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.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." 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 Notes1992Emma Bartel1993Mr. NannyKate Mason 1997'Til There Was YouGwen Moss (Age 12)1998Second ChancesMelinda Judd1999The Secret PathJo-Ann Foley (Age 14)CBS TV Movie; Also titled Chasing Secrets2004Brianna2006Looking for SundayTrisha2008Legacy Zoey MartinDirect-to-video film; also known as Pretty Little DevilsDimplesFrancesStreakStella2009Jill Chase2010TranceJessicaFirst DatesKellyDirect-to-video filmMy Own Love SongBillie 2011The Family TreeMitzy SteinbacherA Monster in ParisMaudVoice role (English dub)2012Breaking the GirlsAlex LaytonCrazy Kind of LoveAnnieCrazy EyesRebeccaLake EffectsLily2014#StuckHollyFrom A to BSamantha2015Weepah Way for NowLauren2018PainkillersChloe Clarke2019VHYesMaiden #2BombshellEdie2020The Morning AfterHolly2021BlissDorisInsightAbby2024SubservienceMaggie 2025Love Is the MonsterAna

Television Year Title Role Notes1993Law & OrderSamantha SilverEpisode: "Extended Family"1993–1999Grace SheffieldMain role1996JAGCathy GoldEpisode: "Sightings"1997Touched by an AngelAlexandra "Ally"Episode: "Children of the Night"1999The Secret PathJo Ann Foley (age 14)Television film; also known as Chasing SecretsChicken Soup for the SoulKatieEpisode: "Starlight, Star Bright"Lethal VowsDanielle FarrisTelevision film2000Rachel GreenTelevision film2001Alexis Hall2 episodesKing of the HillSusan ClemmonsVoice role; 2 episodesGilmore GirlsLisaEpisode: "Like Mother, Like Daughter"20037th HeavenAlice MillerEpisode: "Go Ask Alice"LucyTeen Lucille BallTelevision film2004Strong MedicinePamEpisode: "Like Cures Like"20063 lbsCassie MackEpisode: "Lost for Words"2007Ghost WhispererMaddy StromEpisode: "Mean Ghost"Grey's AnatomyMarissaEpisode: "Forever Young"2007–2011CalifornicationMia LewisMain role (seasons 1–2), 28 episodes2009–2010HeroesGretchen BergRecurring role, 11 episodes2010My BoysAshleyEpisode: "Be a Man!"2011Royal PainsToby ThompsonEpisode: "Me First"2012CharlotteEpisode: "We'll Always Have Bourbon Street"2013Gilded LilysAbigailUnsold television pilot2013–2014BetasJordan AlexisRecurring role, 6 episodes2015GrimmEmily TroyerEpisode: "Maiden Quest"Agent XBrenda Pelton / MollyEpisode: "Truth, Lies and Consequences"2016I Am Watching YouNoraTelevision film2017Twin PeaksTracey BarberatoEpisodes: "Part 1", "Part 2"2019YouRachelEpisode: "Farewell, My Bunny"2020Good GirlsLilaEpisodes: "Nana", "Incentive"Perry MasonVelma FullerEpisode: "Chapter One"2021NCIS: HawaiiAbby NelsonEpisode: "Gaijin"HacksCatEpisode: "Falling"2022–2023Doom PatrolCasey Brinke / Space Case5 episodes2024High PotentialMia Ashford Episode: "Survival Mode"2026WatsonMarnie PrisutaEpisode: "The Tunnel Under the Elms"

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

References

External links