Virginia Madsen
Actress
65 years (Sep 11, 1961)Chicago, Illinois, USA
Known for
An elegant presence with a velvety voice, Virginia Madsen has known how to reinvent herself across four decades of film. Born in Chicago, she began as Princess Irulan in David Lynch's 'Dune' (1984) and starred in several teen films of the 1980s, before becoming a horror icon as Helen Lyle in 'Candyman' (1992). Her great critical recognition came with the sensitive Maya of Alexander Payne's 'Sideways' (2004), which earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. Equally active on television, with appearances in series like 'Frasier', 'Monk' and 'Swamp Thing', she combines sophistication and warmth in a register that spans the dramatic and the fantastical.
Virginia Madsen
Actress
Known for
An elegant presence with a velvety voice, Virginia Madsen has known how to reinvent herself across four decades of film. Born in Chicago, she began as Princess Irulan in David Lynch's 'Dune' (1984) and starred in several teen films of the 1980s, before becoming a horror icon as Helen Lyle in 'Candyman' (1992). Her great critical recognition came with the sensitive Maya of Alexander Payne's 'Sideways' (2004), which earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. Equally active on television, with appearances in series like 'Frasier', 'Monk' and 'Swamp Thing', she combines sophistication and warmth in a register that spans the dramatic and the fantastical.
Movies: 77 titles
Plays Princess Irulan
Dune
1984
Plays Suzette
Red Riding Hood
2011
Plays Dr. Peters
Prey for the Devil
2022
Plays Dolly Harshaw
The Hot Spot
1990
Plays Jackie Lemancyzk
The Rainmaker
1997
Plays Terry
Joy
2015
Plays Helen Lyle
Candyman
1992
Plays Maya
Sideways
2004
Plays Jane
The Haunting
1999
Plays Agatha Sparrow / Fabrizia
The Number 23
2007
Plays Helen Lyle (voice)
Candyman
2021
Plays Mags
The Portrait
2023
Plays Ania Adamcyzk
Her Smell
2019
Plays Sara Campbell
The Haunting in Connecticut
2009
Plays Beth Stanfield
Firewall
2006
Plays Cleopatra (voice)
Scooby-Doo! in Where's My Mummy?
2005
Plays Charlotte O'Neil
The Magic of Belle Isle
2012
Plays Louise Marcus
Highlander II: The Quickening
1991
Plays Deandra Lerner
Better Watch Out
2017
Plays Katherine Henley
The Prophecy
1995
Plays Sally Boffin
Mr. North
1988
Plays Madeline Robistat
Electric Dreams
1984
Plays Hippolyta (voice)
Wonder Woman
2009
Plays Lisa
Class
1983
Plays Nat
Spare Room
2018
Plays Maggie
Dead Rising: Watchtower
2015
Plays Barbara Spencer
Creator
1985
Plays Karen
Walter
2015
Plays Dangerous Woman
A Prairie Home Companion
2006
Plays Traci
After Sex
2000
Plays Valerie Brisky
One Day as a Lion
2023
Plays Charlotte
Diminished Capacity
2008
Plays Lorraine
Father of Invention
2010
Plays Dixie DeLaughter
Ghosts of Mississippi
1996
Plays Lisa Taylor
Fire with Fire
1986
Plays Victoria
Burn Your Maps
2016
Plays Deena
A Change of Heart
2017
Plays Gina Hayes
Blue Tiger
1994
Plays Kelly
Modern Girls
1986
Plays Mrs. Farmer
The Astronaut Farmer
2007
Plays Yolanda Caldwell
Slam Dance
1987
Plays Eileen
1985
2018
Plays Kim
Just Your Luck
1996
Plays Augusta
Crazy Kind of Love
2013
Plays Mrs. Thomas
An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success
2015
Plays Coach Judy
Give Me an A
2023
Plays Andrea
Zombie High
1987
Plays Allison Rowe
Hot to Trot
1988
Plays Wanda Lovell
Brave New Girl
2004
Plays Clementine Winks
The Hot Flashes
2013
TV Shows: 27 titles
Plays Kimble Hookstraten
Designated Survivor
2016
Plays Madeline Hawthorne
American Gothic
2016
Plays Maria Sunderland
Swamp Thing
2019
Plays Cheryl West
Scoundrels
2010
Plays Connie Manetti-Hanahan
Holidazed
2024
Plays Penelope Gardiner
Witches of East End
2013
Plays Hope Stevens
Smith
2006
Plays Rebecca Sandstrom
American Dreams
2002
Plays Clara Petacci
Mussolini: The Untold Story
1985
Plays Cassandra Stone
Frasier
1993
Plays Karin De Vries
The Apocalypse Watch
1997
Plays Hannah Durant
Hell on Wheels
2011
Plays Lorraine Anne Charnock
Moonlighting
1985
Plays T.K. Jensen
Monk
2002
Plays Marsha Ellison
The Practice
1997
Plays Paige
Elementary
2012
Plays Silver Sable (voice)
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series
2003
Plays Dr. Sarah Corwin (voice)
Justice League
2001
Plays Roulette (voice)
Justice League Unlimited
2004
Plays Arella (voice)
Teen Titans
2003
Plays Mel
Ruth & Erica
2012
Plays Erika Ashland
Boomtown
2002
Plays Alonzo Solace's Dance Partner
Earth 2
1994
Plays Christina
The Hitchhiker
1983
Plays Krista Walker
CSI: Miami
2002
Plays Kellin
Star Trek: Voyager
1995
Plays Marge McKnight
Obliterated
2023
Plays Lou Ellen Purdy
American Playhouse
1982
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Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Virginia Madsen and where are they from?
Virginia Madsen is 65 years old, born on September 11, 1961 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Virginia Madsen?
Virginia Madsen is best known for roles in Joy, The Number 23, Dune.
How many movies has Virginia Madsen been in?
Over a 43-year career (since 1983), Virginia Madsen has appeared in 77 movies and 27 TV shows.
What was Virginia Madsen's first movie?
The career of Virginia Madsen began with Class (1983).
What is Virginia Madsen's most recent movie or series?
Virginia Madsen's most recent release is Street Smart, which premiered on June 18, 2026.
What TV shows has Virginia Madsen appeared in?
On television, Virginia Madsen has appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Elementary, CSI: Miami, Teen Titans.
Virginia Madsen
1961-09-11 · Chicago, Illinois, USA
Virginia Gayle Madsen (born September 11, 1961) is an American actress and film producer. She made her film debut in Class (1983), which was filmed in her native Chicago. After she moved to Los Angeles, director David Lynch cast her as Princess Irulan in the science fiction film Dune (1984). Madsen then starred in a series of successful teen movies, including Electric Dreams (1984), Modern Girls (1986), and Fire with Fire (1986).
Madsen received further recognition for her starring role as Helen Lyle in the horror film Candyman (1992). For her performance in Alexander Payne's comedy-drama Sideways (2004), Madsen was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
On television, Madsen has appeared in the comedy-drama series Moonlighting (1989), the comedy series Frasier (1998), the period drama series American Dreams (2002–2003), the murder mystery series Monk (2002–2009), the science fiction series The Event (2011), the supernatural drama series Witches of East End (2013–2014), the political thriller series Designated Survivor (2016–2017), and the DC Universe superhero horror series Swamp Thing (2019).Virginia Madsen, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.