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Madison Iseman has built a diverse resume spanning blockbuster adventure franchises, psychological thrillers, and serialized television. Breaking out globally through her role as Bethany Walker in the modern Jumanji films, she transitioned quickly from early guest appearances on network sitcoms to leading roles in horror and drama. Understanding her career trajectory requires looking beyond single viral hits to examine how she carved out a distinct niche in contemporary Hollywood.
The core of her filmography covers high-profile studio sequels, independent features, and major streaming projects. Whether playing a trapped teenager in a video game avatar, a babysitter battling demonic forces, or taking on dual characters in a television adaptation, Iseman's project choices highlight a deliberate mix of mainstream entertainment and genre filmmaking.
Early Television Roles and Career Beginnings
Before landing major studio features, Iseman cut her teeth on episodic television and independent films. Early work included minor guest spots on established network comedies like Modern Family (playing Sam in the episode "Marco Polo") and Nickelodeon series such as Henry Danger and Kirby Buckets. These early years established her presence in Los Angeles after moving from her hometown of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Her first substantial television breakthrough came with the CMT comedy-drama series Still the King, where she starred as Charlotte, the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus's character, across two seasons from 2016 to 2017. Securing that role required passing through multiple rounds of auditions over several months, providing her first taste of heavy schedule commitments on a multi-episode television arc.
The Blockbuster Breakout: Jumanji and Franchise Success
The turning point in Iseman's career arrived when she was cast in Sony's blockbuster reboot Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017). Playing Bethany Walker—the vain high school popular girl whose persona winds up trapped inside the avatar of Professor Shelly Oberon (played by Jack Black)—allowed her to showcase comedic timing alongside an ensemble cast that included Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan.
The film became a massive commercial success, grossing over $900 million worldwide. Iseman reprised the role in the 2019 sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level, cementing her place in a major global franchise. This visibility opened doors to studio horror and young adult adaptations.
Establishing a Reputation in Horror and Thriller Cinema
Following her initial Jumanji success, Iseman leaned heavily into genre work, particularly horror and psychological thrillers.
- Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018): She took on the lead human role of Sarah Quinn, leading a group of kids trying to stop Slappy the Dummy from bringing Halloween monsters to life.
- Annabelle Comes Home (2019): Playing Mary Ellen, the conscientious babysitter whose evening goes sideways when the infamous doll awakens, Iseman anchored the atmospheric supernatural film within the broader The Conjuring universe.
- Nocturne (2020): As part of Blumhouse's Welcome to the Blumhouse anthology series on Amazon Prime, she played Vivian Lowe, a talented musician competing against her twin sister in a tense, Faustian psychological drama.
- Fear of Rain (2021): In this indie psychological thriller, she shouldered the demanding lead role of Rain Burroughs, a young woman living with schizophrenia who believes her neighbor has kidnapped a child, working alongside Katherine Heigl and Harry Connick Jr.
Headlining Television and International Adaptations
Iseman continued expanding her range beyond supporting studio roles into complex lead television performances and international adaptations.
In 2021, she took on dual lead roles as twin sisters Lennon and Alison Grant in Amazon Prime's television adaptation of the horror slasher I Know What You Did Last Summer. Playing twins required heavy technical execution and distinct character differentiation throughout the serialized mystery.
On the international front, she starred as Sienna (Athena) in Knights of the Zodiac (2023), a live-action feature film adaptation of the classic manga series Saint Seiya, acting alongside Mackenyu and Sean Bean. Her transition into mature dramatic television continued with her main cast role in the USA Network legal drama series The Rainmaker, playing Sarah Plankmore.
Common Questions About Madison Iseman
How old is Madison Iseman?
Born on February 14, 1997, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, she is 29 years old.
Did Madison Iseman play the actual avatar in Jumanji?
No. In both Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level, Iseman plays Bethany in the real-world framing sequences, while Jack Black physically plays the avatar version of Bethany inside the video game world.
What was Madison Iseman's first major television role?
Her first major recurring television role was playing Charlotte in the CMT series Still the King from 2016 to 2017, starring alongside Billy Ray Cyrus.
Where can I watch Fear of Rain?
Fear of Rain is available to stream on various digital rental platforms and select subscription video-on-demand services, featuring Iseman in her most physically and psychologically demanding lead film performance to date. You can check streaming availability via JustWatch.
