Madelaine Petsch

Biography

Madelaine Grobbelaar Petsch (born August 18, 1994) is a prominent American and South African actress and social media personality, best known for her iconic portrayal of Cheryl Blossom in The CW's hit series Riverdale (2017–2023).

Early Life and Roots:

Born to Timothy and Michele Petsch in Port Orchard, Washington, Madelaine's artistic journey began at a tender age. She started dance classes at three and delved into theater at five. Her parents, both South African, instilled a dual cultural upbringing, with Madelaine spending her first decade splitting time between South Africa and Washington state. She honed her craft at the Tacoma School of the Arts before making the pivotal move to Los Angeles after graduation. She has an older brother, Shaun.

Career Breakthrough and Beyond:

Petsch's career began gaining traction with a national advertising campaign for Coca-Cola in 2014. However, her true breakout arrived in February 2016 when she was cast as the enigmatic Cheryl Blossom in Riverdale. She had been considered for the role since late 2015, following a meeting with the casting director. The series quickly became a cultural phenomenon, premiering in January 2017 and concluding its successful seven-season run in August 2023.

Beyond Riverdale, Petsch expanded her filmography, joining the cast of the horror film Polaroid in March 2017, which was released in 2019. In January 2019, she was set to star in and executive produce the horror-comedy Saint Clare, though Bella Thorne later took over the role in 2022.

Petsch has also leveraged her platform beyond acting. In April 2018, she launched her own collection of sunglasses in collaboration with Privé Revaux. Recognizing the desire of fans to connect with her authentic self, she also created a popular YouTube channel, offering a glimpse into her life outside of her on-screen characters.

Personal Life and Advocacy:

A dedicated advocate for animal rights, Petsch embraced veganism at the age of 14, having been raised vegetarian. She has actively participated in awareness campaigns for PETA, aligning her personal values with her public persona.

In her personal life, Madelaine was in a relationship with musician Travis Mills from early 2017 to February 2020. Since August 2022, she has been in a relationship with music manager Anthony Li. As of March 2025, she has been linked to Tyga.