Mikey Madison: Biography, Age, Movies, Career, and Oscar Win

Mikey Madison spent her childhood around horses, not film sets. Today she is an Oscar winner.

The American actress first caught attention as Max Fox on the FX series Better Things. She then moved into film with roles in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood and Scream. Her biggest moment came with Anora, the Sean Baker film that earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress.

This guide covers her age, family, early life, career, awards, and what comes next. It also answers the questions people search most, including whether she has a twin brother and whether she is on social media.

Mikey Madison at a Glance

Early Life and Childhood

Where Was Mikey Madison Born?

Madison was born Mikaela Madison Rosberg on March 25, 1999, in Los Angeles, California. She uses her middle name, Madison, as her professional surname.

She lived in Santa Clarita for the first few years of her life. Her family then moved to the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles.

Her Family Background and Siblings

Her parents, Michael and Tracy, are both psychologists. Madison has said she is the only actor in the family.

She grew up in a big household. Reports describe two older sisters, a twin brother named Miles, and a younger brother. Yes, the rumor about the twin brother is true.

One family detail stands out. According to her biography, her grandmother's cousin was Clarence Hailey Long Jr., a Texas cowboy who appeared on the cover of Life magazine in 1949. That image helped inspire the Marlboro Man.

Growing Up in California's San Fernando Valley

Madison grew up in the San Fernando Valley, the suburban stretch of Los Angeles just over the hills from Hollywood. She has described her early years as quiet and a little rural, with dirt roads and animals nearby.

She was a shy child. Acting was not the obvious path for her.

Her Childhood Passion for Horseback Riding

Before acting, there were horses. Madison trained as a competitive rider, a passion that ran in the family. She has said her grandmother and mother both rode.

She loved the routine of caring for her horse. She also found the sport isolating, and that feeling pushed her to look for something that connected her more closely to other people.

Homeschooling and Her Decision to Pursue Acting

Madison was homeschooled after seventh grade so she could spend her days at the barn. At about 14, she switched her focus to acting. She has said she wanted to feel something deeper and more emotional than riding gave her.

Her father's love of classic films helped plant the idea. Her mother's first reaction was worry, since her daughter was so shy. Madison went ahead anyway.

How Mikey Madison Started Her Acting Career

Her First Short Films and Early Roles

Like many young actors, she started small. Madison began with short films as a teenager, building experience without the pressure of a big studio set.

Those early years taught her to work with limited time and tight budgets. Directors who love fast, instinct-driven acting tend to notice actors with that background.

Her Feature Film Debut

Her first feature credits came around 2018, with roles in smaller films such as Nostalgia. These were not star-making parts, but they put her on casting directors' radar. In 2019, she also voiced Candi the Barista in the animated film The Addams Family.

How She Built Her Career as a Young Actress

Madison's rise was steady rather than sudden. A television role gave her years of regular work. A Quentin Tarantino film gave her visibility. A horror franchise gave her a mainstream audience.

She also showed a taste for risky, unusual characters. That choice paid off when a director was looking for someone who could carry a film on her own.

Mikey Madison in Better Things

Playing Max Fox in the FX Series

Madison played Max Fox, the oldest daughter in a loud, loving, chaotic family, on Better Things from 2016 to 2022. She joined at 17 and grew up on screen across five seasons.

Max was sharp, funny, and often frustrated. The role let Madison play teenage anger and tenderness in the same scene.

Working With Pamela Adlon

Pamela Adlon created the show, starred in it as single mom Sam Fox, and directed many episodes. Working beside an actor-director who knows the craft from both sides is a rare training ground for a young performer.

How Better Things Helped Her Gain Recognition

The series was praised for its honest look at family life, and Madison's performance was part of that. It gave her six years of steady work and a growing reputation among casting directors. Her later film roles built on that foundation.

Mikey Madison's Breakthrough Movie Roles

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

In 2019, Madison appeared in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood as Sadie, a member of the Manson Family. The cast was packed with famous names. Her role was small but memorable, and it landed her a major film role at a young age.

Playing Amber Freeman in Scream

In the 2022 film Scream, she played Amber Freeman, a seemingly friendly character whose real nature drives the story. The part gave her a big, mainstream audience, and it also caught the eye of a filmmaker who would change her career.

How Her Early Roles Showcased Her Acting Range

Look at the path: a teen daughter on a family comedy-drama, a cult follower in a Tarantino film, and a horror villain. Few actors move between those worlds so easily.

That range is a trait she shares with other character-driven actors, such as Paul Walter Hauser, who has moved between comedy, true crime, and drama.

Mikey Madison in Anora

What Is Anora About?

Anora is a 2024 film written and directed by Sean Baker. It follows Ani, a young sex worker from Brooklyn who marries the son of a wealthy Russian businessman. When his family finds out, the fairy tale falls apart fast.

The film starts as a comedy, shifts into chaos, and ends with a quiet, painful scene. It is funny, tense, and sad in the same sitting.

Mikey Madison's Role as Ani

Madison plays Ani, who also goes by Anora. Ani is tough, quick-witted, and guarded. Madison's performance shows the person behind the armor, especially in the final scene.

It was her first leading role in a feature film.

How Sean Baker Chose Her for Anora

Baker reportedly wrote the part with Madison in mind after seeing her work. Variety later reported that Anora was the first film she did not need to audition for.

That is a big vote of trust for an actress who had not yet carried a movie.

How Mikey Madison Prepared for Her Role

Madison has spoken about how much work went into Ani. Here is what has been reported.

Learning Russian for the Character

Parts of the film are in Russian, so she studied the language to make those scenes feel natural.

Pole-Dancing Training and Physical Preparation

She trained in pole dancing so the dance scenes looked real. The goal was to show Ani's job as skilled work, not as a gimmick.

Researching the Character and Her Environment

She spent time learning about the world Ani works in. She has said she wanted Ani's job to feel realistic but not to be her whole identity.

Anora's Cannes Film Festival Premiere and Success

Anora premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 and won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize. That win made it an awards-season favorite and made Madison's name one to watch.

Mikey Madison's Oscar Win and Awards

Winning the Academy Award for Best Actress

On March 2, 2025, Madison won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Anora. She was 25. The film won five Oscars that night, including Best Picture and Best Director for Sean Baker.

Her fellow nominees were Cynthia Erivo, Karla Sofía Gascón, Fernanda Torres, and Demi Moore.

Why Her Oscar Win Was Significant

Many people expected Demi Moore to win, so the result was widely called a surprise. It was also a big moment for a young actress who had never been a household name.

Early Oscar success is rare but not unheard of. Matt Damon, for example, won an Academy Award for co-writing Good Will Hunting in his twenties.

A year later, Madison returned to the 2026 ceremony to present the Best Actress award, following the tradition that the previous winner hands it to the next.

Her BAFTA Award and Other Major Honors

Madison also won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in February 2025. She won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Performance and earned a Golden Globe nomination for the same role.

How Anora Changed Her Career

After Anora, offers poured in. She reportedly turned down a part in a new Star Wars film. She then picked projects with strong directors and unusual stories, which fit the choices she has always made.

Mikey Madison's Movies and TV Shows

Movie Filmography: Key Roles

This table lists her best-known film roles. It is not a complete list of every credit, including short films.

Television Shows and Notable Roles

Her main television credit is Better Things (2016–2022), where she played Max Fox. It remains the longest-running role of her career so far.

Upcoming Movies and Confirmed Projects

• The Social Reckoning: Aaron Sorkin's companion piece to The Social Network. Madison plays Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, with Jeremy Allen White as reporter Jeff Horwitz. Sony set the release for October 9, 2026.
• The Masque of the Red Death: An A24 take on Edgar Allan Poe's story, directed by Charlie Polinger. Madison was reported to be taking the lead, and she mentioned the project in 2026.
• Reptilia: A thriller reportedly co-starring Kirsten Dunst and directed by Alejandro Landes.

Project details can change, so check official announcements before relying on release dates.

Mikey Madison's Personal Life

Her Parents, Siblings, and Family Background

Her parents, Michael and Tracy, are psychologists. She has described how that background shaped her interest in understanding people, which she brings to her characters. Her siblings include twin brother Miles, two older sisters, and a younger brother.

Her Heritage and Personal Interests

Madison was raised by Jewish parents but not in a strictly observant home. She has called herself a spiritual person. Beyond that, she shares few personal details.

Is Mikey Madison Married or Dating Anyone?

There is no reliable public information about a marriage or relationship. She keeps her romantic life private, so any claim you see online should be treated as a rumor unless she confirms it.

Does Mikey Madison Have Instagram or Other Social Media Accounts?

She is widely known for staying away from social media. Fan accounts and imitation pages exist, so be careful before following anyone who claims to be her. Her official updates tend to come through her publicists and film promotion.

Her Hobbies and Love of Animals

Horses are still part of her story. She often talks about her love of animals and her years in the saddle. She has also spoken about her father's love of classic films, which helped her fall for the movies.

Mikey Madison's Net Worth and Career Earnings

What Is Mikey Madison's Estimated Net Worth?

No reliable source has published a verified net worth for Madison. Many websites list guesses, but these are estimates with no clear basis, so this article does not repeat them.

Her Career Growth and Professional Opportunities

What we can say is that her opportunities have grown a lot. Before Anora, she was a working actress. After that, she is an Oscar winner who is being offered lead roles and working with major directors.

Conclusion: Mikey Madison's Journey to Hollywood Success

Madison's path was not a straight line. She went from horse barns to short films, from a family series to a Tarantino set, and from a horror sequel to a Palme d'Or winner.

Anora is the center of that story. It gave her a leading role, an Oscar, a BAFTA, and the freedom to choose her projects. With The Social Reckoning out and The Masque of the Red Death ahead, the next chapter looks just as bold.

If you want to see her range for yourself, start with Better Things, then watch Anora.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mikey Madison

What Is Mikey Madison's Real Name?

Her birth name is Mikaela Madison Rosberg. Mikey Madison is her professional name.

How Old Is Mikey Madison?

She was born on March 25, 1999, which makes her 27 as of October 2026.

What Is Mikey Madison Famous For?

She is best known for playing Ani in Anora, for which she won the Best Actress Oscar. She is also known for Better Things, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, and Scream.

What Movie Did Mikey Madison Win an Oscar For?

She won for Anora at the 97th Academy Awards in March 2025.

Who Does Mikey Madison Play in Scream?

She plays Amber Freeman in the 2022 film.

Does Mikey Madison Have a Twin Brother?

Yes. Her twin brother is named Miles.

Is Mikey Madison Active on Social Media?

Not in any way she has publicly confirmed. She is known for keeping a low profile online.

What Is Mikey Madison's Latest Movie?

Her latest film is The Social Reckoning, in which she plays Frances Haugen. It was scheduled for release on October 9, 2026.