Jemima West

Jemima West (born 11 August 1987) is a French actress. She is bilingual, growing up for most of her life in Paris, France. She is best known for playing Isabelle Lightwood in the film adaptation of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and Alice Whelan in the British drama series Indian Summers. She also appeared in the second season of The Borgias as Vittoria. West's parents are English. Her father is an accountant and her mother is a business interpreter. When she was five years old, her parents moved to Paris. She attended the Sorbonne and graduated in the history of art while taking acting classes in the evening. She can speak both French and English. She has described herself as completely English and has said that she has an easier time working in her mother tongue; she says Paris is her home. West made her acting début at the age of 12 when she appeared in the 1999 film Joan Of Arc, directed by Luc Besson. She later on starred in the short film I'm an Actrice directed by Maïwenn, and also starred in the third season of the Canadian television series, 15/Love.