[citation needed] O'Briant began her on-screen career aged eight when she appeared in the film Shark Lake alongside Dolph Lundgren.

[4] She portrayed Carly Gray, the daughter of Clint, a black market dealer played by Lundgren, responsible for releasing a dangerous shark into Lake Tahoe.

[18][19] Later that year, O'Briant recorded remotely for the award-winning musical The Perfect Fit, appearing alongside Laura Benanti and others in Joshua Turchin's production.

[20] In 2021, she landed the lead role on the Apple TV+ original series Life By Ella, premiering on September 2, 2022.

[1][2] The story centers on teenager, Ella McCaffrey, returning to middle school after battling cancer and her new found determination to live a more fearless life.