Mikey Madison – Biography, Age, Movies & Oscar Win

At 26, Mikey Madison has accomplished what most actors spend decades pursuing: an Academy Award. Born Mikaela Madison Rosberg on March 25, 1999, in Los Angeles, California, she grew up in the San Fernando Valley, raised by two psychologist parents. Her father also works as a psychiatrist.

Madison was homeschooled after seventh grade and started acting professionally in 2013, after her mother enrolled her in acting classes. Before that, she was a horseback rider — a detail that contrasts sharply with the gritty, emotionally demanding roles that later defined her career.

Her professional name, Mikey Madison, is now linked to one of the most celebrated independent film performances of the decade. But the path from short films to Oscar gold was neither accidental nor overnight.

Who is Mikey Madison?

Key insights about Mikey Madison

• She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2025 for her role as Ani in Sean Baker’s Anora.
• Her first major TV role was as Maxine “Max” Fox on the FX comedy-drama Better Things (2016–2022).
• Her ancestry is 75% Ashkenazi Jewish (with roots in Poland, Lithuania, Russia, and Germany) and 25% British Isles (English and Scots-Irish).
• She is the twin sister of Miles Rosberg and has three other siblings, including a younger brother named Holden.
• Madison maintains a relatively low-key social media presence, with around 96,000 followers on Instagram.
• Sean Baker wrote Anora specifically for her after seeing her performance in Scream (2022).

Mikey Madison at a glance

What movies and TV shows has Mikey Madison starred in?

Madison’s filmography, while still relatively compact, spans independent cinema, horror blockbusters, and award-winning television. Her breakout film role came in 2019 when she played Sadie Atkins in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. That same year, she was already a familiar face to TV audiences thanks to her main role on Better Things.

Film career

Her feature film debut was the starring role in Liza, Liza, Skies Are Grey (2017). In 2022, she played Amber Freeman in Scream, a role that drew critical acclaim — Biography.com described her character as a “ranting paranoiac,” and the performance caught the attention of director Sean Baker.

Baker wrote Anora specifically for Madison after watching her in Scream. To prepare for the titular role of Ani, she trained with exotic dancing expert Kennady Schneider and moved to New York to perfect a Brooklyn accent. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024 and won the Palme d’Or.

Television work

Her first major television role was Maxine “Max” Fox on FX’s Better Things, created by Pamela Adlon. She appeared on the show from 2016 to 2022. Earlier, she made brief appearances on the drama Imposters (2017–2018) as a younger version of the character played by Inbar Lavi. In 2025, she hosted Saturday Night Live in an episode titled “Mikey Madison/Morgan Wallen.”

Short films and voice work

Madison began her career with short film roles as a teenager. She also voiced Candi the Barista in The Addams Family (2022). Her filmography includes less than ten feature film credits as of early 2025, a number that makes her Oscar win all the more remarkable.

Did Mikey Madison win an Oscar?

Yes. Mikey Madison won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2025 for her performance in Anora. She also won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role that same year. The film itself won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, with Madison’s performance widely singled out as a highlight.

Her Oscar win at age 25 or 26 (depending on the date of the ceremony relative to her birthday) places her among the youngest winners of the Best Actress category. The award also signals a broader shift in the industry’s recognition of independent, non-studio productions at the highest level.

Where can I find Mikey Madison on Instagram?

Mikey Madison’s official Instagram handle is @mikeysmadisson. She uses the platform to share behind-the-scenes content from her projects, including promotional material for Anora. Her follower count is relatively modest for an Oscar winner, hovering around 96,000, which aligns with her self-described preference for privacy.

Madison has been described in a Hollywood Authentic interview as a shy “lone wolf” who is navigating awards season with a deliberate avoidance of overexposure. Her social media presence reflects that approach — infrequent posts, little personal detail, and a focus on professional updates.

How did Mikey Madison’s career progress over time?

1. 2013 — First short film roles, including Posing with My Family.
2. 2016–2021 — Recurring role as Maxine “Max” Fox on FX’s Better Things.
3. 2019 — Supporting role as Sadie Atkins in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
4. 2022 — Played Amber Freeman in Scream; performance earns critical praise.
5. 2024 — Starred as Ani in Sean Baker’s Anora; film premieres at Cannes and wins Palme d’Or.
6. 2025 — Won Academy Award for Best Actress and BAFTA Award for Best Actress for Anora; hosted Saturday Night Live.

What facts about Mikey Madison are confirmed versus speculative?

Why is Mikey Madison’s Oscar win significant?

Madison’s rapid rise from short films to an Academy Award is uncommon in modern Hollywood. Her career path — indie shorts, a Tarantino film, a horror franchise, and then a Sean Baker-led independent feature — mirrors the trajectories of actors who have built careers outside the studio system. Her Oscar win in 2025 for Anora underscores a growing recognition of non-studio productions at the Academy Awards.

At 26, with fewer than ten feature film credits, Madison represents a generation of actors whose breakthrough moments arrive earlier than the industry historical average. Her performance in Anora was praised for its raw energy and emotional depth, and the film’s Palme d’Or win at Cannes foreshadowed the awards success that followed. According to Elle, Baker wrote the role specifically for her after being struck by her work in Scream.

Madison’s selective interview schedule and minimal social media footprint suggest a deliberate strategy to maintain creative focus rather than celebrity visibility. That approach, combined with her rapid ascent, has generated significant curiosity about her next career move.

Which sources provide reliable information about Mikey Madison?

“A shy ‘lone wolf’, Mikey Madison is taking awards season by storm.”

— Hollywood Authentic interview

“Mikaela ‘Mikey’ Madison is an Oscar winning American actress, born and raised in Los Angeles.”

— IMDb biography

“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.”

— Wikipedia

Additional context on her early life and career can be found via Famous Birthdays and Letterboxd, though these platforms rely on community-curated data and should be cross-referenced with primary sources.

What is the key takeaway about Mikey Madison?

Mikey Madison is an American actress who, by age 26, has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and starred in a Palme d’Or-winning film. Her career began in short films and television, gained momentum with Scream and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and culminated in a star-defining lead performance in Sean Baker’s Anora. For a deeper look at her breakthrough role, read about Mikey Madison’s Oscar-winning performance in Anora. To understand the foundation of her career, explore Mikey Madison’s early career and breakout roles.

Frequently asked questions about Mikey Madison