Ruth Codd did not begin her acting career through drama school or years of auditions. She was working as a barber and makeup artist when the COVID-19 pandemic pushed her toward TikTok — and that unexpected move eventually led to her first professional acting role.
Ruth Codd’s Early Life in Ireland
Ruth Codd was born on June 13, 1996, in Wexford, Ireland. Public biographical records identify her as an Irish actress, although much of her early public profile came from her work outside traditional entertainment.
Before becoming known internationally, Codd worked as a professional makeup artist and barber. Her career changed dramatically during the pandemic, when lockdown restrictions affected her work and gave her more time to create online content.
The TikTok Breakthrough
Codd started posting on TikTok in 2020. Her videos mixed comedy, observations about everyday life and candid discussions about disability.
TikTok’s own 2021 creator profile reported that she had already accumulated more than 672,000 followers and 20.5 million likes within roughly a year. Her content included humorous sketches, lockdown experiences and disability-awareness posts.
That audience became important for a reason Codd could not have predicted at the time. Her TikTok presence eventually attracted the attention of people involved in casting for Netflix.
RTÉ later reported that she was discovered through TikTok by a Netflix casting agent for The Midnight Club.
Why Ruth Codd Lost Her Leg
One of the most important parts of Codd’s public story predates TikTok.
According to TikTok’s official creator profile and interviews with Codd, she broke her foot when she was 15. The injury developed into long-term complications, including non-healing ulcers and repeated medical treatment. At 23, she ultimately underwent an amputation below the right knee.
Codd later spoke publicly about disability and the experience of becoming an amputee. Her openness became a recurring part of her online work rather than something she attempted to hide.
Her story also became directly relevant to her first acting role.
How Ruth Codd Got The Midnight Club Role
Codd made her professional acting debut as Anya in Netflix’s The Midnight Club, released in 2022. Netflix describes Anya as a lower-leg amputee and wheelchair user, while IMDb lists Codd among the show’s principal cast.
The casting was unusual because Codd had no established professional acting career before the series. Her route into the production came through social media rather than the conventional acting pipeline.
In a Teen Vogue interview, Codd discussed the transition from TikTok creator to actor and the challenges of filming her first role. She also explained that aspects of her own experience informed her understanding of Anya.
There is no need to assume that Codd’s real life and Anya’s fictional story are identical. They are not. The confirmed connection is that both characters are amputees, while the character’s history belongs to the fictional world of The Midnight Club.
From Anya to Juno Usher
Codd’s first acting role was not a one-off appearance.
She next worked with filmmaker Mike Flanagan on The Fall of the House of Usher, Netflix’s 2023 horror miniseries. Codd played Juno Usher, the younger wife of Roderick Usher. Netflix’s official cast guide confirms the role and identifies The Midnight Club among her previous credits.
The progression was striking. Within a few years, Codd had moved from posting short videos during lockdown to appearing in major Netflix productions.
IMDb also credits her with appearances in Creepshow and The Dry, showing that her career continued expanding beyond the two Netflix projects.
Ruth Codd’s Move Into Film
Codd later moved beyond television and streaming series.
IMDb credits her as Phlegma in the 2025 film How to Train Your Dragon. The role marked another step away from the social-media career that originally brought her public attention.
Her career has therefore followed an unusual timeline: barber and makeup artist, TikTok creator, first-time actor, television performer and then film performer.
What Is Actually Confirmed About Ruth Codd?
The basic career story is well documented. Codd is from Wexford, worked as a barber and makeup artist, became widely known through TikTok during the pandemic, and was subsequently cast in The Midnight Club.
Her amputation and disability advocacy are also documented through interviews and TikTok’s own creator profile. Her acting credits are independently recorded by Netflix and IMDb.
Claims about private aspects of Codd’s life should be treated differently. Unless she has publicly confirmed a detail herself or it is supported by a reliable source, it should not be presented as established fact.
The Mystery Behind Ruth Codd’s Rise
Ruth Codd’s story is less about a carefully planned celebrity launch and more about an unexpected career change.
She began sharing videos online after circumstances disrupted her work. The audience came first. Acting came later.
That distinction explains why Codd’s rise attracted so much attention. Her path from Wexford barber and TikTok creator to Netflix actress was not built around a traditional Hollywood introduction. It happened because casting professionals noticed what she was already doing online.
The main mystery, then, is no longer how Ruth Codd became famous. The public record provides a clear answer: TikTok opened the door, and The Midnight Club gave her the opportunity to walk through it.