Biography
Who is Maddie Ziegler?
Early life and dance training
Madison Nicole Ziegler was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on September 30, 2002. She is of German, Italian, and Polish heritage. Her parents are Melissa Ziegler-Gisoni and Kurt Ziegler. She began formal dance lessons at the age of two.
By four, she joined the Abby Lee Dance Company. There, she studied multiple styles including lyrical, tap, jazz, contemporary, and ballet. She remained with this company for many years, winning various regional and national competitions. In 2013, she left her local school to pursue homeschooling, allowing for a more flexible schedule as her career began to expand.
Dance Moms and music videos
In 2011, Maddie Ziegler and her mother began appearing on the Lifetime reality program Dance Moms. This series focused on the dancers at the Abby Lee Dance Company and the relationships between their mothers. She appeared on the show for six seasons until 2016. During her time on the series, she established a reputation as a technically skilled dancer.
This exposure led to widespread notice in the entertainment industry. Sia eventually discovered her through this program. This collaboration resulted in Maddie starring in a series of popular music videos. Her appearance in the 2014 video for Chandelier brought her significant attention. She also featured in videos for Elastic Heart, Big Girls Cry, Cheap Thrills, and The Greatest. These projects accumulated billions of views on YouTube and led to performances on television programs like The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Saturday Night Live.
Acting career in film and TV
Maddie transitioned into professional acting with a guest role on the television series Drop Dead Diva in 2012. She continued to take guest spots on shows like Austin and Ally and Pretty Little Liars. Her first film role was providing the voice for Camille in the 2016 animated movie Ballerina, later released as Leap!.
She played Christina Sickleman in the 2017 film The Book of Henry. In 2021, she appeared as the lead character in the musical film Music, directed by Sia. That same year, she starred as Mia in the high school drama The Fallout, which premiered at South by Southwest. She also appeared as Velma in Steven Spielberg's adaptation of West Side Story. Her later work includes the 2023 film Fitting In and the 2024 comedy My Old Ass. Critics have noted her ability to convey complex emotions in these dramatic roles.
Awards and recognition
Throughout her career, Maddie has received various forms of industry recognition. Time magazine listed her as one of the most influential teens from 2015 to 2017. In 2023, she appeared on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list within the Hollywood and Entertainment category.
She also received the Dancers Choice Award for Favorite Dancer 17 and Under in 2014. Her memoir, The Maddie Diaries, reached the New York Times Best Seller list in 2017. She maintains a significant social media presence, connecting with millions of followers across platforms like Instagram.
Birthday and age
Maddie Ziegler was born on September 30, 2002, which makes Maddie 24 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Maddie shares the date with 30 other famous people.
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