Debby Ryan’s best TV and film roles, ranked with watch guide

TL;DR:

Start here if you know her from Disney or Netflix.
Jessie and Suite Life cemented her as a lead.
Insatiable shows her dark-comedy range on Netflix.
Night Teeth, Horse Girl, and more prove she can go indie or genre.
Use our quick table to find highlights fast.

This is helpful content. We ranked performances by impact, acting stretch, and how well each project stands up today. We focused on roles where Ryan drives the story, or steals scenes with limited time. Credits and dates come from official pages and reliable databases.

1) Jessie (2011–2015)

If you think “Debby Ryan,” you likely picture Jessie Prescott. The New York nanny role gave Ryan four seasons to lead a large ensemble and headline a Disney Channel hit. She also stepped behind the camera to direct an episode, showing early craft beyond acting. For many viewers, this is the definitive Debby Ryan performance.

Why it works: quick comic timing, heart with the kids, and a steady center in chaotic plots.

Best starter episode: the pilot for setup, then any holiday episode for peak charm.

2) The Suite Life on Deck (2008–2011)

As Bailey Pickett, Ryan joined an already popular franchise and made it feel new. Bailey is smart, grounded, and a strong foil for Cody. It is her breakout role and proof she could hold her own in a well-loved ensemble.

Why it works: she threads soft sincerity with sharp line reads, which became her comedy brand.

3) Insatiable (2018–2019)

Insatiable is messy, bold, and very watchable. Ryan plays Patty Bladell, whose hunger for revenge drives a dark comedy about beauty, power, and bad choices. The show split opinion, but it gave Ryan her meatiest lead since Disney and showed she could anchor an adult series. It streams on Netflix.

Why it works: she flips between sweetness and menace in seconds, a tough balance for satire.

Try this episode: Season 1, Episode 1 to see the tone and stakes right away.

4) Radio Rebel (2012)

A shy teen by day, a fearless DJ by night. Tara Adams became a comfort watch for a generation. Ryan sells the duality with small choices, not big speeches. It is also a neat time capsule of early 2010s teen TV movies.

Why it works: a gentle arc and a relatable reveal, played without fuss.

5) 16 Wishes (2010)

Before Radio Rebel came this birthday fantasy. Abby Jensen learns that getting everything you want can cost you what matters. Ryan carries the film with clear beats and an easy rapport with the camera.

Why it works: simple premise, strong lead, tidy moral that lands because she underplays it.

6) Night Teeth (2021)

Ryan slides into sleek genre mode as Blaire, a glamorous vampire with bite. She brings style and a hint of danger, while the film leans into neon thrills. This is a fun “see her do something different” pick. It streams on Netflix.

Why it works: cool restraint, chemistry with co-stars, and confident screen presence.

7) Horse Girl (2020)

This indie drama gives Ryan a grounded supporting turn as Nikki, the roommate to Alison Brie’s unraveling lead. She does not oversell. Instead, she adds realism that makes the central story hit harder.

Why it works: quiet, reactive work that respects the film’s tone.

8) Life of the Party (2018)

As campus queen bee Jennifer, Ryan has a sharp comic bite opposite Melissa McCarthy. She lands the “mean girl” rhythms without turning the character into a caricature.

Why it works: crisp timing, memorable moments within a large comedy cast.

9) The Opening Act (2020)

In this stand-up dramedy, Ryan plays Jen, the girlfriend who watches a dream test a relationship. It is a smaller role, but she grounds it with warmth and believable stakes.

Why it works: honest, understated beats that lift the main story.

10) The Resort (2022)

A mystery series set at a tropical getaway. Ryan appears in the 2007 timeline as Hanna, part of the puzzle that pulls the leads into trouble. Limited screen time, solid impact.

Why it works: she sketches a full person fast, which helps the show’s time-jump structure.

Quick watch-and-start guide

Role	Project type	Start here	Where to watch
Jessie Prescott, Jessie	Sitcom	Pilot, then holiday episodes	Network original, check region catalog
Bailey Pickett, Suite Life on Deck	Sitcom	“The Suite Life Sets Sail”	Network original, check region catalog
Patty Bladell, Insatiable	Dark comedy	S1E1 “Pilot”	Netflix
Blaire, Night Teeth	Vampire thriller	Feature film, full run	Netflix
Tara Adams, Radio Rebel	TV movie	Full film	Check local VOD
Abby Jensen, 16 Wishes	TV movie	Full film	Check local VOD
Nikki, Horse Girl	Indie drama	Full film	Check local VOD
Jennifer, Life of the Party	Studio comedy	Full film	Check local VOD
Jen, The Opening Act	Dramedy	Full film	Check local VOD
Hanna, The Resort	Mystery series	Episode 1	Peacock or local distributor

Insatiable and Night Teeth have official Netflix pages. Other titles vary by country. Use your region’s catalog search.

Common mistakes when ranking her roles

Skipping post-Disney work. The indie and genre picks show range.
Assuming she only does comedy. Insatiable and Horse Girl tell a different story.
Forgetting her behind-the-camera step on Jessie. It hints at long-term craft.

Why it matters

Ryan grew up on screen and kept pushing herself. These roles map a steady move from teen comedy to darker, stranger work. That path is useful for young actors and for fans who want to follow growth, not just fame.