{{Short description|English actress}} {{Infobox person | image = | caption = | birth_name = Jessica Shirley Madsen | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|04|11|df=y}} | birth_place = Westminster, London, England | nationality = | education = Hurst Lodge School, Ascot, Berkshire | alma_mater = Guildhall School of Music and Drama | occupation = Actress | years_active = 2013–present | other_names = }}
'''Jessica Shirley Madsen''' (born 11 April 1992) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Clarice in the horror film ''Leatherface'' (2017) and Cressida Cowper in the Netflix period drama ''Bridgerton'' (2020–).
==Early life and education== Madsen was born in London to Jens Madsen and Julia Timewell and grew up in Surrey. Timewell, an artist, was born in what is now Zimbabwe and grew up in South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.juliatimewell.com/about|title=About|website=Julia Timewell|accessdate=22 February 2021|archive-date=19 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519001800/https://www.juliatimewell.com/about|url-status=dead}}</ref> Madsen's maternal great great aunt was the English writer Dorothy Whipple. She is of Danish descent on her father's side. She attended Notre Dame Preparatory School in Cobham for her primary education.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/NDS_ALUMNAE/status/1344574545169178624|title=Congratulations to Prep #alumnae Jessica Madsen @Jess_Mads who plays Cressida Cowper in the TV series @bridgerton shown on @netflix|author=NDS Alumnae|via=Twitter|date=31 December 2020|accessdate=22 February 2021}}</ref> She trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/drama/final_year_actors/graduates_2012_13/jessica_madsen/|title=Jessica Madsen|website=Guildhall School of Music & Drama|accessdate=22 February 2021|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417231038/https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/drama/final_year_actors/graduates_2012_13/jessica_madsen/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Career== Upon graduating from drama school, Madsen made her television debut in an episode of the 2013 ITV 1960s-set drama ''Breathless''. This was followed by further appearances in an installment of the Sky Arts anthology ''Playhouse Presents'' and episodes of the Channel 4 comedy-drama ''Babylon'', the BBC One medical soap opera ''Holby City'', and the period drama ''Mr Selfridge'', also on ITV. In addition, Madsen made her professional stage debut in ''Swimming'' at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.menagerietheatre.co.uk/productions/swimming/|title=Swimming|website=Menagerie Theatre Company|accessdate=23 February 2021}}</ref>
In 2017, Madsen made her feature film debut as Clarice in the horror film ''Leatherface'', a prequel to ''The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'',<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.thewrap.com/mr-selfridge-actress-jessica-madsen-joins-horror-movie-leatherface-exclusive/|title='Mr. Selfridge' Actress Jessica Madsen Joins Horror Movie 'Leatherface' (Exclusive)|journal=The Wrap|first=Jeff|last=Sneider|date=27 April 2015|accessdate=22 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/jessica-madsen-braves-leatherface/|title=Jessica Madsen Braves Leatherface|journal=Empire|first=Owen|last=Williams|date=27 April 2015|accessdate=22 February 2021}}</ref> and played Jenny in the ITV three-part miniseries ''Tina and Bobby''.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/tv-movies/cast-tina-bobby/|title=Who is in the cast of Tina and Bobby? And where have you seen them before?|journal=Heart|date=19 August 2020|accessdate=23 February 2021}}</ref> In 2019, she appeared in the films ''Dark Light'' as Annie Knox and ''Rambo: Last Blood'' as Becky.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://screenrant.com/rambo-5-last-blood-movie-cast-character-guide/|title= Rambo: Last Blood Cast & Character Guide|journal=Screen Rant|first=QV|last=Hough|date=16 September 2019|accessdate=23 February 2021}}</ref> Madsen was subsequently cast as Cressida Cowper in the 2020 Netflix period drama ''Bridgerton'', an adaptation of the Regency romance novels by Julia Quinn.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://newscenemagazine.com/2021/02/bridgertons-jessica-madsen-on-cressida-challenges-and-favorite-lines/|title='Bridgerton's Jessica Madsen on Cressida, challenges, and favorite lines|journal=New Scene Magazine|date=19 February 2021|accessdate=22 February 2021}}</ref>
In October 2025, Madsen was announced to star alongside Honor Swinton Byrne and Sam Spruell in the feature film ''Tidepools'', which began principal photography in Cornwall.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ntim|first=Zac |title=Sam Spruell, Honor Swinton Byrne & Jessica Madsen To Star In 'Tidepools'; Principal Photography Underway In Cornwall |url=https://deadline.com/2025/10/sam-spruell-honor-swinton-byrne-jessica-madsen-in-tidepools-1236591955/|website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=October 19, 2025|access-date=October 21, 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== In June 2023, Madsen revealed she is bisexual via Instagram. The following June, she wrote that she is "In love with a woman, loud about it and proud about it!"<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/bridgerton-star-jessica-madsen-is-in-love-with-a-woman-8657070|title=Bridgerton star Jessica Madsen says she's 'in love with a woman' as she celebrates the start of Pride Month|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Wesley|last=Stenzel|accessdate=1 June 2024}}</ref>
==Acting credits== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | rowspan="2" | 2017 | ''The Fowl'' | Steph | Short film |- | ''Leatherface'' | Clarice | |- | rowspan="2" | 2019 | ''Dark Light'' | Annie Knox | |- | ''Rambo: Last Blood'' | Becky | |- |- | 2025 || ''Tidepools'' || {{TableTBA}} || Filming<ref>{{cite web |last=Ntim |first=Zac |title=Sam Spruell, Honor Swinton Byrne & Jessica Madsen To Star In 'Tidepools'; Principal Photography Underway In Cornwall |url=https://deadline.com/2025/10/sam-spruell-honor-swinton-byrne-jessica-madsen-in-tidepools-1236591955/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=October 19, 2025 |access-date=October 21, 2025 }}</ref> |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2013 | ''Breathless'' | Miss Roper | 1 episode |- | rowspan="2" | 2014 | ''Playhouse Presents'' | | Episode: "Timeless" |- | ''Babylon'' | Nina | 1 episode |- | rowspan="2" | 2015 | ''Holby City'' | Minty Colquhoun | Episode: "Be Bold, Be Bold" |- | ''Mr Selfridge'' | Polly Maxwell Taylor | 2 episodes |- | 2017 | ''Tina and Bobby'' | Jenny Cox / Jenny Squibb | Miniseries |- | 2020–2026 | ''Bridgerton'' | Cressida Cowper | Recurring role (seasons 1–2)<br>Main role (season 3)<br>Guest (season 4) |- | rowspan="2" | TBA | {{Pending series|Wild Things}} | Lynette Chappell | Upcoming miniseries |- | ''Bloodaxe'' | Gunnhild | |- |}
===Video games=== {| class="wikitable unsortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2017 | ''Need for Speed Payback'' | Jessica Miller | |- |}
=== Theatre === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2014 | ''Swimming'' | Lucy | The Pleasance, Edinburgh Fringe Festival |- |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Award !Category !Work !Result !Ref. |- |2021 |Screen Actors Guild Awards |Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series |''Bridgerton'' |{{Nominated}} |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-04 |title='Bridgerton' rebounds from Golden Globes snub, scoring two SAG Awards nominations |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-02-04/bridgerton-sag-awards-rege-jean-page |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|7289044}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Madsen, Jessica}} Category:Living people Category:1992 births Category:Actresses from Surrey Category:Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Category:English bisexual actresses Category:English people of Danish descent Category:English people of South African descent Category:English people of Zimbabwean descent Category:People educated at Notre Dame School, Surrey Category:Actresses from London Category:People from Westminster Category:Actors from the City of Westminster Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people