Madelaine Petsch

the new producer Here to push your boundaries

Madelaine Petsch has a penchant for divisive female characters. You know her best as Cheryl Blossom in the CW’s hit series Riverdale, which ran for 7 seasons.

She’s recently been evolving into one of Hollywood’s most promising young producers. This fall, she's starring in and producing the next installment of The Strangers horror trilogy for Lionsgate, which hits theaters this Friday! You can also catch her in the Amazon romantic comedy Maintenance Required on October 8th.

In one film, she's chased by masked strangers; in the other, she's running away from love.

It was exciting to catch Madelaine in these early days of her shift into producing, especially when so many are skeptical of that leap. She's refreshingly honest about the brutal realities of fame: death threats, having her address posted online, and the strategic decision to delete her entire YouTube channel after millions of views.

We explore how her South African immigrant parents shaped her work ethic, why she's drawn to complex female characters, and the politics of producer credits.

And yes, before you ask, she can change your brake pads.

Tune in!

xx cg

“I think [producing] is almost entirely about care.”

- Madelaine Petsch

Episode Transcript