Madelaine Grobbelaar Petsch (born August 18, 1994) is an American-South African actress and social media personality. She is best known for portraying Cheryl Blossom on The CW television series Riverdale (2017–2023).
Early life Petsch was born on August 18, 1994, to Timothy and Michele Petsch, in Port Orchard, Washington. At the age of three, she began dance classes, and two years later enrolled in theater classes. Petsch's parents are from South Africa, and she spent the first ten years of her life dividing her time between South Africa and the state of Washington. She attended the Tacoma School of the Arts and relocated to Los Angeles after graduating. Petsch has one older brother, Shaun, who is three years her senior.
Career
Petsch appeared in a national advertising campaign for Coca-Cola in 2014. In February 2016, she was cast as Cheryl Blossom in The CW's Riverdale, having been pinned for the role since late 2015 after meeting the casting director, who was at the time working on Legends of Tomorrow. The series began filming in September of that year. It premiered on January 26, 2017, and ended on August 23, 2023, after seven seasons. In March 2017, she joined the cast of the film Polaroid, which was released in 2019. In January 2019, it was announced that Petsch would star in and executive produce the horror-comedy film Saint Clare, but in 2022, Bella Thorne took over the role. Petsch's lead performances in the horror movies Polaroid (2019), Sightless (2020), Jane (2022), and The Strangers film series have garnered her the reputation as a scream queen.
In April 2018, Petsch collaborated with sunglasses company Privé Revaux and released her own collection of sunglasses. Petsch has a YouTube channel, stating that the inspiration to start one was so fans could know the "real her" outside of acting.
Personal life From early 2017 to February 2020, Petsch was in a relationship with musician Travis Mills. Since August 2022, Petsch has been in a relationship with music manager Anthony Li. As of March 2025, she has been linked to Tyga.
Filmography Film + Film roles Year Title Role Notes 2014 Current girl #2 2016 Eliza 2017 F the Prom Marissa 2019 Polaroid Sarah 2020 Sightless Ellen Ashland Also co-producer Nightwalkers Unknown Role Short film 2022 Jane Olivia Brooks Also producer About Fate Clementine Pratt Hotel for the Holidays Georgia 2024 Maya Lucas Also executive producer 2025 Maintenance Required Charlotte "Charlie" O'Malley 2026 Maya Lucas Also producer Pretty Babies Gemma
Television + Television roles Year Title Role Notes 2015 Instant Mom Mermaid Episode: "Gone Batty"2017–2023RiverdaleCheryl Blossom Young Penelope Blossom Abigail Blossom Poppy Blossom Rose Blossom Chastity Blossom Main role; 131 episodes 2 episodes 7 episodes Episode: "Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Witching Hour(s)" 2 episodes Episode: "Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen: Return to Rivervale" 2020 The Simpsons Sloan (voice)Episode: "The Hateful Eight-Year-Olds" 2026American Horror Story: 13Kira 2 episodes
Web series + Web series roles Year Title Role Notes 2020 Acting for a Cause Jane Bennet Episode: "Pride and Prejudice" Day by Day Narrator Voice role; episode: "Relocation" 2020–2021 The Shadow Diaries Eliza Gold Voice role; podcast
Music videos + Music video roles Year Title Artist(s) Role 2020 "Malibu" Kim Petras Herself 2026 "Do Me Right" Mr. Fantasy
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2017 Teen Choice Awards Choice Hissy Fit Riverdale 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards Scene StealerRiverdale Teen Choice Awards Choice Hissy FitRiverdale 2019 MTV Movie & TV AwardsBest Musical MomentRiverdale Shorty Awards Breakout YouTuber of the Year — Teen Choice Awards Choice Ship (with Vanessa Morgan) Riverdale 2022 Streamy Awards Best Crossover (with Lili Reinhart and Camila Mendes) —
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