# Mia Healey
**Mia Healey** (born 1998) is an Australian actor best known for playing Shelby Goodkind, a Texas beauty pageant queen, in the Amazon Prime Video drama series *The Wilds* (2020–2022), her first major role.[1](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/amazon-the-wilds-cast-meet-the-characters) Born in Sydney, New South Wales, she trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) before moving into television and film work in Australia and the United States.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10119720/bio/) AlloCiné lists her nationalities as American and Australian.[3](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne%3D847615.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1998, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10119720/bio/) |
| Training | NIDA's inaugural Diploma of Stage and Screen Performance course, completed in 2017[4](https://www.nida.edu.au/news/us-pilot-opportunity-for-nida-diploma-of-stage-and-screen-performance-student/) |
| Breakout role | Shelby Goodkind in *The Wilds*, 18 episodes across both seasons, 2020–2022[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8633062/fullcredits/) |
| Later television | Alicia Whitaker in the Prime Video series *Motorheads* (2025)[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mia-healey/) |
| Film credits | *The Changeover* (2017), *Shark* (2021, as Darlin'), *Twisted* (2026, as Smith)[1](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/amazon-the-wilds-cast-meet-the-characters) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mia-healey/) |
| Also known for | *Unrest* and *Black Spartans*[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10119720/bio/) |
## Training and early work
Healey is a graduate of NIDA's inaugural Diploma of Stage and Screen Performance course in Sydney, which she completed in 2017.[4](https://www.nida.edu.au/news/us-pilot-opportunity-for-nida-diploma-of-stage-and-screen-performance-student/) While still a student she auditioned for the Amazon pilot *The Wilds*, a drama co-produced by [ABC Signature](https://www.edgepedia.org/abc-signature) and Amazon Studios about a group of teenage girls forced to survive far from their homes; NIDA reported that she landed agency representation in Australia and Los Angeles along with the part.[4](https://www.nida.edu.au/news/us-pilot-opportunity-for-nida-diploma-of-stage-and-screen-performance-student/) She had made her movie debut in 2017's *[The Changeover](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-changeover-film)*, and *The Wilds* became her first major role.[1](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/amazon-the-wilds-cast-meet-the-characters)
## The Wilds
In *The Wilds*, Healey played Shelby Goodkind, a devout, optimistic beauty pageant queen from Texas with what the show reveals as secrets behind her pageant smile.[1](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/amazon-the-wilds-cast-meet-the-characters) She appeared in all 18 episodes of the series across its two seasons (2020–2022), alongside an ensemble including Sophia Ali, Sarah Pidgeon, Erana James, and Shannon Berry.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8633062/fullcredits/) Amazon Prime Video canceled the show after two seasons in July 2022.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mia-healey/)
A central storyline paired Shelby with Toni Shalifoe, played by Erana James, in a queer love story that developed over the two seasons.[7](https://www.advocate.com/television/2022/5/25/wilds-erana-james-mia-healey-shelby-and-tonis-big-queer-love) In a 2022 interview with *The Advocate*, Healey said that playing the character had opened conversations with viewers about their own queer experiences, and that she considered herself an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.[7](https://www.advocate.com/television/2022/5/25/wilds-erana-james-mia-healey-shelby-and-tonis-big-queer-love)
## Later roles
After *The Wilds*, Healey starred as Alicia Whitaker in the Prime Video coming-of-age thriller series *[Motorheads](https://www.edgepedia.org/motorheads)* (2025), which premiered in May 2025 with a cast including [Ryan Phillippe](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryan-phillippe) and [Michael Cimino](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-cimino).[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mia-healey/) Her film credits include *Shark* (2021), in the role of Darlin', and *Twisted* (2026), in the role of Smith; IMDb also credits her with *Unrest* and *Black Spartans*.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mia-healey/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10119720/bio/)
## Fashion work
Beyond acting, Healey's agency profile describes her as a luxury-profile talent who has worked with Bulgari, Dior, Coach, and Chanel, and who has attended the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.[8](https://www.kult.com.au/talent/all/1242-mia-healey)
## People with similar names
A separately credited Australian sound-department professional, Mija Healey, works as a dialogue editor on Australian productions including *NCIS: Sydney*, *Colin from Accounts*, and *Plum*, and is a different person from the actor.[9](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14987780/)
## References
1. [Mia Healey as Shelby Goodkind, "Amazon's The Wilds Cast: Meet the Characters and Who Plays Them", Teen Vogue](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/amazon-the-wilds-cast-meet-the-characters)
2. [Mia Healey Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10119720/bio/)
3. [Mia Healey, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne%3D847615.html)
4. [US pilot opportunity for NIDA Diploma of Stage and Screen Performance student, NIDA](https://www.nida.edu.au/news/us-pilot-opportunity-for-nida-diploma-of-stage-and-screen-performance-student/)
5. [The Wilds (TV Series 2020–2022) Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8633062/fullcredits/)
6. [Mia Healey, Actress, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mia-healey/)
7. [The Wilds' Erana James, Mia Healey on Shelby and Toni's Big Queer Love, The Advocate](https://www.advocate.com/television/2022/5/25/wilds-erana-james-mia-healey-shelby-and-tonis-big-queer-love)
8. [Mia Healey, Kult Management Australia](https://www.kult.com.au/talent/all/1242-mia-healey)
9. [Mija Healey, Sound Department, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14987780/)
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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 › Australian actors › Surnames E to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; 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