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. Zima has become known for her work in films including The Hand That Rocks the Cradle,
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, 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 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
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class = "unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1992
|'
|Emma Bartel
|
|-
|1993
|Mr. Nanny
|Kate Mason
|
|-
|1997
|Til There Was You
|Gwen Moss (Age 12)
|
|-
|1998
|'
|
|
|-
|1998
|Second Chances
|Melinda Judd
|
|-
|1999
|The Secret Path
|Jo-Ann Foley (Age 14)
|CBS TV Movie; Also titled Chasing Secrets
|-
|2004
|'
|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
|'
|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
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class = "unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1993
|Law & Order
|Samantha Silver
|Episode: "Extended Family"
|-
|1993–1999
|'
|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
|'
|Rachel Green
|Television film
|-
|2001
|'
|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
|'
|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