Madeline Zima Biography: Height, Ethnicity, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Movies, Awards

Madeline Zima is an American actress who first gained attention in the early 1990s as the youngest member of the on-screen Sheffield family in the popular CBS sitcom The Nanny, where her portrayal of Grace Sheffield made her a recognizable presence in households across America.

Starting her career at the tender age of two in a television commercial, Zima’s ability to balance innocence and comedic timing secured her recurring roles throughout the decade.

Profile

• Full name: Madeline Rose Zima
• Date of birth: September 16, 1985
• Age: 40 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
• State of origin: Connecticut
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Actress
• Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
• Parents: Marie Zima; Dennis Zima
• Siblings: Vanessa Zima; Yvonne Zima
• Spouse: N/A
• Children: N/A
• Relationship status: N/A
• Religion: N/A
• Ethnicity: Polish, Italian, German, Irish
• Net worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Madeline Rose Zima was born on September 16, 1985, at Yale–New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, and as of 2025, she is 40 years old. She grew up alongside her two younger sisters, Vanessa and Yvonne, both of whom also pursued acting.

Her mother, Marie, and her father, Dennis, supported the girls’ early entry into show business. Madeline’s paternal roots include Italian, German, and Irish ancestry, while her maternal grandfather was of Polish descent—hence the surname Zima, meaning “winter” in Polish.

From the age of two, she began appearing in television commercials, notably for Downy fabric softener, which marked the beginning of her lifelong acting career. Details about her formal education, such as the schools she attended, are not public.

Personal Life

Madeline Zima keeps her personal life largely outside the public eye. There are no publicly documented marriages or children, and she has not disclosed her romantic relationships in media outlets.

She maintains a close bond with her two sisters—Vanessa and Yvonne—often appearing together at industry events. Beyond familial connections, Zima has not been known to engage in high-profile relationships, and no record indicates involvement in long-term domestic partnerships.

Career

Zima’s first credited appearance came in 1992 with a brief role in the psychological thriller The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, in which she portrayed Emma Bartel.

Just a year later, she was cast as Grace Sheffield in The Nanny, a role she inhabited for six seasons (1993–1999) and that introduced her to a national audience.

During her tenure on The Nanny, she balanced various guest spots—such as an episode of Law & Order in 1993—and continued to build her résumé in both film and television.

After The Nanny concluded, Zima made several guest appearances on series like JAG (1996) and Touched by an Angel (1997) while also taking roles in television films such as The Secret Path (1999).

In cinema, she appeared in Mr Nanny (1993) as Kate Mason and played a young Gwen Moss in ’Til There Were You (1997). She steadily transitioned into more mature roles in the early 2000s, appearing in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) and A Cinderella Story (2004) as Brianna, among other film projects.

Her breakthrough as an adult actor came in 2007 with the role of Mia Lewis on the Showtime series Californication. Madeline portrayed a complex, often troubled teenager in the show’s first two seasons, receiving praise for handling dark comedic elements and navigating the series’ more adult themes.

Concurrently, she took on a recurring role as Gretchen Berg—Claire Bennett’s roommate—in the NBC series Heroes (2009–2010), reaching a different segment of viewers interested in science fiction and superhero narratives.

In the 2010s, Zima continued to diversify her career: she guest-starred in Grey’s Anatomy (2007) and Ghost Whisperer (2007) and had a recurring part on the sitcom Betas (2013–2014). She appeared in the psychological thriller Trance (2010) and films such as The Collector (2009) and Dimples (2008).

In 2018, she both directed and wrote the short film Warm Human Magic, marking her first foray behind the camera. Zima also lent her voice to animated features like A Monster in Paris (2011).

Awards and Nominations

• YoungStar Award nomination (1995) – Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy TV Series – The Nanny
• YoungStar Award nomination (1997) – Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy TV Series – The Nanny
• YoungStar Award nomination (1999) – Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy TV Series – The Nanny
• Young Artist Award nomination (1993) – Best Young Actress Under Ten in a Motion Picture – The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
• Young Artist Award nomination (1994) – Best Youth Actress Leading Role in a Motion Picture Comedy – The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
• Young Artist Award nomination (1994) – Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Television Series (shared with cast) – The Nanny
• Young Artist Award nomination (1995) – Best Performance by a Youth Actress as a TV Guest Star – Law & Order
• Young Artist Award nomination (1995) – Best Performance by a Youth Ensemble in a Television Series (shared with cast) – The Nanny
• Young Artist Award nomination (1996) – Best Performance by a Young Actress in a TV Comedy Series – The Nanny
• Young Artist Award nomination (1998) – Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series by a Supporting Young Actress – The Nanny
• Young Artist Award nomination (2001) – Best Performance in a TV Movie (Drama) by a Leading Young Actress – The Sandy Bottom Orchestra
• LA Femme International Film Festival Rising Star Award (2014) – Won

Net worth

Madeline Zima’s estimated net worth is approximately $5 million, primarily accumulated through her roles in long-running television series.

Social Media

• Instagram: @maddyzima
• X: @madelinezima1

Filmography

• The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
• Mr. Nanny (1993)
• ’Til There Was You (1997)
• Second Chances (1998)
• The Secret Path (1999)
• A Cinderella Story (2004)
• Looking for Sunday (2006)
• Dimples (2008)
• Legacy (2008)
• Streak (2008)
• The Collector (2009)
• Trance (2010)
• First Dates (2010)
• My Own Love Song (2010)
• The Family Tree (2011)
• A Monster in Paris (2011)
• Breaking the Girls (2012)
• Crazy Kind of Love (2012)
• Crazy Eyes (2012)
• Lake Effects (2012)
• #Stuck (2014)
• From A to B (2014)
• Weepah Way for Now (2015)
• Painkillers (2018)
• Bombshell (2019)
• The Morning After (2020)
• Bliss (2021)
• Insight (2021)
• Subservience (2024)
• Love Is the Monster (TBA)