Quick Facts
Biography
Madeline Zima (born September 16, 1985) is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Jill Chase on the horror slasher film The Collector, Grace Sheffield on the sitcom The Nanny, Mia Lewis on the Showtime comedy drama series Californication, and Gretchen Berg on Heroes.
Personal life
Zima was born in New Haven, Connecticut, the daughter of Marie and Dennis. Her surname means "winter" in Polish and comes from her maternal grandfather, who was of Polish descent. Zima has two younger sisters, Vanessa and Yvonne, both of whom are also actresses.
Career
Zima began her career when she was two years old, after she was chosen as a child to appear in a television commercial for Downy fabric softener.
From 1993 to 1999 she played the role of Grace Sheffield on the television show The Nanny throughout all of its six seasons. In 2007 and 2008 Zima played Mia Lewis, a sexually precocious and conniving 16-year-old, on the first two seasons of the series Californication and overall appeared at the series' episodes from 2007 to 2011. In promotion of Mia's book, Fucking & Punching, Zima starred in several Californication webisodes that are featured on YouTube. From 2009 to 2010, Zima joined the cast of Heroes as Gretchen Berg, Claire Bennet's quirky bisexual roommate and tentative love interest.
Zima has also become known for her work in films such as The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, A Cinderella Story, Dimples, Looking for Sunday, Once in a Very Blue Moon, Legacy and The Collector.
Zima appeared as a guest star on several TV shows including Law & Order, JAG, Touched by an Angel and The Vampire Diaries. She also co-starred in the ABC drama pilot Gilded Lillys. and in an episode of The Vampire Diaries.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Hand That Rocks the Cradle, TheThe Hand That Rocks the Cradle | Emma Bartel | |
| 1993 | Mr. Nanny | Kate Mason | |
| 1993 | Last Supper, TheThe Last Supper | Holly | Short film |
| 1997 | 'Til There Was You | Gwen Moss (Age 12) | |
| 1998 | Rose Sisters, TheThe Rose Sisters | ||
| 1998 | Second Chances | Melinda Judd | |
| 1999 | Chasing Secrets | Jo Ann Foley | Television film |
| 1999 | Lethal Vows | Danielle Farris | Television film |
| 2000 | Sandy Bottom Orchestra, TheThe Sandy Bottom Orchestra | Rachel Green | Television film |
| 2001 | Big Leaf Tobacco Company, TheThe Big Leaf Tobacco Company | Girl #1 | Short film |
| 2003 | Lucy | Teen Lucille Ball | Television film |
| 2004 | Cinderella Story, AA Cinderella Story | Brianna | |
| 2006 | Looking for Sunday | Trisha | |
| 2008 | Legacy | Zoey Martin | Video |
| 2008 | Dimples | Frances | |
| 2008 | Streak | Stella | Short film |
| 2008 | 5 or Die | Amelia | Short film |
| 2009 | Collector, TheThe Collector | Jill Chase | |
| 2010 | Trance | Jessica | |
| 2010 | First Dates | Kelly | Video |
| 2010 | My Own Love Song | Billie | Television film, Lifetime Movies |
| 2011 | The Family Tree | Mitzy Steinbacher | |
| 2012 | Breaking the Girls | Alex Layton | |
| 2012 | Crazy Kind of Love | Annie | |
| 2012 | Crazy Eyes | Rebecca | |
| 2012 | Lake Effects | Lily | |
| 2013 | Stuck | Holly | |
| 2014 | From A to B | Samantha | |
| 2016 | I Am Watching You | Nora | Television film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Law & Order | Samantha Silver | Episode: "Extended Family" |
| 1993-1999 | Nanny, TheThe Nanny | Grace Sheffield | 144 episodes |
| 1996 | JAG | Cathy Gold | Episode: "Sightings" |
| 1997 | Touched by an Angel | Alexandra "Ally" | Episode: "Children of the Night" |
| 1999 | Chicken Soup for the Soul | Katie | Episode: "Starlight, Star Bright" |
| 2001 | Nightmare Room, TheThe Nightmare Room | Alexis Hall | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | King of the Hill | Voice 2 episodes | |
| 2001 | Gilmore Girls | Lisa | Episode: "Like Mother, Like Daughter" |
| 2003 | 7th Heaven | Alice Miller | Episode: "Go Ask Alice" |
| 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 | 28 episodes |
| 2009-2010 | Heroes | Gretchen Berg | 11 episodes |
| 2010 | My Boys | Ashley | Episode: "Be a Man!" |
| 2011 | Royal Pains | Toby Thompson | Episode: "Me First" |
| 2012 | Vampire Diaries, TheThe Vampire Diaries | Charlotte | Episode: "We'll Always Have Bourbon Street" |
| 2013 | Gilded Lillys | Violet's personal maid | |
| 2013 | Betas | Jordan Alexis | 8 Episodes |
| 2015 | Grimm | Emily Troyer | Episode: "Maiden Quest" |
| 2015 | Agent X | Brenda Pelton / Molly | Episode: "Truth, Lies and Consequences" |
Awards and nominations
She was nominated three times for a YoungStar Award at the YoungStar Awards, in 1995, 1997 and 1999 all of them for Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy TV Series for The Nanny (1993).
She was also nominated thirteen times for a Young Artist Award at the Young Artist Awards:
- 1993 – Best Young Actress Under Ten in a Motion Picture for The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
- 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 (1993)
- 1995 – Best Performance by a Youth Actress as a TV Guest Star for Law & Order (1990), 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 (1993)
- 1996 – Best Performance by a Young Actress in a TV Comedy Series for The Nanny (1993)
- 1998 – Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series by a Supporting Young Actress for The Nanny (1993)
- 2001 – Best Performance in a TV Movie (Drama) by a Leading Young Actress for The Sandy Bottom Orchestra