived-bwih-2026/). Anderson had been looking for a performer with gymnastics or martial arts experience to play the daughter of DiCaprio and [Teyana Taylor](https://www.edgepedia.org/teyana-taylor)'s characters, and reviewed "every young woman in the United States and beyond" before choosing Infiniti[3](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/call-chase-infiniti-vanities). The audition process took about six months, ending with a four-day karate intensive, after which Anderson told her she had the part[9](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/dec/19/chase-infiniti-my-parents-freaked-out-more-than-me-when-i-said-i-was-acting-opposite-leonardo-dicaprio).
The film, loosely based on [Thomas Pynchon](https://www.edgepedia.org/thomas-pynchon)'s 1990 novel *Vineland*, centers on Bob Ferguson (DiCaprio), a former revolutionary whose teenage daughter Willa is targeted by a vengeful military leader played by [Sean Penn](https://www.edgepedia.org/sean-penn), with [Benicio del Toro](https://www.edgepedia.org/benicio-del-toro) and Regina Hall in the cast[3](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/call-chase-infiniti-vanities) • [2](https://www.anothermag.com/design-living/16639/chase-infiniti-interview-one-battle-after-another-leonardo-dicaprio). The role demanded physical action, including karate fights, a car chase, and driving while handcuffed, which Infiniti performed herself[9](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/dec/19/chase-infiniti-my-parents-freaked-out-more-than-me-when-i-said-i-was-acting-opposite-leonardo-dicaprio) • [10](https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a69218701/chase-infiniti-elle-women-in-hollywood-interview-2025/). Although Willa is written as a purple belt in karate, Infiniti trained for months in karate and mixed martial arts for the part[5](https://www.biography.com/actors/a68038214/chase-infiniti).
**The Testaments (2026).** In the Hulu sequel to *The Handmaid's Tale*, adapted by series creator Bruce Miller from [Margaret Atwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/margaret-atwood)'s 2019 novel, Infiniti leads as Agnes MacKenzie, an upper-crust student at a Gilead prep school who is the biological daughter of [Elisabeth Moss](https://www.edgepedia.org/elisabeth-moss)'s character[11](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/chase-infiniti-interview-the-testaments-80297/?module=ed5). The role earned her a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the 78th [Emmy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/emmy-awards)[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chase-infiniti).
She is also attached to *The Julia Set* (2026), a film with Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs[7](https://elpais.com/gente/2026-04-06/chase-infiniti-el-nuevo-rostro-de-hollywood-que-nadie-vio-venir-y-ha-llegado-para-quedarse.html).
## Recognition
Infiniti received Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards nominations for *One Battle After Another*[6](https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/chase-infiniti-cover-interview-one-battle-after-another). The film itself earned 13 Academy Award nominations, but Infiniti was not nominated for lead actress, a result the Associated Press called one of the bigger snubs of the day[12](https://apnews.com/article/798743e63d4bb8c56a60cbd3e98d38e2). DiCaprio, asked about the omission, described her as "the fabric of this movie" and said carrying the film's emotional weight in her first screen role was "a near-impossible task"[12](https://apnews.com/article/798743e63d4bb8c56a60cbd3e98d38e2).
The film also won the first-ever Academy Award for casting, given to Cassandra Kulukundis, who had seen hundreds of young actors for Willa's role before casting Infiniti[13](https://apnews.com/article/7e4008093aac274a852f592402b5d393).
## References
1. [Chase Infiniti - Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14551692/bio/)
2. [Chase Infiniti Is the Heart and Soul of PT Anderson's New Movie, AnOther](https://www.anothermag.com/design-living/16639/chase-infiniti-interview-one-battle-after-another-leonardo-dicaprio)
3. [Need Someone to Play a Famous Actor's Kid? Call Chase Infiniti, Vanity Fair](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/call-chase-infiniti-vanities)
4. [Chase Infiniti, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chase-infiniti)
5. [Who Is One Battle After Another Star Chase Infiniti?, Biography.com](https://www.biography.com/actors/a68038214/chase-infiniti)
6. [The Chase Infiniti Era Starts Now, W Magazine](https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/chase-infiniti-cover-interview-one-battle-after-another)
7. [Chase Infiniti, el nuevo rostro de Hollywood, El País](https://elpais.com/gente/2026-04-06/chase-infiniti-el-nuevo-rostro-de-hollywood-que-nadie-vio-venir-y-ha-llegado-para-quedarse.html)
8. [Chase Infiniti Has Arrived, Essence](https://www.essence.com/of-the-essence/chase-infiniti-has-arrived-bwih-2026/)
9. [Chase Infiniti interview, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/dec/19/chase-infiniti-my-parents-freaked-out-more-than-me-when-i-said-i-was-acting-opposite-leonardo-dicaprio)
10. [Chase Infiniti on 'One Battle After Another,' Oscar Buzz, and Leonardo DiCaprio, Elle](https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a69218701/chase-infiniti-elle-women-in-hollywood-interview-2025/)
11. [Chase Infiniti Interview: 'The Testaments,' 'One Battle,' and Self-Tape Advice, Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/chase-infiniti-interview-the-testaments-80297/?module=ed5)
12. [DiCaprio to AP on Oscar nomination, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/798743e63d4bb8c56a60cbd3e98d38e2)
13. [Cassandra Kulukundis wins inaugural casting Oscar, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/7e4008093aac274a852f592402b5d393)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Hu to Ji*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license