J. Smith-Cameron, best known for playing Gerri Kellman on HBO’s Succession, is joining the world of Elsbeth. She will appear as a guest star in the third season of the CBS mystery series. Smith-Cameron will play Isadora, nicknamed Izzy, the director of New York’s most elite debutante ball.
The new episode featuring Smith-Cameron, titled “A Hard Nut to Crack,” airs on December 18, 2025. The official social media account for Elsbeth welcomed the actress to the set, with fans quickly expressing their excitement for her arrival.
Who Is J. Smith-Cameron Playing on Elsbeth?
Smith-Cameron’s character, Izzy, is described as the queen bee of Manhattan high society. Her story is driven by a personal quest for payback.
The official plot details explain: “When the father of a current deb turns out to be the man who humiliated Izzy at her own introduction to society, this Queen Bee of Manhattan society takes her meticulously planned revenge”.
This means a father involved in his daughter’s high-society debut is the same person who embarrassed Izzy years ago at her own debutante ball. Now in a position of power, she plans to get even.
J. Smith-Cameron’s Career and Upcoming Projects
J. Smith-Cameron earned two Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, and a Critics Choice Award nomination for her role as the sharp corporate lawyer Gerri Kellman on Succession. She was also part of the show’s cast when it won two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Ensemble.
Her other recent television work includes roles in Murdaugh: A Death in the Family, Hacks, and Search Party. She is also set to star in the upcoming FX series Seven Sisters, where she will play the family matriarch opposite Anthony Edwards.
Inside the Episode “A Hard Nut to Crack”
The episode featuring Smith-Cameron mixes her debutante ball storyline with a deadly case in the world of New York ballet. The main plot follows Elsbeth as she investigates a murder during a radical choreographer’s rehearsal for The Nutcracker.
This will be a guest-star appearance, not a recurring role. The structure of Elsbeth often focuses on a single case per episode, with the audience usually knowing the murderer’s identity from the start. The intrigue comes from watching Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth piece the mystery together.
Elsbeth’s Popular Guest Star Tradition
Elsbeth has built a reputation for featuring well-known actors in guest roles. Smith-Cameron joins a long list of stars who have appeared on the show, including:
- Matthew Broderick
- Nathan Lane
- Alan Ruck
- Jane Krakowski
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Earlier in the third season, viewers saw Julia Fox play a New York City “grief influencer” and Stephen Colbert appear as a late-night talk show host. This tradition of casting celebrated actors in colorful, case-specific roles is a signature part of the series.
Where to Watch Elsbeth Season 3
Elsbeth is a spinoff from the popular series The Good Wife and The Good Fight. The show stars Carrie Preston as the quirky and clever attorney Elsbeth Tascioni, a role for which she previously won an Emmy Award. The third season premiered on October 12, 2025, and new episodes air on CBS.
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