If you’ve watched 13 Reasons Why, you probably remember Jessica Davis — the fierce, loyal friend played by Alisha Boe. But behind the screen, Boe’s own story is just as compelling, shaped by a Norwegian-Somali heritage and a move from Oslo to Los Angeles at age seven.
Full name: Alisha Ilhaan Bø ·
Date of birth: March 6, 1997 ·
Place of birth: Oslo, Norway ·
Nationality: Norwegian and American ·
Known for: Jessica Davis in 13 Reasons Why ·
Instagram followers: 3.1 million
Quick snapshot
- Born March 6, 1997 in Oslo, Norway (IMDb, the film industry database)
- Norwegian and Somali descent (W Magazine, a fashion and culture publication)
- Played Jessica Davis in 13 Reasons Why (Wikipedia, the user-edited encyclopedia)
- Exact net worth not publicly verified (Kemi Filani, a Nigerian news outlet)
- Moved to Los Angeles at age seven (YouTube interview)
- Breakthrough role at age 19 with 13 Reasons Why (Amazon Prime Video, the streaming service)
- Continues acting; recent film He’s All That (2021) (Wikipedia filmography)
- Active on Instagram with 3.1 million followers (Instagram profile)
Eight biographical facts, one pattern: her identity is well-documented but earnings and dating remain opaque.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alisha Ilhaan Bø |
| Date of Birth | March 6, 1997 |
| Age | 27 |
| Nationality | Norwegian, American |
| Ethnicity | Norwegian and Somali |
| Profession | Actress |
| Notable Role | Jessica Davis in 13 Reasons Why |
| @alishaboe |
Is Alisha Boe in a relationship?
Boe’s current relationship status is not publicly known. She has kept her personal life largely off social media, and no confirmed partner has been reported by reliable outlets.
Who is Alisha Boe dating?
- No public relationship confirmed as of 2026 (W Magazine)
- She was rumored to have dated co-star Brandon Flynn, but both have stated they are just friends (Famous Birthdays)
The implication: Boe prioritizes privacy over public romance, and fan speculation around her castmates remains unsubstantiated.
Are Alisha Boe and Brandon Flynn friends?
- Flynn and Boe have described each other as close friends and co-stars (Famous Birthdays)
- They have been photographed together at events but never confirmed a romantic relationship
What this means: the friendship is well-documented, but the romantic rumors are baseless.
How old was Alisha Boe in 13 Reasons Why?
Boe was 19 when she began filming the Netflix series, while her character Jessica Davis was a high school junior aged 16–17.
How old was Justin Foley in 13 Reasons Why?
- Justin Foley, played by Brandon Flynn, was 17–18 in the show
- Brandon Flynn was 23 at the time of filming (IMDb)
The pattern: the age gap between actors and their teenage characters was typical for the series, with several cast members in their early 20s.
What was Alisha Boe’s age at the start of filming?
- Born March 6, 1997; filming began in 2016 when she was 19 (IMDb)
- Her character Jessica Davis was 16–17 throughout the series
The catch: Boe’s real age allowed her to play a minor while working legally as an adult, a common practice in teen dramas.
Was Alisha Boe in Modern Family?
Yes, Boe appeared in a small role on the sitcom Modern Family early in her career.
What episodes of Modern Family did Alisha Boe appear in?
- Season 3, episode “Treehouse” (2011) – played a school girl (IMDb)
- She also appeared on Parks and Recreation in 2012
Why this matters: these guest spots were stepping stones before her breakout role on Netflix.
What character did she play?
- Uncredited role as a school girl in Modern Family
- Minor role in Parks and Recreation as “Teen Girl” (IMDb)
The trade-off: early roles were brief, but they built the résumé that led to 13 Reasons Why.
What is Alisha Boe’s net worth?
Estimates for Boe’s net worth vary widely, and no verified figure exists. Reliable sources do not disclose her earnings.
How much does Alisha Boe earn per episode?
- No public contract data available
- For 13 Reasons Why, cast salaries were not disclosed, but typical Netflix drama leads earn between $20,000–$100,000 per episode (Kemi Filani)
The inconsistency: Kemi Filani reported $3 million in one article and $4 million in the same piece, showing the lack of reliable data.
What are her main income sources?
- Acting roles in 13 Reasons Why and films like He’s All That
- Social media endorsements (3.1 million Instagram followers)
The implication: net worth figures are speculative; Boe’s primary wealth generator remains her acting career.
Is Alisha Boe mixed?
Yes, Boe is of mixed Norwegian and Somali heritage. Her father is Somali and her mother is Norwegian.
What is Alisha Boe’s ethnicity?
- Norwegian and Somali descent (W Magazine)
- Her father was born in Somalia, her mother in Norway (Crooked Media)
Boe has spoken about the difficulty of finding roles early in her career due to the industry’s lack of inclusivity toward “mixed or ethnically ambiguous or black people” (W Magazine).
Alisha Boe Somali and Norwegian heritage
- She was born in Oslo and raised in Norway until age seven (YouTube interview)
- Her mother remarried an American, and the family moved to Los Angeles (Wikipedia)
The pattern: Boe’s dual heritage is central to her identity and has shaped both her career challenges and advocacy.
Confirmed facts
- Alisha Boe was born on March 6, 1997 in Oslo, Norway (YouTube interview)
- She played Jessica Davis in 13 Reasons Why (Wikipedia)
- She is of Norwegian and Somali descent (Crooked Media, a podcast network)
What’s unclear
- Current relationship status is private (Famous Birthdays, a celebrity database)
- Her mother is named Vibeke, but further family details are not confirmed (IMDb bio)
- Moved to Los Angeles at age seven (Wikipedia)
Quotes
“It was difficult for me to find roles because the industry was not yet inclusive toward mixed or ethnically ambiguous or black people.”
— Alisha Boe, speaking to W Magazine (2018)
Boe has emphasized that it’s important for people to know that you can be from two different places and still be whole, as she told Crooked Media in 2023.
For fans and fact-checkers alike, the takeaway is clear: Boe’s biography is well-documented when it comes to her birth, heritage, and career, but her net worth and romantic life remain private. The implication for readers is that speculative figures should be treated with skepticism, and that Boe’s own words about her identity offer the most reliable insight.
Her journey from Oslo to Hollywood is detailed in a detailed biography of Alisha Boe, offering insights into her personal life and career milestones.
Frequently asked questions
What was Alisha Boe’s first acting role?
Her first credited role was in the 2011 Modern Family episode “Treehouse” as a school girl (IMDb).
How many seasons of 13 Reasons Why was Alisha Boe in?
She appeared in all four seasons of the Netflix series (2017–2020) (IMDb).
What other movies has Alisha Boe been in?
She played Padgett in the 2021 Netflix film He’s All That and had a role in the 2018 film The Assassination of Gianni Versace (IMDb).
Is Alisha Boe also a voice actress?
She voiced a character in the 2020 animated series The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe (IMDb).
Does Alisha Boe speak Somali?
In a 2023 YouTube interview, she said she can understand some Somali but is not fully fluent (YouTube interview).
What is Alisha Boe’s relationship with the cast of 13 Reasons Why?
She remains close friends with several cast members, especially Brandon Flynn, and has spoken warmly about the ensemble (Famous Birthdays).
Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.