Mikey Madison: What Is Anora Star Doing Now?

Mikey Madison is an American actress who has quickly moved from promising young performer to Oscar-winning Hollywood star

Born on March 25, 1999, in Los Angeles, California, Madison began acting as a teenager after spending much of her childhood focused on competitive horseback riding.

Her early career included short films and television work before she landed the role of Max Fox in the FX series Better Things.

Her film career gained more attention when she appeared as Susan “Sadie” Atkins in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood in 2019.

She later played Amber Freeman in the 2022 horror film Scream.

Sony lists the film for an October 9, 2026 theatrical release in the United Kingdom.

Her career is therefore entering an interesting new stage.

Audiences are no longer asking only who Mikey Madison is. They are also asking what kind of actress she will become after Anora.

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Who Is Mikey Madison?

Mikey Madison was born Mikaela Madison Rosberg on March 25, 1999, in Los Angeles.¹

As of September 2026, she is 27 years old. She grew up in the San Fernando Valley in a family that was not connected to Hollywood.

Her parents worked as psychologists and Madison has several siblings including a twin brother. Interestingly, acting was not Madison’s first career interest.

She was heavily involved in competitive horseback riding while growing up. She was homeschooled for a period so she could spend more time riding and training.

British Vogue reported that Madison had been riding competitively for much of her childhood before eventually becoming interested in acting. Madison became interested in movies at a young age.

She has spoken about watching films and developing a fascination with acting and filmmaking. Around the age of 14 or 15 she began moving away from horseback riding and toward acting.

That transition was significant. Madison had to enter an industry she knew very little about.

She later described Better Things as a kind of acting school because she learned so much while working on the series.

Her first acting work included short films before she began taking on larger roles. Her early screen experience eventually led to Better Things, which became her first major television opportunity.

she’s genuinely soft and down to earth like you just have to bow down 🥲 that’s an angel right there https://t.co/Ai1ih8PXtp

— ً (@mikeymdsn) September 21, 2026

Early Acting Career

Madison’s breakthrough came with Better Things, the FX comedy-drama created by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K.

She played Max Fox, one of the daughters of Adlon’s character Sam Fox. The series ran from 2016 to 2022 and gave Madison several years of consistent acting experience.

Instead of being introduced to audiences through one major movie, she developed gradually through television.

This period was important because Better Things allowed her to work with experienced performers while developing her own screen identity.

Madison’s character Max could be rebellious, emotional and difficult. Those qualities would later become useful in some of her film roles.

Her ability to play complicated young characters became one of the recurring elements of her career. Madison has said that she knew very little about acting when she began Better Things.

Over the years she became more confident and learned how a professional production worked.

Stats Table

Mikey Madison in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

Madison’s next major step came in 2019 when she appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.²

She played Susan “Sadie” Atkins, a member of the Manson Family. The role was relatively small compared with the film’s leading characters but it was memorable.

The film featured major stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. Madison’s performance placed her in a high-profile Hollywood production and helped introduce her to a much larger audience.

Sean Baker later explained that he had noticed Madison in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. Her performance stayed in his mind and became one of the reasons he considered her for Anora.

That connection would become one of the most important turning points in Madison’s career.

Mikey Madison in Scream

In 2022, Madison appeared in Scream, the relaunch of the long-running horror franchise.

She played Amber Freeman, a character who becomes central to the film’s mystery. The role allowed Madison to show a very different side of her acting ability.

The film also gave her the opportunity to work in a mainstream franchise. For audiences who knew her from Better Things, Scream demonstrated that she could move comfortably into horror and thriller material.

More importantly, Scream helped Sean Baker recognize another side of Madison’s acting.

Baker has said that he watched Scream after already seeing her work in Tarantino’s film. He was impressed by her intensity and believed she had the range needed to play Ani in Anora.

Anora Changed Mikey Madison’s Career

Anora became the defining project of Madison’s career. Directed and written by Sean Baker, the 2024 film follows Ani, a Brooklyn sex worker who becomes involved with Ivan, the young son of a wealthy Russian family.

What begins as a romantic fantasy develops into a chaotic story involving family pressure, money, power and personal independence. Madison carried much of the movie.

The role required comedy, physicality, emotional vulnerability and dramatic intensity. Her preparation was extensive.

Baker has said that Madison spent months learning pole dancing and also learned Russian dialogue for the film. She performed physical work and her own stunts during parts of the production.

Madison also approached Ani as more than an angry or rebellious character. She explained that she viewed Ani as someone who was deeply vulnerable underneath her confidence and aggression.

That approach helped give the character more emotional depth. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024 and won the prestigious Palme d’Or.

Anora later became a major awards-season success. At the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, Madison won Best Actress for her performance.

The Academy’s official records list her as the winner for Anora. The film also won Best Picture, Directing and several other awards.

The Oscar transformed Madison from a rising actress into one of the most closely watched young performers in Hollywood.

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What Made Her Anora Performance Stand Out?

One reason Madison’s Anora performance received so much attention was its range.³

Ani can be funny in one scene and emotionally exposed in another. She can appear confident and then suddenly reveal uncertainty.

The film also moves between romantic comedy, drama, thriller and chaotic comedy. Madison had to keep the character believable through all those changes.

Her preparation also went beyond learning lines. According to Baker, she trained extensively for the physical requirements of the role.

She also worked on Russian dialogue and the character’s accent.

The British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound described the performance as a major breakout and noted how Madison worked closely with Baker to create Ani.

The result was a performance that made Madison the center of the film rather than simply another young actress appearing in an ensemble.

Mikey Madison After Anora

The biggest question surrounding Madison after Anora has been what she would do next. Her answer appears to be variety.

Rather than immediately choosing another role similar to Ani, Madison has moved toward characters with very different backgrounds and personalities.

Her most prominent post-Anora project is The Social Reckoning, written and directed by Aaron Sorkin.

The movie is connected to the world of The Social Network and focuses on Frances Haugen, the former Facebook employee who became a whistleblower.

Madison plays Haugen opposite Jeremy Allen White, who portrays Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz. Sony describes the film as being inspired by the events surrounding the Facebook Files.

The role is a major departure from Ani. Frances Haugen was a real person who became involved in a significant technology and media story.

That means Madison had to think about portraying an actual individual rather than creating a completely fictional character.

In a 2026 Vogue interview, Madison discussed the challenge of playing Haugen and explained that she focused on emotional authenticity rather than simply attempting to copy Haugen’s physical appearance.

That choice is particularly interesting after Anora. It suggests that Madison is interested in testing herself instead of allowing one successful role to define her.

Reptilia and Other Post-Anora Interest

Another project that has generated interest is Reptilia, a thriller directed by Alejandro Landes Echavarría.

Vogue Italia reported that Madison was attached to the project alongside Kirsten Dunst. The film centers on a mysterious mermaid who draws a dental hygienist into the world of exotic animal trafficking in Florida.

The project is another example of Madison’s willingness to explore unusual material. The contrast between Anora, The Social Reckoning and Reptilia gives audiences a clearer idea of the direction her career could take.

She has already shown that she can work in television, horror, comedy-drama, independent cinema and prestige films.

Her choices after winning an Oscar are therefore attracting almost as much attention as the award itself.

Mikey Madison’s Acting Style

Madison is often associated with intense characters. In Better Things, she played a rebellious teenager.

In Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, she played a member of the Manson Family. In Scream, she played a character involved in a violent mystery. In Anora, she played a character who combines toughness with vulnerability.

Yet Madison’s personality away from her characters appears much quieter.

Her interviews often present her as thoughtful and relatively private. Vogue’s 2026 profile noted that despite her growing fame she remains offline and has maintained a strong connection with her family and animals.

This difference between her public characters and her personal demeanor has become part of her appeal.

Mikey Madison Personal Life

Madison has generally kept her personal life away from the level of celebrity exposure that surrounds many Hollywood stars.

She was raised in Los Angeles and comes from a family outside the entertainment business. Both of her parents are psychologists. She also grew up with siblings including a twin brother.

Horses have remained an important part of her story. Her childhood was strongly connected to competitive horseback riding before acting became her primary focus.

She is also known for her love of animals. Her 2026 Vogue profile highlighted her dogs, rescue animals and even a pony named Penelope.

Madison’s relatively private approach has also contributed to public curiosity. She does not maintain the same constant social media presence as many young stars.

Why Is Mikey Madison Trending?

There are several reasons Madison continues to generate search interest.

First, she is an Oscar winner at a relatively young age. Her Best Actress win for Anora established her as a major Hollywood performer.

Second, audiences are interested in what comes after such a major breakthrough. Anora created a clear before-and-after point in her career.

Third, her upcoming roles are very different from Ani. The Social Reckoning places her in a real-world drama based on the Facebook whistleblower story.

Fourth, Madison has developed a reputation for taking demanding roles. Her preparation for Anora included months of physical training and language work.

Finally, she has maintained a relatively private public image. Her limited social media presence makes new interviews, magazine covers and film announcements more noticeable.

 

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FAQ’s

Who is Mikey Madison?

Mikey Madison is an American actress best known for Better Things, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Scream and Anora. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Anora at the 97th Oscars in 2025.

How old is Mikey Madison?

Mikey Madison was born on March 25, 1999. She is 27 years old in 2026.

What is Mikey Madison famous for?

Madison is best known for playing Ani in Sean Baker’s Anora. She is also known for playing Max Fox in Better Things, Sadie Atkins in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and Amber Freeman in Scream.

Did Mikey Madison win an Oscar?

Yes. Madison won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Anora at the 97th Academy Awards in March 2025.

What character did Mikey Madison play in Anora?

Madison played Ani, a Brooklyn dancer who becomes involved with the young son of a wealthy Russian family.

What is Mikey Madison doing after Anora?

One of her major post-Anora projects is The Social Reckoning, written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. Madison plays Frances Haugen in the film. Sony lists the movie for a 2026 theatrical release.

Conclusion

Mikey Madison’s career is an example of a gradual breakthrough followed by a major transformation. She started with short films and television work before becoming known through Better Things.

Her performances in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and Scream then helped her reach a wider film audience. Anora changed everything.

Her performance as Ani earned major critical attention and ultimately won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. The award confirmed that Madison was no longer simply a promising young performer.

Now the focus has shifted from “Who is Mikey Madison?” to a more interesting question: what kinds of characters will she choose after Anora?

Her upcoming projects suggest that she is interested in finding out for herself rather than allowing one Oscar-winning role to define her career.

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1. imdb
2. vogue
3. theguardian