Bailee Madison

Bailee Rose Madison is an American actress who has been a working performer for over two decades, making the leap from celebrated child star to a versatile adult lead in horror, drama, and romantic comedy. Born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she first won attention as a young actress with a remarkable naturalness in front of the camera, a quality critics noted from her earliest roles. Today she is known for her long run on Hallmark's Good Witch, a string of horror features, and a recent pivot back to leading roles in romantic comedies, including the 2026 Netflix comedy Grown Ups 3.

Madison has earned three Young Artist Awards and nominations for a Critics' Choice Movie Award and a Saturn Award. Her social media presence is substantial, with three million Instagram followers and an active YouTube channel. As of 2026 she is balancing promotion of her rom-coms with production on the Adam Sandler-led Grown Ups 3, marking a major commercial step in her adult career. [edit]

Bailee Rose Madison grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she was born on October 15, 1999. Her path into acting started early; she was a preschooler when she began booking commercials and small roles, and her family relocated to Los Angeles to support her career. Details of her schooling are private, but her childhood was shaped by constant auditions and a fast rise through the child-actor ranks.

Her first major film role came in 2007 with Bridge to Terabithia, a fantasy drama that showcased her ability to hold her own alongside older actors. She followed with the faith-based Letters to God in 2010, but the turning point was landing the lead in the 2011 horror film Don't Be Afraid of the Dark. Directed by Troy Nixey and produced by Guillermo del Toro, the film put an 11-year-old Madison at the center of a studio horror feature, a rare opportunity that demonstrated her range and set the stage for her later genre work. [edit]

Bailee Madison's breakthrough came with the 2011 horror film Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, where she played a young girl menaced by creatures in a haunted mansion. The role established her as a rare child actor capable of carrying a genre film. She followed with a recurring part on the ABC Family series The Fosters in 2013, playing the sister of Maia Mitchell's character; the resemblance between the two actresses was so striking that many viewers believed they were real siblings.

From 2015 to 2023, Madison starred as Grace in Hallmark Channel's Good Witch, a long-running series that made her a familiar face in family-friendly television. After the show ended, she returned to film with a deliberate pivot to romantic comedy. In 2026 she led Don't Say Good Luck (premiering in New York in August) and 40 Dates and 40 Nights, her first rom-com leads in 15 years. That same year she joined the cast of Netflix's Grown Ups 3 in a mystery role, working alongside Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Julie Bowen. Production began in August 2026, and she was photographed with Sandler at a cast dinner, signaling a major step into mainstream comedy. [edit]

Bailee Madison's public image has evolved from a lauded child actress known for her maturity and naturalness to a versatile adult performer. Recent media coverage has focused on her more daring fashion choices, signaling a deliberate departure from her child-star persona. On social media, she maintains a professional but approachable tone, promoting her projects while occasionally sharing personal moments. Critics and fans alike praise her ability to shift between genres, from horror to family drama to romantic comedy, without losing her on-screen charm. Her presence is defined by consistency and a quiet confidence rather than controversy or spectacle. [edit]

Bailee Madison's fanbase is a quiet, organic community rather than a highly organized force. There is no formal fandom name, and her supporters engage primarily through standard social media interaction, discussing her filmography and celebrating her career longevity. They often point to her resemblance to Maia Mitchell as a fun trivia point, but there are no coordinated campaigns or rituals. iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Bailee Madison, but as of the August 2026 rankings she does not hold a placement in the published rankings. She is not in the Global Top 1,000 nor on any Top-100 scope list. This reflects a respected career without a current surge in global fame metrics, despite her active projects and significant social following. [edit]

Bailee Madison's striking resemblance to actress Maia Mitchell became a running joke among The Fosters fans, many of whom assumed they were real sisters. She has a music presence on Spotify with over 400,000 monthly listeners, though her discography is not widely known. On Instagram, she celebrated the 18th anniversary of Bridge to Terabithia with a nostalgic post, a film that remains a touchstone for her early career. A frequently retold story among fans is her return to leading roles 15 years after Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, now in romantic comedies. Her casting in Grown Ups 3 links her to the Adam Sandler comedy universe, a current development that fans are watching closely. There are no documented legends of crowds or supernatural incidents; her mythology is professional, centered on her successful transition from child star. [edit]

Bailee Madison was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to parents who supported her early acting ambitions. She has not publicly shared extensive details about her parents or siblings, and her family life remains largely private. As of 2026, she is not married and has no children. She lives in Los Angeles, where she continues to work steadily in film and television. Her family reportedly relocated from Florida to California to accommodate her career, a common move for child actors, but specific names and occupations are not public. [edit]

Bailee Madison has worked alongside Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Julie Bowen in Grown Ups 3. Her on-screen sisterly resemblance to Maia Mitchell on The Fosters remains a favorite talking point among fans. She has also collaborated with director Troy Nixey and producer Guillermo del Toro on Don't Be Afraid of the Dark. [edit]

Bailee Madison has kept her personal life largely out of the spotlight. As of 2026, there are no publicly confirmed relationships, engagements, or marriages. She has not been linked to any high-profile partners in credible media, and she appears to prioritize her career. Her relationship status is best described as single, with no documented romantic partner in recent years. [edit]

Bailee Madison's net worth in 2026 is estimated at approximately $5 million by the iFANN Editorial Team. This figure reflects her earnings from over two decades of acting, including lead roles in films like Bridge to Terabithia and Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, a long run on Hallmark's Good Witch, and recent Netflix projects. Her income comes primarily from acting salaries, residuals from television syndication, and brand partnerships. The Grown Ups 3 role represents a significant commercial opportunity that may boost her earnings further. While specific financial details are not public, her consistent work in high-profile productions suggests a stable and growing income stream. [edit]

Bailee Madison has won three Young Artist Awards for her performances as a child actress. She has also been nominated for a Critics' Choice Movie Award and a Saturn Award, though she did not win those. Her award wins recognize her early talent and her ability to carry dramatic and genre roles at a young age. [edit]