Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Virginia Madsen
open-in-new
<p>Virginia Madsen (born September 11, 1961) is an American actress. She is the recipient of two <a href="/facts/Critics%2527_Choice_Movie_Awards/5H09gIxL">Critics' Choice Awards</a>, an <a href="/facts/Independent_Spirit_Awards/teWKTmtM">Independent Spirit Award</a>, and a <a href="/facts/Screen_Actors_Guild_Awards/MhpGtGH1">Screen Actors Guild Award</a>, as well as nominations for one <a href="/facts/Academy_Awards/CwTxYuNQ">Academy Award</a> and one <a href="/facts/Golden_Globe_Awards/1v50C2Tb">Golden Globe Award</a>. </p><p>Madsen made her film debut in 1983 with a small part in <i><a href="/facts/Class_(film)/mxjjYlsg">Class</a></i>. Her breakout role came the following year when she played <a href="/facts/Princess_Irulan/WbPd60NU">Princess Irulan</a> in <i><a href="/facts/Dune_(1984_film)/yPAxhEPw">Dune</a></i>. After a string of parts in <a href="/facts/Teen_film/90ejCWDs">teen films</a>, comedies and thrillers of varying commercial success, Madsen received critical acclaim and a <a href="/facts/Saturn_Award_for_Best_Actress/ENg8mI00">Saturn Award</a> for her starring role as Helen Lyle in <i><a href="/facts/Candyman_(1992_film)/lIIYEbK4">Candyman</a></i> (1992). Subsequent film appearances during the 1990s included <i><a href="/facts/The_Prophecy/JYob3k3t">The Prophecy</a></i> (1995), <i><a href="/facts/Ghosts_of_Mississippi/Nc9L54eL">Ghosts of Mississippi</a></i> (1996), <i><a href="/facts/The_Rainmaker_(1997_film)/cqFGuuJV">The Rainmaker</a></i> (1997), and <i><a href="/facts/The_Haunting_(1999_film)/v51c9AfY">The Haunting</a></i> (1999). For her portrayal of Maya Randall in <i><a href="/facts/Sideways/ntDrcslD">Sideways</a></i> (2004), she was nominated for the <a href="/facts/Academy_Award_for_Best_Supporting_Actress/uqdyXp8W">Oscar for Best Supporting Actress</a>. Her other credits include <i><a href="/facts/A_Prairie_Home_Companion_(film)/kdpq8KMF">A Prairie Home Companion</a></i> (2006), <i><a href="/facts/The_Number_23/ER571XD2">The Number 23</a></i> (2007), <i><a href="/facts/The_Haunting_in_Connecticut/dr8DTDRE">The Haunting in Connecticut</a></i> (2009), <i><a href="/facts/Joy_(2015_film)/z9fs3Qvv">Joy</a></i> (2015), <i><a href="/facts/Her_Smell/0SA89h8c">Her Smell</a></i> (2018), <i><a href="/facts/Prey_for_the_Devil/D75lrQ7K">Prey for the Devil</a></i> (2022), and <i><a href="/facts/Lola_(2024_film)/yHTKW3F3">Lola</a></i> (2024). </p><p>Outside film, Madsen has played recurring roles on <i><a href="/facts/Moonlighting_(TV_series)/k3ACNSUE">Moonlighting</a></i> (1989), <i><a href="/facts/Frasier/VBEd6I7T">Frasier</a></i> (1998), <i><a href="/facts/American_Dreams/1JQuYWBI">American Dreams</a></i> (2002–2003), <i><a href="/facts/Monk_(TV_series)/lBo4y5HM">Monk</a></i> (2009), <i><a href="/facts/The_Event/T7sFXP3m">The Event</a></i> (2011), <i><a href="/facts/Hell_on_Wheels_(TV_series)/vH91h3GX">Hell on Wheels</a></i> (2012), <i><a href="/facts/Witches_of_East_End_(TV_series)/e9XHglwB">Witches of East End</a></i> (2013–2014), <i><a href="/facts/Designated_Survivor_(TV_series)/XlXoR6BC">Designated Survivor</a></i> (2016–2017), and <i><a href="/facts/Elementary_(TV_series)/U958NAgj">Elementary</a></i> (2016–2019). Other television credits include <i><a href="/facts/American_Gothic_(2016_TV_series)/Xo11QA3c">American Gothic</a></i> (2016), <i><a href="/facts/The_Truth_About_the_Harry_Quebert_Affair_(miniseries)/qGQuwR0J">The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair</a></i> (2018), and <i><a href="/facts/Swamp_Thing_(2019_TV_series)/DmPau91f">Swamp Thing</a></i> (2019). She is married and has one child. </p>