In 2025, a relatively unknown actress named Mikey Madison took Hollywood by storm when she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Anora. Overnight, search queries about her age, ethnicity, and filmography surged. This article compiles verified facts from multiple reliable sources to give you a complete, neutral biography of the rising star.
Mikey Madison is an American actress who first gained attention playing Max Fox on FX’s Better Things and later appeared in major films like Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the 2022 reboot of Scream. But it was her portrayal of a young sex worker in Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or-winning Anora that catapulted her to international fame and earned her the highest honors in cinema.
Who Is Mikey Madison?
Born Mikaela Madison Rosberg on March 25, 1999, in Los Angeles, California, Mikey Madison grew up in a secular Jewish household with psychologist parents. She has a twin brother and originally pursued competitive horseback riding before turning to acting. Her professional name omits her surname, and she is known for keeping her personal life private.
| Full Name | Known As | Age | Key Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mikaela Madison Rosberg | Mikey Madison | 26 (born March 25, 1999) | Academy Award (2025), BAFTA (2025) |
- Mikey Madison is an American actress who rose to prominence after starring in Sean Baker’s Anora, winning the 2025 Academy Award for Best Actress.
- She is known for her role in the Scream franchise and has a diverse filmography spanning indie and mainstream films.
- Her ethnicity is often discussed online; she is of mixed European descent (including Russian ancestry) but has not publicly detailed her full background.
- Despite her Oscar win, she maintains a relatively private personal life and limited social media presence.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | March 25, 1999, Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Profession | Actress |
| Years Active | 2015–present |
| Notable Works | Anora, Scream (2022), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Better Things |
| Academy Award | Best Actress for Anora (2025) |
| Instagram Followers | ~95K (@mikeysmadisson) |
How Old Is Mikey Madison and What Is Her Ethnicity?
Age and Birthdate
Mikey Madison was born on March 25, 1999, making her 26 years old as of 2026. While some older or miscorrected sources list her as 25 or 27, her verified birth date consistently points to her current age. She was born and raised in Los Angeles.
Ethnic Background
Public records describe her as of Ashkenazi Jewish descent on her mother’s side. One biography indicates her ancestry is three-quarters Ashkenazi Jewish and one-quarter British Isles. Her father has roots that include Russian ancestry, which sometimes leads to the question “Is Mikey Madison Russian?” She is American by birth and nationality, but her heritage includes Eastern European elements. She was raised in a secular household, according to multiple profiles.
Precise percentages of her ethnic composition are not publicly verified by Madison herself. The Russian connection often cited in online discussions stems from her father’s side, but she has not issued a detailed statement about her full background.
What Movies and TV Shows Has Mikey Madison Starred In?
Early Career and Breakout on Television
Madison began acting in short films in 2013. Her first significant role came as Max Fox on the FX series Better Things (2016–2022), created by Pamela Adlon. That show ran for five seasons and gave Madison her first sustained exposure to a wide audience.
Transition to Film
In 2019, she played Sadie / “Susan” Atkins, a member of the Manson Family, in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Two years later, she took on the role of Amber Freeman, one of the Ghostface killers, in the 2022 horror film Scream.
The Defining Role: Anora
In 2024, Madison starred as the title character Ani in Sean Baker’s Anora. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, won the Palme d’Or, and Madison’s performance received universal acclaim. This role earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress and a BAFTA, along with nominations for the Golden Globe and SAG Award.
Madison’s performance in Anora is often described as raw and unflinching. Critics highlighted her ability to shift between vulnerability and resilience, a quality that set her apart from other contenders during awards season.
Did Mikey Madison Win an Oscar?
Yes. Mikey Madison won the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 97th Academy Awards in 2025 for her role in Anora. She also won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role that same year. According to IMDb, her total career awards and nominations stand at 61 wins and 47 nominations.
While her Oscar win was widely celebrated, some online discussions questioned whether she “deserved” it over other nominees. Nevertheless, the Academy and BAFTA voters gave her the top honors, and her performance in Anora remains the defining achievement of her career to date.
What Are the Key Milestones in Mikey Madison’s Career?
- 1999 – Born as Mikaela Madison Rosberg in Los Angeles.
- 2015 – Began acting with small roles in short films.
- 2017 – Cast as a recurring character in the TV series Better Things.
- 2019 – Appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
- 2022 – Played a lead role in the horror film Scream.
- 2024 – Starred as Ani in Sean Baker’s Anora, receiving critical acclaim.
- 2025 – Won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Anora.
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About Mikey Madison?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Mikey Madison’s date of birth (March 25, 1999) and birthplace (Los Angeles). | Her exact ethnic background: She has stated her mother is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and her father has Russian and other European roots, but precise composition is not publicly verified. |
| Her Oscar win for Anora in 2025. | Whether she will continue in horror or pursue other genres. |
| Her filmography includes Scream, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Better Things. | Details of her personal relationships (she keeps private life guarded). |
What Does Mikey Madison’s Rise Say About Hollywood?
Mikey Madison’s rapid ascent from indie television to an Oscar-winning lead exemplifies a shift in award patterns that increasingly favor breakout performances in auteur-driven films. Her ethnicity discourse also reflects a broader public interest in the backgrounds of new stars. Madison’s ability to stay private while achieving mainstream success is unusual in an era of constant social media exposure, and it adds to her mystique.
Where Do These Facts Come From?
“Mikaela Madison Rosberg (born March 25, 1999), known professionally as Mikey Madison, is an American actress. Her accolades include an Academy Award and a BAFTA.”
“A shy ‘lone wolf’, Mikey Madison is taking awards season by storm.”
“She is a fantastic actor and I expect she will deliver an amazing performance. And I don’t care what anyone says, she did deserve to win an [Oscar].”
– Reddit (r/Actors)
What Is Mikey Madison’s Story?
From horseback riding in Los Angeles to holding an Oscar statuette, Mikey Madison’s journey is a testament to the power of a single, authentic performance. She has no confirmed upcoming projects as of early 2025, but speculation points toward possible collaborations with Sean Baker again or roles in prestige dramas. For similar rising stars, see Adria Arjona Movies and TV Shows – Full Filmography Guide and Juliette Lewis – Biography, Movies, Net Worth and Personal Life for more profiles of actresses navigating the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mikey Madison’s Instagram handle?
Her Instagram is @mikeysmadisson with about 95K followers.
Is Mikey Madison Russian?
She has Russian ancestry on her father’s side, but she is American-born and identifies as American.
What was Mikey Madison’s role in Scream?
She played Amber Freeman, one of the Ghostface killers, in the 2022 film Scream.
How many movies has Mikey Madison been in?
She has appeared in over 10 films and TV series, with major roles in Anora, Scream, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and the TV show Better Things.
Did Mikey Madison win a BAFTA?
Yes, she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Anora in 2025.
What is Mikey Madison’s real name?
Her full birth name is Mikaela Madison Rosberg.
How tall is Mikey Madison?
She is about 5′ 3½″ (1.61 m) tall.
Was Mikey Madison in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood?
Yes, she played Sadie / “Susan” Atkins in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film.
Does Mikey Madison have a twin brother?
According to some biographical profiles, she has siblings including a twin brother.
What awards has Mikey Madison won for Anora?
She won the Academy Award for Best Actress and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress, and was nominated for a Golden Globe and a SAG Award.
Jack Thomas Clarke Thompson is a staff writer for PopCultureDaily.co.uk, covering entertainment news, film, television, streaming and celebrity culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Harriet Winslow and Managing Editor Lucas Bennett, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.