Madeline Zima
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Madeline Zima (born September 16, 1985) is an American actress. She portrayed Grace Sheffield on the CBS sitcom The Nanny (1993–1999), Mia Lewis on the Showtime comedy drama series Californication (2007–2011), and Gretchen Berg on the NBC series Heroes (2006–2010).
Early life
Zima was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on September 16, 1985, the daughter of Marie and Dennis Zima. Her surname means "winter" in Polish and comes from her maternal grandfather, who was of Polish descent. She has two younger sisters, Vanessa and Yvonne, both of whom are also actresses.
Career
Madeline Zima began her career when she was two years old with an appearance in a television commercial for Downy fabric softener. In 1993, as a child actress, she landed a main role as Grace Sheffield on the television show The Nanny, which lasted six seasons and ran until 1999.
In 2007, Zima played the main role of Mia Lewis in the first two seasons of the Showtime comedy-drama Californication alongside David Duchovny, appearing as a guest star in seasons 3 & 4 through to 2011. In promotion of the fictional book her character wrote, Fucking & Punching, Zima starred in several Californication webisodes featured on YouTube. Zima has become known for her work in films including The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, A Cinderella Story, Dimples, Looking for Sunday, Once in a Very Blue Moon, Legacy, and The Collector.
In 2009, Zima joined the cast of Heroes as Gretchen Berg, Claire Bennet's quirky bisexual roommate and tentative love interest. She appeared as a guest star on several television shows, including Law & Order, JAG, and Touched by an Angel. She also guest starred in an episode of The Vampire Diaries, and in two episodes of the 2017 Twin Peaks: The Return. In 2012, she was cast in a co-starring role in the ABC drama pilot Gilded Lilys, but the series was not picked up by ABC. Zima starred in The Blondes (2019), a scripted podcast series, with her sister Yvonne.
In 2020, she appeared in HBO's Perry Mason and in 2021, in an episode of NCIS: Hawaiʻi. In 2022, she landed a recurring role as Casey Brinke / Space Case in season 4 of Doom Patrol. In 2023, Zima joined Megan Fox in S.K. Dale's 2024 sci-fi thriller Subservience. In 2026, she played a guest role in the CBS medical-mystery series Watson.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | The Hand That Rocks the Cradle | Emma Bartel | |
| 1993 | Mr. Nanny | Kate Mason | |
| 1997 | 'Til There Was You | Gwen Moss (Age 12) | |
| 1998 | The Rose Sisters | N/A | [citation needed] |
| 1998 | Second Chances | Melinda Judd | |
| 1999 | The Secret Path | Jo-Ann Foley (Age 14) | CBS TV Movie; Also titled Chasing Secrets |
| 2004 | A Cinderella Story | Brianna | |
| 2006 | Looking for Sunday | Trisha | |
| 2008 | Legacy | Zoey Martin | Direct-to-video film; also known as Pretty Little Devils |
| 2008 | Dimples | Frances | |
| 2008 | Streak | Stella | |
| 2009 | The Collector | Jill Chase | |
| 2010 | Trance | Jessica | |
| 2010 | First Dates | Kelly | Direct-to-video film |
| 2010 | My Own Love Song | Billie | |
| 2011 | The Family Tree | Mitzy Steinbacher | |
| 2011 | A Monster in Paris | Maud | Voice role (English dub) |
| 2012 | Breaking the Girls | Alex Layton | |
| 2012 | Crazy Kind of Love | Annie | |
| 2012 | Crazy Eyes | Rebecca | |
| 2012 | Lake Effects | Lily | |
| 2014 | #Stuck | Holly | |
| 2014 | From A to B | Samantha | |
| 2015 | Weepah Way for Now | Lauren | |
| 2018 | Painkillers | Chloe Clarke | |
| 2019 | Bombshell | Edie | |
| 2020 | The Morning After | Holly | |
| 2021 | Bliss | Doris | |
| 2021 | Insight | Abby | |
| 2024 | Subservience | Maggie | |
| 2025 | Love Is the Monster | Ana |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Law & Order | Samantha Silver | Episode: "Extended Family" |
| 1993–1999 | The Nanny | Grace Sheffield | Main role |
| 1996 | JAG | Cathy Gold | Episode: "Sightings" |
| 1997 | Touched by an Angel | Alexandra "Ally" | Episode: "Children of the Night" |
| 1999 | The Secret Path | Jo Ann Foley (age 14) | Television film; also known as Chasing Secrets |
| 1999 | Chicken Soup for the Soul | Katie | Episode: "Starlight, Star Bright" |
| 1999 | Lethal Vows | Danielle Farris | Television film |
| 2000 | The Sandy Bottom Orchestra | Rachel Green | Television film |
| 2001 | The Nightmare Room | Alexis Hall | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | King of the Hill | Susan Clemmons | Voice role; 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Gilmore Girls | Lisa | Episode: "Like Mother, Like Daughter" |
| 2003 | 7th Heaven | Alice Miller | Episode: "Go Ask Alice" |
| 2003 | Lucy | Teen Lucille Ball | Television film |
| 2004 | Strong Medicine | Pam | Episode: "Like Cures Like" |
| 2006 | 3 lbs | Cassie Mack | Episode: "Lost for Words" |
| 2007 | Ghost Whisperer | Maddy Strom | Episode: "Mean Ghost" |
| 2007 | Grey's Anatomy | Marissa | Episode: "Forever Young" |
| 2007–2011 | Californication | Mia Lewis | Main role (seasons 1–2), 28 episodes |
| 2009–2010 | Heroes | Gretchen Berg | Recurring role, 11 episodes |
| 2010 | My Boys | Ashley | Episode: "Be a Man!" |
| 2011 | Royal Pains | Toby Thompson | Episode: "Me First" |
| 2012 | The Vampire Diaries | Charlotte | Episode: "We'll Always Have Bourbon Street" |
| 2013 | Gilded Lilys | Abigail | Unsold television pilot |
| 2013–2014 | Betas | Jordan Alexis | Recurring role, 6 episodes |
| 2015 | Grimm | Emily Troyer | Episode: "Maiden Quest" |
| 2015 | Agent X | Brenda Pelton / Molly | Episode: "Truth, Lies and Consequences" |
| 2016 | I Am Watching You | Nora | Television film |
| 2017 | Twin Peaks | Tracey Barberato | Episodes: "Part 1", "Part 2" |
| 2019 | You | Rachel | Episode: "Farewell, My Bunny" |
| 2020 | Good Girls | Lila | Episodes: "Nana", "Incentive" |
| 2020 | Perry Mason | Velma Fuller | Episode: "Chapter One" |
| 2021 | NCIS: Hawaii | Abby Nelson | Episode: "Gaijin" |
| 2021 | Hacks | Cat | Episode: "Falling" |
| 2022–2023 | Doom Patrol | Casey Brinke / Space Case | 5 episodes |
| 2024 | High Potential | Mia Ashford | Season 1 Episode 4 "Survival Mode" |
| 2026 | Watson | Marnie Prisuta | Season 2 Episode |
Directing credits
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Warm Human Magic | 18 minute short |
Writing credits
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Warm Human Magic | 18 minute short |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "Sails" | Hooray for Earth |
Awards and nominations
Zima was nominated three times for a YoungStar Award, in 1995, 1997 and 1999, all for Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy TV Series for The Nanny.
She was nominated 13 times for a Young Artist Award:
- 1993 – Best Young Actress Under Ten in a Motion Picture for The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
- 1994 – Best Youth Actress Leading Role in a Motion Picture Comedy and for Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Television Series, shared with Benjamin Salisbury and Nicholle Tom, both for The Nanny
- 1995 – Best Performance by a Youth Actress as a TV Guest Star for Law & Order, and Best Performance by a Youth Ensemble in a Television Series shared with Nicholle Tom and Benjamin Salisbury, Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a Motion Picture and Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a TV Series, all of them for The Nanny
- 1996 – Best Performance by a Young Actress in a TV Comedy Series for The Nanny
- 1998 – Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series by a Supporting Young Actress for The Nanny
- 2001 – Best Performance in a TV Movie (Drama) by a Leading Young Actress for The Sandy Bottom Orchestra
External links
- at IMDb