Madeline Zima
Zima in 2008
Born (1985-09-16) September 16, 1985 (age 38)
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1992–present
Relatives

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 (2009–2010).

Early life

Zima was born in New Haven, Connecticut, the daughter of Marie and Dennis.[1] Her surname means "winter" in Polish and comes from her maternal grandfather, who was of Polish descent.[2] Zima has two younger sisters, Vanessa and Yvonne, both of whom are also actresses.[3]

Career

Zima began her career when she was two years old with an appearance in a television commercial for Downy fabric softener.[4][1] In 1993, as a child actress, she landed a main role as Grace Sheffield on the television show The Nanny, which lasted six seasons to 1999.[1]

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 in series 3 & 4 through to 2011.[1] In promotion of the fictional book her character wrote, Fucking & Punching, Zima starred in several Californication webisodes featured on YouTube.[5] Zima has also become known for her work in films such as The Hand That Rocks the Cradle,[6] A Cinderella Story,[6] Dimples,[6] Looking for Sunday,[6] Once in a Very Blue Moon,[6] Legacy[6] and The Collector.[6]

in 2009, Zima joined the cast of Heroes[7] as Gretchen Berg, Claire Bennet's quirky bisexual roommate and tentative love interest.[8] Zima appeared as a guest star on several television shows, including Law & Order,[6] JAG,[6] and Touched by an Angel.[6] She also guest starred in an episode of The Vampire Diaries, and in two episodes of the 2017 Twin Peaks The Return.[6] In 2012, she was cast in a co-starring role in the ABC drama pilot Gilded Lilys,[9] but the series was not picked up by ABC. Zima starred in The Blondes (2019), a scripted podcast series, with her sister Yvonne.[10]

In 2020, she appeared in HBO's Perry Mason.[6] In 2021, Zima appeared in an episode of NCIS: Hawaiʻi.[6] In 2022, she landed a recurring role as Casey Brinke / Space Case in season 4 of Doom Patrol.[11] In 2023, she joined Megan Fox in S.K. Dale's upcoming sci-fi thriller Subservience.[12]

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
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
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
TBA Subservience TBA Filming
TBA Love is the Monster Ana Filming

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!"
2010 My Own Love Song Billie Television film (Lifetime)
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 4 episodes[11]

Music videos

Year Title Artist
2011 "Sails" Hooray for Earth

Awards and nominations

This section about a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.Find sources: "Madeline Zima" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

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 also nominated 13 times for a Young Artist Award:

References

  1. ^ a b c d "'Madeline Zima And Her Sisters Vanessa & Yvonne Zima Are All Actresses". thefamilynation.com. December 23, 2022.
  2. ^ "Interview: Californication's Madeline Zima is 'Haute'". Fancast.com. 2008. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008.Madeline Zima: "[...] my grandfather on my mom's side was Polish. It means 'winter.'. Zima comes from that; it's my mother's maiden name."
  3. ^ "Madeline Zima". Zima-sisters.net. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  4. ^ "'Hand' Keeps 5-Year-Old's Career Rocking". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 20, 1992. p. 29.
  5. ^ Matt Zoller Seitz (January 10, 2011). ""Californication's" atrocious masculine fantasy". Salon.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Madeline Zima credits". TV Guide. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  7. ^ "FHM's 100 Sexiest Women 2009". FHM. Archived from the original on July 7, 2009.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie. "Zima joins Heroes for recurring role". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 6, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 10, 2012). "Blythe Danner, Sarah Bolger & Madeline Zima Cast In ABC Pilot 'Gilded Lilys'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  10. ^ "5 Reasons We're Excited For 'The Blondes' Podcast!". Villain Media. June 12, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Burlingame, Russ (September 23, 2022). "Doom Patrol Adds Madeline Zima as Casey Brinke". Comicbook.com.
  12. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (January 9, 2023). "'Californication' Star Madeline Zima Among Cast To Join Megan Fox & Michele Morrone In 'Subservience'". Deadline Hollywood.

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