From Manson Follower To Oscar Winner: 5 Ways Quentin Tarantino Propelled Mikey Madison's Career

The trajectory of a Hollywood career can change in a single moment, and for actress Mikey Madison, that moment was being cast by Quentin Tarantino. As of December 2025, Madison is one of the most talked-about stars in the industry, having recently won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the critical darling *Anora*. However, the foundation for this monumental success was laid years earlier when she was chosen by the iconic filmmaker to play a key role in his 2019 masterpiece, *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood*.

This article dives deep into the profound, career-altering connection between the legendary director and his breakout star. From the intense audition process to the immediate doors that opened, Tarantino’s decision to cast Madison served as a powerful endorsement that directly influenced her path to becoming an Oscar-winning actress today.

Mikey Madison: A Rising Star's Profile and Biography

Mikey Madison, whose full name is Mikaela Madison Rosberg, has rapidly transitioned from a rising television star to a major cinematic force. Her breakthrough role in a Quentin Tarantino film provided the necessary industry validation to land the kind of complex, leading roles that define a career, culminating in her recent Oscar win.

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• Full Name: Mikaela Madison Rosberg
• Date of Birth: March 25, 1999
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Parents' Profession: Both of her parents are psychologists, and not involved in the entertainment industry.
• Family: She grew up with a twin brother and three other siblings.
• Career Start: Began acting at the age of 14, initially appearing in various short films.
• Breakout Role: Susan "Sadie" Atkins in Quentin Tarantino's *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood* (2019).
• Major Accolade: Winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Ani/Anora in Sean Baker's *Anora* (2024).

The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Launchpad: A Director’s Seal of Approval

Quentin Tarantino is renowned for his ability to spot and launch the careers of new talent, and Mikey Madison is one of his most significant recent discoveries. Her role as Susan "Sadie" Atkins, one of the notorious Manson Family members, was not a large one, but it was pivotal and highly memorable. The intensity and commitment Madison brought to the character immediately signaled her potential to the entire film industry.

1. The Audition That Went "Full Manson"

Landing a role in a Tarantino film is notoriously difficult, and Madison went to extraordinary lengths to secure the part of Sadie. She recounted a highly unconventional audition process that proved her dedication. She spent time on an abandoned movie set and even gifted Tarantino a painting she had created in the style of her character, along with an "ode" to him. This level of commitment is precisely what Tarantino often looks for, and winning the role over countless other young actresses provided a powerful endorsement of her raw talent and fearlessness.

2. Instant Industry Validation and Credibility

The moment an actor is cast in a Quentin Tarantino film, their industry standing changes overnight. For a young actress like Madison, being associated with a director of his caliber immediately conferred a level of credibility and prestige that years of other work might not achieve. She herself noted that after *Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood*, doors in the movie industry "cracked open" for her. This validation is priceless, proving she could handle a complex, challenging role under the direction of one of cinema's most demanding auteurs.

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3. The Direct Connection to Her Oscar-Winning Role in Anora

The most concrete and recent evidence of Tarantino's impact is the direct link to her Oscar-winning role in Sean Baker’s *Anora*. Director Sean Baker, when accepting the Palme d'Or for *Anora*, publicly thanked Quentin Tarantino for casting Madison in *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood*. Baker explicitly stated that seeing her performance in the Tarantino film was what convinced him to cast her in the lead role of Ani/Anora. This chain of events—Tarantino casts her, which leads to Baker casting her, which leads to an Academy Award—firmly establishes *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood* as the definitive launchpad for her career.

Mikey Madison's Future: Will She Reunite with Tarantino for 'The Movie Critic'?

As Quentin Tarantino prepares for his reported tenth and final film, *The Movie Critic*, speculation is rampant about which of his former collaborators will return. The film is set to star Brad Pitt, another *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood* alum, confirming Tarantino’s tendency to reunite with his favorite actors. Given Madison’s recent monumental success and her proven ability to embody a complex, challenging character in his unique cinematic universe, she is a prime candidate for a reunion.

While there has been no official casting announcement for Mikey Madison in *The Movie Critic*, the possibility is a major talking point among fans and industry insiders. Her career is currently on an explosive upward trajectory, with recent news linking her to other major projects, such as a possible lead role in Zach Cregger’s *Resident Evil* film. However, securing a role in Tarantino's final film would solidify her place as one of the director's enduring muses, a title currently held by actors like Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman.

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The narrative of Tarantino discovering a young star who then goes on to win an Oscar is a powerful one, and a reunion for his final cinematic chapter would be a fitting conclusion to their professional story. Whether as the lead, or in a signature, memorable supporting role, Madison’s inclusion would be a nod to the "new generation of stars" that Tarantino helped usher into the spotlight. The industry waits with bated breath to see if the director will once again tap the talent he first recognized years ago on a dusty, abandoned movie set.