Bailee Madison has showcased her impressive acting range throughout her career, notably taking dramatic and comedic roles, with a penchant for dark or spooky storylines, which have prepared her to lead an incredible ensemble cast as Imogen Adams in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin on HBO Max.
While she has played several memorable film roles, Madison has consistently left an impression on television audiences, and her convincing performances have won over some of the most loyal fan bases on IMDb. Even though Madison’s characters often walked the line between hero and villain, she can always mesmerize fans with her acting ability, and make them root for her character.
Contents
- 1 Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022) – 7.0
- 2 Holliston (2013) – 7.2
- 3 Good Witch (2015-2021) – 7.2
- 4 American Dad! (2014) – 7.4
- 5 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008) – 7.6
- 6 Once Upon A Time (2012-2016) – 7.7
- 7 R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour (2010-2012) – 7.9
- 8 The Fosters (2014-2016) – 7.9
- 9 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2010) – 8.1
- 10 House (2007) – 8.7
Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022) – 7.0
Stream On HBO Max
In Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, five friends vow to keep their darkest secrets after a tragedy strikes a Y2K party in their small town of Millwood. Over 20 years later, history begins to repeat itself as their daughters form a new friendship. This thrilling sequel to Pretty Little Liars raises the stakes with a menacing villain and creepy horror aesthetic.
Bailee Madison plays a brave and compassionate pregnant teenager named Imogen Adams. After she loses someone close to her, Imogen finds solace in her new group of friends, and pours her time into uncovering how past and present tragedies are linked to ‘A.’ Madison seamlessly shows how Imogen’s sweet demeanor is laced with determination and major “final girl” energy.
Holliston (2013) – 7.2
Stream On Shudder & AMC+
Holliston is an offbeat sitcom featuring two aspiring horror filmmakers and fanatics, who work at a local television station, under a glam rock boss, played by Dee Snider of Twisted Sister. Although the series is classified as “horror,” it’s more fan service for the genre, with celebrity cameos, movie references, and satirical storylines.
This series has more of a niche audience, but the small group of less than a thousand IMDb users rated this show so high, that it bumped more mainstream series out of Bailee Madison’s top ten. Her over-the-top childish appearance as Bailey Morgan in season 2, episode 5, called “Rock The Cradle,” blends her comedic timing with her quick ability to transform into a villain.
Good Witch (2015-2021) – 7.2
Stream On Netflix & Hallmark Movies Now
Set in the charming town of Middleton, Good Witch follows Cassie Nightingale, an herbalist and owner of a small gift shop and bed & breakfast, who appears to have the gift of clairvoyance, which is passed down to her teenage daughter, Grace. Magical powers are implied throughout the show but are never fully explored, which is one of the things about the Good Witch series that doesn’t make sense.
When Grace tries to rebel as a teenager, she shares her mom’s strong intuition, which helps her anticipate events before they happen. Bailee Madison’s sweet but confident performance as Grace is one of her most recognizable roles since she played an integral part of the cast throughout its seven seasons.
American Dad! (2014) – 7.4
Stream On Hulu
American Dad! is an animated comedy created by Seth MacFarlane, centered on C.I.A. agent Stan Smith, his family, their outspoken goldfish, and an alien named Roger who lives in their attic. While the concept is slightly more outlandish than Seth MacFarlane’s other fan-favorite series, Family Guy, American Dad! continues to offer new stories, even after 17 seasons.
While Bailee Madison is mostly known for her live-action roles, she has done a bit of voiceover work, including as a “sister” in a commercial for Roger’s Spot after a business deal takes the alien’s dive bar national in the episode, “Roger Passes The Bar.” The sister only appears briefly, but Madison’s innocence shines through, and the show’s dedicated fans rate the show high on IMDb.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008) – 7.6
Stream On Hulu
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles follows Sarah and her son John after the events of Terminator 2: Judgement Day, as they try to prevent a tech company from causing the apocalypse. From time travel to violent cyborgs, and complicated family dynamics, this futuristic series is action-packed with chase scenes and suspense.
In the finale of the first season called, “What He Beheld,” Bailee Madison plays a little girl who is quietly coloring in a closet until she is held hostage in the midst of a terrifying standoff. She’s only on-screen for a few minutes, but the fear in her eyes is just as piercing as it is in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.
Once Upon A Time (2012-2016) – 7.7
Stream On Disney+
Classic fairy tales and Disney characters intertwine with a quaint town in Maine called Storybrooke, in the series Once Upon A Time. This fantasy drama provides extravagant backstories for some of the most beloved and feared fictional characters, alongside a mystery that ties the two worlds together, and could lead to an enchanting OUAT spinoff.
When Bailee Madison first appears as Young Snow White, she highlights the classic character’s innocence, but gradually grows into a brave princess, ready to defend her people, and fulfill her birth rite as Queen. Madison’s performance makes viewers question how naive Snow White really was, or if she knew exactly what she was doing to her wicked stepmother Regina, even at a young age.
R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour (2010-2012) – 7.9
Stream On YouTube, TubiTV (Español), Or Buy On Amazon Prime Video
As the mastermind behind the Goosebumps franchise, R.L. Stine created chilling narratives that often spooked young viewers, but his episodic series called The Haunting Hour has a much darker tone, with eerie storylines, believable jump-scares, and demented villains who could cause nightmares for horror fans.
Bailee Madison showcased her classic horror scream in, “Scarecrow,” and demonstrated how envy can lead to unknown dangers in “The Girl In The Painting,” but it was her debut as Lilly Cauldwell in the series premiere, “Really You,” that left a haunting impression, since she played the spoiled lead character opposite a life-size doll, with a face made in her likeness. The disturbing two-part story was reminiscent of the creepy dolls in the original Pretty Little Liars series.
The Fosters (2014-2016) – 7.9
Stream On Hulu, Freeform, & ABC
The Fosters centers on a loving family of fostered and adopted children, led by their mothers, Lena and Stef. Throughout the course of the series, the family changes and expands, often following revelations about each of the kids’ biological relatives, and their complex relationships. The honest depiction of social issues makes this family drama worth revisiting, as well as its sequel, Good Trouble.
In the second season, Bailee Madison joined the cast as Sophia Quinn, the biological half-sister of Callie Jacobs, played by Maia Mitchell. The actresses bared an uncanny resemblance to each other, but it was their effortless ability to play long-lost sisters that had the audience fooled. Madison expertly peeled back the layers of Sophia with sensitivity and conviction, especially towards her mental health storylines.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2010) – 8.1
Stream On Hulu, Peacock, & NBC
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is one of the longest-running dramas on television. The fan-favorite crime series follows Olivia Benson and her team as they investigate sensitive cases in New York City, usually pertaining to sexually-based offenses, or storylines involving children. Guest starring on SVU has become a rite of passage for many up-and-coming actors, and high-profile celebrities alike.
In the season 12 premiere called, “Locum,” an overprotective mother named Pamela (Joan Cusack) is deeply upset when her daughter Mackenzie (Bailee Madison) goes missing. After years in unfit foster homes, Mackenzie grows tired of keeping up a persona and tells Officer Benson the truth. With a sharp tongue and menacing stare, Madison plays a convincing brat, villain, and victim.
House (2007) – 8.7
Stream on Peacock & Amazon Prime Video
Inspired by the mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, the snarky medical drama House features Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House. His character constantly crosses ethical and legal boundaries and implements unorthodox methods of solving medical cases, such as ordering his team of doctors to break into patients’ houses and steal evidence.
In the season 3 premiere called, “Act Your Age,” Bailee Madison plays Lucy, a six-year-old girl who experiences severe health problems, which typically plague much older patients. Even though it was her first television role, Madison handled her character’s dark diagnosis authentically, and with every new symptom, she showcased a new talent. Her captivating performance earned her the first of many Young Artist Award nominations.