Madeline Kathryn Brewer (born May 1, 1992) is an American actress and singer. She is known for her recurring roles in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black (2013) and Hemlock Grove (2014–2015), and for her starring roles as Janine Lindo in the Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale (2017–2025) and Brontë in the Netflix series You (2025).
For her work on The Handmaid's Tale, she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. On stage, Brewer made her Broadway debut in 2026 in Becky Shaw, and has starred in several musicals including Little Shop of Horrors and Cabaret. Brewer's film credits include Braid, Cam (both 2018), and The Ultimate Playlist of Noise (2021).
Early life Madeline Brewer was born on May 1, 1992, and grew up in Pitman, New Jersey, the daughter of Laurie and Mark Brewer.. At the age of eight, she starred in A Christmas Carol. While in high school, in 2009, she starred in the musical The Wiz as Dorothy Gale. She was crowned Miss Pitman in 2010, following her senior year at Pitman High School."Handmaid’s Tale star Madeline Brewer on 'the coup,' N.J. roots and new movie The Ultimate Playlist of Noise", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 13, 2021. Accessed December 22, 2024. "After her senior year at Pitman High School, she became Miss Pitman 2010 (she sang 'Home' from the musical The Wiz during the talent portion of the pageant)." Brewer is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.
Career Brewer made her television debut in 2013 with the recurring role of Tricia Miller in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. This was followed by a recurring role as Miranda Cates in Hemlock Grove, also on Netflix. In 2016, she appeared in "Men Against Fire", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror.
In 2017, Brewer made her feature film debut in Hedgehog, appeared in Flesh and Blood, and began starring in the Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale as Janine Lindo. In 2021, for The Handmaid's Tale'''s fourth season, Brewer received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards.
Brewer had leading roles in the 2018 psychological horror films Braid and Cam. This was followed in 2019 by supporting film roles in Captive State and Hustlers. She also appeared in the independent film Where Are You. In 2021, she starred opposite Keean Johnson in the Hulu romantic comedy The Ultimate Playlist of Noise. Later that year she appeared in Separation, and then in the 2022 film Space Oddity.
From October 2022 to January 2023, Brewer made her West End stage debut as Sally Bowles in the London production of Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre. In August 2025, she made her New York stage debut in the Off-Broadway cast of Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theatre as Audrey.
In 2026, Brewer made her Broadway debut as the titular role in Becky Shaw at the Helen Hayes Theater.
Personal life In 2022, Brewer opened up about having an abortion at the age of 20, around the time she booked her first acting job in Orange Is the New Black'', citing mental health struggles and focus on career as her motivation.
Brewer married British cinematographer Jack Thompson-Roylance on July 12, 2025.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes2017 Hedgehog AliAlso executive producer Flesh and Blood Maddy2018 Still Lily Braid Daphne Peters/Mother Cam Alice Ackerman/Lola 2019 Captive State Rula Hustlers Dawn Where Are You Hannah/Kate2021 The Ultimate Playlist of Noise Wendy Separation Samantha Nally 2022 Space Oddity LizPruningSami GellerShort film 2025 I Live Here Now Lillian Anniversary Anna Taylor 2027 Filming
Television Year Title Role Notes 2013 Tricia Miller Recurring role (season 1), 7 episodes 2014 Stalker Claudia Burke Episode: "Crazy for You" 2014–2015 Hemlock Grove Miranda Cates Recurring role (seasons 2–3), 10 episodes 2015–2016 Grimm Billie Trump Episodes: "Wesen Nacht", "Eve of Destruction"2016 Black Mirror Hunter Raiman Episode: "Men Against Fire" Agatha Web series; main role 2017–2025 The Handmaid's Tale Janine Lindo / Ofwarren / Ofdaniel / Ofhoward / Ofjoseph Main roleNomination – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2021) 2020 Acting for a Cause Claudius Episode: "Hamlet" 2022Shining GirlsKlara Meiser3 episodes2025You Bronte / Louise Flannery Main role (season 5)
Stage YearTitleRoleVenueRef.2012Liberty: A Monumental New MusicalLibertyRegional, The Warner Theatre2022–2023CabaretSally BowlesWest End, Playhouse Theatre2025Little Shop of HorrorsAudreyOff-Broadway, Westside Theatre2026The DisappearJulie WellsOff-Broadway, Minetta Lane TheatreBecky ShawBecky ShawBroadway, Hayes TheaterWild RoseRose-Lynn HarlanOff-Broadway, New York Theatre Workshop
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2018Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesThe Handmaid's Tale201920202021Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series2022Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series2025Gotham AwardSpotlight Tribute
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