Who is the new Lisa on Bel-Air? Character role explored

Bel-Air reimagines the 1990s The Fresh Prince with a modern-day setting, a darker tone and a new cast. The Peacock exclusive debuted in February 2022 and is now in its third season.

It follows the journey of a street-smart teenager, Will Smith, who experienced a whiplash-inducing change in life when moving from the streets of Philly to the rich, gated neighborhood of Bel-Air.

While living with his wealthy extended family, the Banks, in one of Los Angeles's wealthiest suburbs, Will navigates conflicts and biases in a world that's far from the one he has ever known.

Will Smith is played by Jabari Banks, while Simone Joy Jones shines as the new Lisa Wilkes, Will's love interest, in the series.

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Who plays the role of Lisa Wilkes in Bel-Air?

Simone Joy Jones brings Lisa Wilkes to life in the reimagined Will Smith sitcom from the 1990s.

She made her debut in the acting scene by playing the young Vicky in the 2011 film The Son of No One. She went on to take small roles in TV shows like The Chair (2021) and American Rust (2021).

Jones also joined the cast of the Prime Video teen romantic comedy Anything's Possible before bagging a significant role in the comedy Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, where she played the role of Tanya Crandell.

After that, she was cast to play Lisa Wilkes in Bel-Air, the character of Will Smith's love interest, which Nia Long played in NBC's The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

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What is Lisa's story in Bel-Air?

Lisa is a student at the Bel-Air Academy in the series, but unlike most of the wealthy kids in their school, she's there on scholarship. She's also Will's cousin Carlton's ex-girlfriend, and when Will first arrived in the LA neighborhood from Philly, she was one of the first ones to befriend him.

She's close to the Banks family, so her meeting with Will would have happened eventually, as Will is staying at the Banks mansion. They first met during a fundraiser at the Bankses and made an impression after she admired Will's fashion sense — a suit paired with some kicks. She also ran into him at the Academy while she was doing laps in the pool.

Their relationship grew after she helped clear Will's name after he had a fight with Carlton, who told their schoolmates that Will had assaulted him, putting herself in front of criticism because of her past with Carlton.

Although they have shared a lot of their lives with each other, some secrets also remain, including the real reason why Will moved away from Philly. They kiss and made up after several misunderstandings and also have a break-up because her father doesn't like Will.

In the latest episodes of Bel-Air, which is now in its third season, Lisa is working as a lifeguard in the country club where Will is also working while getting his new lifestyle business with Carlton up and running.

After her jealous tirade about Jackie, Will and Lisa made their relationship official again.

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Along with Simone Joy Jones, the series has picked an array of new and seasoned talented actors in its cast.

It included Jabari Banks to play Will Smith, Cassandra Freeman as Vivian Banks, Adrian Holmes as Philip Banks, Olly Sholotan as Carlton Banks, Coco Jones playing Hilary Banks, Akira Akbar as Ashley Banks and Jimmy Akingbola in the role of Geoffrey Thompson.

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Stay tuned for more news and updates on Bel-Air and new releases of favorite TV shows as 2024 progresses.