Mikey Madison

Mikey Madison Bio

Mikaela Madison Rosberg, known professionally as Mikey Madison, is an American actress born on March 25, 1999, in Los Angeles, California. She first drew attention as a teenager with the FX comedy-drama series Better Things, where she played Max Fox from 2016 to 2022, and later built a reputation through supporting roles in films such as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the Scream franchise. Her career reached its highest point when she starred as the title character in Sean Baker’s Anora, a performance that earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Madison is widely recognized for her range across independent productions and mainstream studio projects.

Early Life and Background

Mikaela Madison Rosberg was born in Los Angeles, California, the third daughter and fourth of five children of Michael and Tracy Rosberg. Both of her parents are psychologists, with her father specializing in schizophrenia and her mother working in child psychology. Madison lived in Santa Clarita, a Los Angeles suburb, during her earliest years before her family moved to the Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, where she was raised in the San Fernando Valley. She is Jewish, although she was raised in a secular household and has described herself as non-religious but a deeply spiritual person.

As a child, Madison trained as a competitive horseback rider before shifting her focus to acting at the age of 14. She was homeschooled after the seventh grade in order to accommodate her early acting commitments. Growing up, she watched films by directors such as Woody Allen, Quentin Tarantino, Sofia Coppola, and Martin Scorsese, a habit that helped shape her cinematic taste. In interviews, she has spoken about social struggles, including difficulty making eye contact and being overstimulated by loud noises.

Path to Acting

Madison began her acting career as a teenager, making her debut in 2013 with the short films Retirement and Pani’s Box. The following year, she appeared in the short film Bound for Greatness and filmed her first feature, Liza, Liza, Skies Are Grey, which would not be released until 2017. These early experiences allowed her to build a foundation in front of the camera and develop a comfort with the rhythms of set life.

Her first major role arrived in 2016, when she was cast as the sullen teenager Max Fox in Better Things, the FX comedy-drama created by Louis C.K. and Pamela Adlon. The series ran until 2022 and gave Madison a steady platform to refine her craft in a long-form television format. During this period, she also guest starred in the Bravo dark comedy series Imposters and appeared in the drama films Monster and Nostalgia, further expanding her range and visibility.

Mikey Madison Career

Early Career (2013–2019)

Madison’s earliest feature role came with Liza, Liza, Skies Are Grey in 2017, marking her official film debut after years of short-form work. She quickly followed that with a memorable supporting turn as Manson Family member Susan “Sadie” Atkins in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and became a major commercial success. The role introduced her to a global audience and placed her within an award-winning ensemble.

In 2019, Madison also lent her voice to the animated black comedy The Addams Family, playing Candi the Barista. These varied projects, ranging from prestige drama to family animation, helped her transition from television newcomer to a versatile film actress ready for larger challenges.

Breakthrough (2020–2024)

In 2020, Madison was cast as Amber Freeman in Scream, the fifth installment of the Scream franchise, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Released in 2022, the film was both a critical and commercial hit, ranking as the 28th-highest-grossing film of its year. Critics singled her out as a standout, noting her ability to hold her own within a seasoned horror ensemble. She also appeared in a supporting role in the 2024 miniseries Lady in the Lake.

Madison’s defining moment arrived with Sean Baker’s Anora, in which she played the titular stripper and sex worker. Baker cast her without an audition after watching her performances in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Scream, and he wrote the character specifically for her. To prepare, Madison studied Russian, performed her own stunts, learned pole dancing, and temporarily relocated to Brighton Beach, the neighborhood where the film is set. The film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d’Or, and Madison’s performance drew widespread praise. Reviewers highlighted her Brooklyn accent, her brash yet charming presence, and her ability to anchor a demanding lead role.

Notable Works and Milestones

Madison’s signature work, Anora, earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, in addition to nominations for a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award in the same category. She became the first person from Generation Z to win an acting Oscar, a milestone that underscored her rapid ascent within the industry. In March 2025, she guest hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live, further cementing her presence in mainstream entertainment.

Mikey Madison Award Nominations

Mikey Madison has received nominations from several major industry bodies in recognition of her performance in Anora. These include a nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama at the Golden Globe Awards and a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. She has also earned three Critics’ Choice Award nominations and two Actor Award nominations across her career, reflecting sustained recognition from critics and peers alike.

Mikey Madison Awards Won

Madison’s portrayal of Anora brought her two of the most prestigious awards in film. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2024, becoming the first member of Generation Z to win an acting Oscar. She also won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the same performance, marking her as one of the most celebrated actresses of her generation.

Mikey Madison Family

Madison was born into a family of five children, with two older sisters and two brothers, one of whom is her twin. Her parents, Michael and Tracy Rosberg, are both psychologists, and the family is based in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. Her upbringing in a household of mental health professionals shaped a thoughtful environment that influenced her early development as a performer.

Personal Life

Madison continues to live in her native Los Angeles. She is a vegan and has adopted a dog named Jam. Madison does not use social media, explaining in interviews that it does not feel authentic or natural to her and that she prefers to remain unaware of online commentary for the sake of her mental health. She has described herself as a very sensitive person who values privacy and a grounded lifestyle outside of her public career.