Everything You Need to Know About Mikey Madison

Mikey Madison is a 26-year-old American actress born in Los Angeles, California, best known for winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Anora (2024).

Here are the key facts at a glance:

Before she was an Oscar winner, Mikey was a competitive horseback rider growing up in the San Fernando Valley. Her path to Hollywood wasn't a straight line — it wound through riding arenas, short films, and five seasons of a beloved FX drama.

What makes her story compelling isn't just the awards. It's how a shy kid from the suburbs of LA, raised by two psychologists with a deep love of classic cinema, quietly became one of the most talked-about actors of her generation — without a single Instagram post.

Quick look at mikey madison:

When we look at the meteoric rise of mikey madison, it is impossible to ignore her deep roots in the Los Angeles landscape. Born Mikaela Madison Rosberg on March 25, 1999, she is a true L.A. native. Her upbringing was a blend of the rugged and the refined, shaped significantly by her parents, Michael and Tracy Rosberg.

Unlike many young stars who come from "showbiz" families, Mikey’s parents are both psychologists. Her father, Michael, is a specialist who works with patients suffering from schizophrenia, while her mother, Tracy, primarily works with children. This unique household environment provided a foundation of emotional intelligence that Mikey often credits for her ability to inhabit complex characters. She grew up in a busy home as one of five children, including two older sisters and a twin brother.

The family has a fascinating brush with Americana history as well. Mikey’s grandmother’s cousin was Clarence Hailey Long Jr., the real-life Texas ranch hand who became the primary inspiration for the original "Marlboro Man." While Mikey didn't grow up on a ranch in Texas, that "lone wolf" spirit and connection to horses seem to be written into her DNA.

Ethnically and religiously, mikey madison comes from a Jewish background. While she has described herself in interviews as more spiritual than strictly religious, her heritage remains a vital part of her identity. Her parents eventually moved the family from the more rural outskirts to Woodland Hills, keeping her firmly within the orbit of the San Fernando Valley’s unique culture.

Growing up in Santa Clarita, Mikey’s world was defined by "dirt roads" and the quiet companionship of animals. We often think of Los Angeles as a concrete jungle of red carpets and traffic, but Mikey’s early years were spent in the dusty, equestrian-friendly pockets of the county.

She was famously shy as a child—a "lone wolf," as she often describes herself. This shyness made her an observer, a trait that would later serve her well in acting. While she was homeschooled from the seventh grade to accommodate her intense schedule at the stables, she wasn't isolated. Her father, a massive cinephile, filled their home with the works of Martin Scorsese, Sofia Coppola, and Quentin Tarantino. This early exposure to high-level storytelling planted the seeds for a career she hadn't yet imagined.

Long before she was walking the stage at the Dolby Theatre, mikey madison was a "weird horse girl"—and we say that with the utmost affection. Her mother and grandmother were both avid riders, and Mikey was reportedly sitting on a horse before she could even walk. She spent her teenage years as a competitive equestrian, a sport that requires immense discipline, core strength, and a quiet, intuitive connection with another living being.

So, how does a competitive rider end up as the lead in a Sean Baker film? The transition was sparked by a quintessential teenage moment: watching the movie Pretty in Pink. Captivated by the style and the world-building, Mikey initially thought she wanted to be a clothing designer. Her mother, ever supportive, signed her up for sewing classes.

However, the needles and thread didn't quite click. She soon realized that what she actually wanted was to live inside the stories themselves. Around the same time, her older sister married a screenwriter, which pulled back the curtain on the film industry. Suddenly, movies didn't seem like a distant dream; it looked like a craft that could be learned.

At 14, she hung up her riding boots to pursue acting. She traded the intimacy of the barn for the vulnerability of character immersion. Her mother signed her up for her first acting class and began driving her to auditions across Los Angeles, from the Valley to Hollywood. Mikey found that acting allowed her to express the "dangerous" and deep emotions that her natural shyness kept bottled up in real life.

Mikey’s professional journey began in 2013 with a series of short films, but her true breakthrough came in 2016 when she was cast as Max Fox in the FX series Better Things. Created by Pamela Adlon, the show ran for five seasons and served as Mikey’s unofficial "film school." Playing the eldest daughter of a single mother in Los Angeles, Mikey grew up on screen, navigating the messy, beautiful complexities of teenage life.

Her transition to the big screen was equally impactful. In 2019, she landed a role in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. To land the part of Susan "Sadie" Atkins—a member of the Manson Family—Mikey went above and beyond. She famously submitted an audition "gift" to Tarantino: a handmade, acid-trip-inspired painting that actually had her own hair sewn into it. It was exactly the kind of bold, slightly deranged energy Tarantino was looking for.

Following her turn as a cult member, she joined the legendary Scream franchise in 2022. Playing Amber Freeman, she proved she could hold her own in a massive ensemble and deliver a performance that was both charming and terrifying. It was her work in these two films that caught the eye of director Sean Baker, who decided right then and there that he wanted to write a movie specifically for her.

Below is a look at how her key projects have resonated with critics:

Her rising popularity is reflected in her IMDbPro Starmeter Ranking, where she consistently ranks in the Top 5,000, often spiking much higher during awards season.

In 2024, the world finally saw what Sean Baker had seen: mikey madison is a powerhouse. In Anora, she plays the titular character, a young Uzbek-American sex worker from Brighton Beach who enters into a whirlwind marriage with the son of a Russian oligarch.

The role was a massive undertaking. To prepare, Mikey didn't just read the script; she moved to Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, to immerse herself in the local culture. She spent months learning the Russian language and worked tirelessly to perfect a specific Brooklyn accent that critics described as "brash but charming."

The physical demands were just as intense. Mikey spent hours every day for several months training in pole dancing. She became so proficient that she could literally walk on the ceiling, and she performed nearly all of her own stunts in the film's many chaotic, high-energy scenes.

The result was a triumph. Anora won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and Mikey’s performance swept the 2025 awards season. When she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, she made history as the first member of Generation Z to win an Oscar in a lead acting category. In her acceptance speeches, she was praised for her grace and for her vocal support of the sex worker community, whom she consulted and befriended during her research for the role.

Despite her global fame, Mikey remains remarkably grounded. She still lives in Los Angeles, having purchased her own home a few years ago—a choice she made partly because the property featured a magnificent 100-year-old cactus.

Her lifestyle reflects her thoughtful, introspective nature. She has been a vegan for years and is an avid cook and baker. On The Drew Barrymore Show, she even shared her favorite recipe for vegan chocolate chip cookies, proving that her talents extend well beyond the movie set. When she’s not working, she enjoys curating her home, tending to her pets, and alphabetizing her extensive vinyl collection.

One of the most refreshing things about mikey madison is her total absence from social media. In an era where actors are often pressured to be influencers, Mikey has opted out entirely. She cites her mental health and a desire for authenticity as the primary reasons, stating that she prefers to stay "ignorant" of online opinions to keep her focus on her craft.

With an Oscar on her mantle, Mikey is one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. We are thrilled to see her taking on diverse and challenging projects that continue to push her boundaries.

Mikey chooses to avoid social media to protect her mental health and maintain a sense of privacy. She finds the platforms inauthentic and believes that staying away from the "noise" of public opinion allows her to focus more deeply on her acting roles and personal growth.

Her performance in Anora earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress and the BAFTA for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She also received the Breakthrough Performance Honor from the Palm Springs International Film Awards, a Gotham Award, and numerous accolades from critics' circles across the United States.

Yes, she has a twin brother. She is one of five children in the Rosberg family and remains very close to her siblings and her psychologist parents.

The evolution of mikey madison from a shy "horse girl" in Santa Clarita to an Academy Award-winning icon is a testament to the power of dedication and authentic storytelling. Here at Edible LA, we love a local success story, especially one that celebrates the grit and creativity of our city.

Whether she’s baking vegan cookies in her kitchen or commanding the screen in a Sean Baker masterpiece, Mikey represents the best of Los Angeles culture—bold, disciplined, and fiercely independent. As we look forward to her upcoming projects, we’re reminded that the best stories are often found by those who aren't afraid to get a little dirt on their boots.

If you’re inspired by Mikey’s love of local, seasonal flavors, why not try your hand at a dish that captures the elegance of an L.A. summer? Check out our recipe for Hamachi Crudo with Heirloom Tomato and Opal Basil for a taste of the season.