Biography
Madeline Rose Zima (born September 16, 1985) is an American actress. She is mostly known for her six years as Grace Sheffield on the TV series The Nanny or more recently as Mia Cross on the Showtime dramedy Californication and as Gretchen Berg on Heroes.
Zima was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Marie and Dennis Zima. She has two younger sisters, Vanessa and Yvonne, both of whom are also actresses. Her surname means "winter" in Polish (as in most other Slavic languages) and comes from her paternal grandfather, who was from Poland.
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Zima began her career at the age of 24 months when she was chosen as a toddler to appear in a television commercial for Downy fabric softener. She played the role of Grace Sheffield on the television show The Nanny for six years. Zima has become known for her work in films such as The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and having most recently appeared in the Hilary Duff film A Cinderella Story and the soon to be released films: Dimples, Looking for Sunday, Once in a Very Blue Moon and Legacy alongside Haylie Duff
In 2007, Zima played Mia Cross, a sexually precocious and conniving 16-year old, on the series Californication. Zima returned for a second season of Californication in 2008 reprising her role as disgustingly bratty 17-year-old Mia. In promotion of Mia's book, Fucking and Punching, Zima starred in several Californication webisodes that are featured on YouTube. In 2009, Zima joined the cast of Heroes as Gretchen Berg, Claire Bennet's quirky bisexual roommate and tentative love interest.
She stars as Jill in the 2009 release The Collector.
Filmography
Year↓ Title↓ Role↓ Notes
1992 The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Emma Bartel
1993 Law & Order Samantha Silver Episode: "Extended Family"
1993 Mr. Nanny Kate Mason
1993 The Last Supper Holly Short film
1993-1999 The Nanny Gracie Sheffield 145 episodes
1996 JAG Cathy Gold Episode: "Sightings"
1997 'Til There Was You Gwen, age 12
1997 Touched by an Angel Alexandra 'Ally' Episode: "Children of the Night"
1998 The Rose Sisters
1998 Second Chances Melinda Judd
1999 Chasing Secrets Jo Ann Foley (age 14) TV movie
1999 Chicken Soup for the Soul Katie Episode: "Starlight, Star Bright"
1999 Lethal Vows Danielle Farris TV movie
2000 The Sandy Bottom Orchestra Rachel Green TV movie
2001 The Big Leaf Tobacco Company Girl #1 Short film
2001 The Nightmare Room Alexis Hall Episode: "School Spirit"
Episode: "Full Moon Halloween"
2001 King of the Hill (voice) Episode: "Kidney Boy and Hamster Girl: A Love Story"
Episode: "Bobby Goes Nuts"
2001 Gilmore Girls Lisa Episode: "Like Mother, Like Daughter"
2003 Lucy Lucille Ball (teen) TV movie
2003 7th Heaven Alice Miller Episode: "Go Ask Alice"
2004 A Cinderella Story Brianna
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-present Californication Mia Cross 27 episodes
2008 5 or Die Amelia TV short
2008 Legacy Zoey Martin Video
2008 Dimples Frances
2008 Streak Stella Short film
2009 The Collector Jill Chase
2009-2010 Heroes Gretchen Berg 11 episodes
2010 My Own Love Song Billie
2010 The Family Tree Mitzi
2010 First Dates Kelly Video
2010 My Boys Ashley Episode: "Be a Man!"
2010 Trance Jessica Completed
2011 Crazy Eyes Rebecca Post-production
2011 Lake Effects Lily Filming
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.