All About Shannon Gisela, Star of Peacock's M.I.A. Drama Show (Her TV and Movie Roles)
Learn more about the star of M.I.A. and what she's done before the Florida-set series.
Even if you didn't know her before the premiere of Peacock's new crime drama series, M.I.A., you'll likely be hearing a lot more about Shannon Gisela soon.
The actress has the starring role on the show as Etta Tiger Jonze, a character who's as intriguing as she is whip-smart.
As the synopsis of M.I.A. details, Etta is "restless in the Florida Keys," and, "When her family’s drug-running business shatters in tragedy, however, Etta embarks on a dangerous journey through Miami’s neon-lit underbelly that will define who she is and what she’s ultimately capable of."
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And the actress who brings Etta to life deserves all the credit for the character's fierceness and vulnerability.
The casting director and creative team looked at more than 300 submissions for Etta. "We saw so many wonderful actors," M.I.A.'s showrunner Karen Campbell said in the production notes for the series. "It all came down to answering the question, 'Is she Etta?' And it was clear from Shannon Gisela's essence and grit that she had exactly what the role required."
Keep reading to learn more about the star of M.I.A., which debuts Thursday, May 7 on Peacock!
Who is Shannon Gisela and what TV shows and films has she been in?
Like her character Etta in M.I.A., Gisela is a South Florida native. The actress has a background in improv comedy, and even won a 2024 SNL x UCB Scholarship, offered through a collaboration between the Upright Citizens Brigade and Saturday Night Live.
In addition to starring in shorts like her debut project, Pizza Girl (2019), and Movie Night (2022), Gisela has also appeared in multiple made-for-TV movies, like Dose (2022) and Her Study of a Killer (2023).
In Strip Law, an animated sitcom for adults that debuted in February of 2026, Gisela voices main character Irene Gumb alongside other featured actors including Adam Scott of Parks and Recreation fame.
Gisela's role as Etta in M.I.A. is her first starring role in a major series.
Join Gisela on the adventure of a lifetime as Etta Tiger Jonze when M.I.A. premieres May 7 on Peacock. All nine episodes drop simultaneously, so you can watch it any pace you desire!
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In addition to Gisela, other series regulars include Cary Elwes, Danay Garcia, Brittany Adebumola, Dylan Jackson, Alberto Guerra, Maurice Compte, Gerardo Celasco, and Marta Milans.
