Mikey Madison’s Career: From ‘Liza, Liza, Skies Are Grey’ to ‘Anora’

Mikey Madison has quickly established herself as one of the most compelling and fearless actresses of her generation. From her breakout television role to her commanding presence in critically acclaimed films, she consistently takes on complex and challenging characters. Her performances are often marked by a raw intensity and a captivating energy that makes her impossible to look away from on screen.

She first gained widespread notice as the angsty eldest daughter in a celebrated comedy series, but she has since built an impressive and varied filmography. Madison has shown a remarkable ability to transition between genres, playing unsettling cult members, cunning horror villains, and vulnerable protagonists with equal conviction. Her career trajectory points toward an exciting future as she continues to select bold projects that showcase her immense talent.

‘Better Things’ (2016–2022)

This acclaimed comedy-drama series followed the life of a single mother and working actress raising three daughters in Los Angeles. The show was celebrated for its honest, funny, and often poignant portrayal of motherhood, family dynamics, and the challenges of a creative life. It offered a slice-of-life perspective on the everyday struggles and triumphs of the Fox family.

Mikey Madison played the main role of Maxine “Max” Fox, the fiercely independent and often rebellious eldest daughter. Over the course of the series, her character navigated adolescence and young adulthood, frequently clashing with her mother while also showing deep moments of love and vulnerability. Her performance was a cornerstone of the show, capturing the complex and evolving nature of a mother-daughter relationship.

‘Liza, Liza, Skies Are Grey’ (2017)

This coming-of-age drama is set in the summer of 1966 and tells the story of a teenage couple’s first big road trip. Before the boyfriend is potentially sent to Vietnam, he and his girlfriend decide to travel up the California coast, exploring their newfound freedom and the uncertain future that awaits them.

In the title role, Mikey Madison portrayed Liza, a fifteen-year-old girl on a journey of self-discovery. The film centers on her perspective as she experiences the joys and anxieties of her first love and a taste of independence. Her performance captured the innocence and curiosity of a young woman standing on the cusp of major life changes.

‘Nostalgia’ (2018)

This film is a quiet drama that connects a series of vignettes to explore themes of love, loss, and memory. The narrative follows a loose chain of characters who are all connected through the objects they cherish and the personal histories those items represent. Each story examines how people find meaning in the things they hold onto.

Mikey Madison appeared as Kathleen in one of the film’s interconnected stories. Her segment contributed to the movie’s overarching meditation on how physical objects can carry immense emotional weight across generations. She was part of a large ensemble cast that brought the film’s poignant and reflective themes to life.

‘Monster’ (2018)

This legal drama, based on the award-winning novel, tells the story of a seventeen-year-old honors student and aspiring filmmaker from Harlem. His life is thrown into chaos when he is charged with felony murder and finds himself in a complex legal battle that could land him in prison for the rest of his life.

She played the role of Alexandra Floyd, a young woman whose testimony is part of the prosecution’s case against the main character. Her character’s presence in the courtroom scenes added another layer to the difficult and morally ambiguous situation the protagonist was facing.

‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ (2019)

This film is set in 1969 Los Angeles and follows the intertwined stories of a fading television actor and his longtime stunt double. Their narrative runs parallel to that of actress Sharon Tate, and the film serves as a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age, culminating in a re-imagining of a tragic, real-life event.

Mikey Madison delivered a memorable and chilling performance as Susan “Sadie” Atkins, a devoted member of the Manson Family. She fully embodied the unsettling nature of the character, particularly during the film’s tense and violent climax. Her portrayal was a key element of one of the movie’s most talked-about sequences.

‘The Addams Family’ (2019)

This animated reboot brings the famously macabre Addams family to a new generation. The family moves to a bright and cheerful suburban neighborhood in New Jersey, where their gothic lifestyle clashes hilariously with the conformist world around them, particularly with a local reality TV host.

She provided the voice for the character Candi the Barista, a minor character who represents the ordinary and easily shocked residents of the town. Her role was part of the film’s comedic exploration of the Addams family’s effect on their new, unsuspecting neighbors.

‘It Takes Three’ (2021)

This teen romantic comedy offers a modern take on the classic ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ story. It follows a nerdy high school senior who is hopelessly in love with the most popular girl in school. To win her heart, he enlists the help of a cool new student to feed him the right words and actions.

In this film, Mikey Madison played Kat Walker, the popular new girl who agrees to help the protagonist in his romantic quest. Her character is the “Cyrano” figure who navigates the complicated scheme while dealing with her own developing feelings and the pressures of high school social life.

‘Scream’ (2022)

The fifth installment in the legendary horror franchise returns to the town of Woodsboro twenty-five years after the original massacre. A new killer wearing the Ghostface mask begins targeting a group of teenagers, and the town’s original survivors must come back to confront the threat once again.

She played Amber Freeman, a member of the new group of high school friends being terrorized by Ghostface. Her character is deeply embedded in the film’s whodunit mystery and its clever commentary on horror movie tropes, fandom, and the nature of sequels.

‘All Souls’ (2023)

This supernatural thriller follows a young woman who survives a horrific car accident that kills her boyfriend. In the aftermath, she is recruited by a mysterious agency that operates between the worlds of the living and the dead. She must quickly learn to navigate this dangerous new reality to protect souls from dark forces.

As the lead character River, Mikey Madison anchors the film’s high-concept story. Her performance traces the character’s journey from a grieving victim to a capable agent in a hidden supernatural war. The role required her to balance the emotional weight of her character’s loss with the action-packed demands of the plot.

‘Anora’ (2024)

This dark comedy thriller took the film world by storm with its high-energy story. The plot follows a young exotic dancer from Brooklyn who impulsively marries the reckless son of a Russian oligarch. Her dream life turns into a chaotic nightmare when his parents arrive in New York with the intent to annul the marriage by any means necessary.

Mikey Madison delivered a powerhouse performance in the title role of Anora, also known as Ani. She was universally praised for her commanding and dynamic portrayal of a woman fighting for her survival and dignity in a wild, unpredictable situation. The role earned her major accolades and cemented her status as a formidable leading actress.

‘Lady in the Lake’ (2024)

This miniseries, based on the best-selling novel, is a crime drama set in 1960s Baltimore. An investigative journalist working on the story of an unsolved murder finds her life intersecting with that of a mother who is working to advance the city’s Black progressive agenda.

She appears in the series as Judith Weinstein. Her character is a key figure within the community whose life is impacted by the mysteries at the center of the show’s narrative. The role places her within a complex story about race, class, and crime in a turbulent historical period.

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