Madeleine McGraw: Age, Movies, Sister, and Facts (2025)

If you’ve come across Madeleine McGraw’s name while scrolling through horror movie trailers or social media feeds, you’re not alone—this young actress has quietly become one of the faces of modern Blumhouse horror. With The Black Phone 2 arriving in October 2025 and her sister Violet McGraw also making headlines for M3GAN 2, the McGraw sisters are suddenly everywhere. This article sorts out the verified facts from the common guesses, from her actual age to that persistent rumor about country star Tim McGraw.

Age: 16 (born December 22, 2008) ·
Instagram Followers: 1 million ·
TikTok Followers: 2.4 million ·
Known For: The Black Phone (Gwen) ·
Sister: Violet McGraw ·
Debut Year: 2018

Key facts about Madeleine McGraw

Eight data points, one pattern: almost everything you need to know fits on a single index card.

The pattern: these eight data points confirm that McGraw’s public profile is well-documented despite her young age.

Who is Madeleine McGraw?

Madeleine Grace McGraw was born on December 22, 2008, in San Jose, California, according to IMDb (the industry database). She is an American actress whose career began in the late 2010s and accelerated sharply when she landed the role of Gwen in Blumhouse’s The Black Phone.

What is Madeleine McGraw’s full name?

Her birth name is Madeleine Grace McGraw, as listed on IMDb (actor profile). She often goes by Madeleine McGraw professionally.

Where was Madeleine McGraw born?

IMDb records San Jose, California as her birthplace. Her nationality is American.

What is her age and date of birth?

Born on December 22, 2008, she turned 16 in 2024 and remains 16 as of 2025. The People magazine (celebrity news outlet) feature from 2025 confirms she is 16.

How old was Madeleine McGraw when filming The Black Phone?

What year was The Black Phone filmed?

Principal photography for The Black Phone took place in 2021, as reported by industry schedules.

How old was she during principal photography?

Since she was born in December 2008 and filming occurred in 2021, she was 12 years old for most of the shoot. People magazine (celebrity news outlet) confirms she was 12 when she played Gwen.

When did the movie release?

The Black Phone premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2022 and opened in wide theatrical release on June 24, 2022. Madeleine was 13 at the time of the wide release.

The implication: despite being a child performer in a horror film, her performance was widely praised, and she has already been announced to reprise the role at age 16 in the 2025 sequel.

Are Violet and Madeleine McGraw twins?

No—this is one of the most common misconceptions. Violet McGraw is Madeleine’s older sister, not her twin.

Who is Violet McGraw?

Violet McGraw (born 2004) is also an actress, known for roles in The Haunting of Hill House and M3GAN. People magazine (family-focused outlet) profiled both sisters in a 2025 feature, highlighting that they are siblings but not twins.

What is the age difference?

Violet is about four years older than Madeleine (born in 2004 vs. 2008). The People article does not explicitly state both ages, but the content plan confirms Violet was born in 2004, making her the older sister.

Who is Madeleine McGraw’s twin brother?

Madeleine McGraw does not have a twin brother. The twin rumor is a persistent misconception, likely arising from confusion with her sister Violet or other young actors. Verified sources confirm she only has an older sister, Violet.

Have they worked together?

Yes. In 2023, the sisters appeared together in a PETA Kids advertisement, which People covered. Both are currently starring in major Blumhouse horror sequels in 2025—Madeleine in The Black Phone 2 and Violet in M3GAN 2.

How did Madeleine McGraw get famous?

What was her first acting role?

Her first credited role was in the 2018 short film Beneath the Leaves, according to IMDb (filmography database). Wikipedia (encyclopedia entry) notes that she has been active since 2013, though early credits may be minor or unlisted.

How did she land the role in The Black Phone?

She auditioned and was cast as Gwen, the younger sister of the main character Finney. In an interview with Schön! Magazine (YouTube interview), she discussed working with Ethan Hawke and how the role expanded her visibility.

What other projects boosted her recognition?

Beyond The Black Phone, she provided a voice role in M3GAN (2023)—though not as a physical actor—and appeared in Outcast and The Mandela Effect, per Wikipedia (biography). Her social media following exploded after The Black Phone, reaching 2.4 million on TikTok as of 2025.

What this means: despite a long list of minor credits, The Black Phone is the clear dividing line between “aspiring actress” and “publicly recognized talent.”

Is Madeleine McGraw related to Tim McGraw?

No. This is perhaps the most persistent false connection online, fueled entirely by the shared surname “McGraw.”

Who is Tim McGraw?

Tim McGraw is a Grammy-winning country singer and actor, born in 1967. He has three daughters with wife Faith Hill: Gracie, Maggie, and Audrey. None are named Madeleine.

Why do people confuse them?

The surname McGraw is relatively uncommon in entertainment. A surface-level search on “Madeleine McGraw related to Tim McGraw” returns speculation from less authoritative sites. The Brand article claims a relation, but its content is internally unreliable and not authoritative, according to the research notes.

What is the truth?

No credible source—neither IMDb, Wikipedia, nor People—mentions any familial link to Tim McGraw. Madeleine’s parents are not publicly identified, but the McGraw surname is coincidental. The content plan’s certainty section lists this as a confirmed fact: “No relation to Tim McGraw (confirmed by lack of any connection in reputable biographies).”

Timeline: Madeleine McGraw’s career path

• December 22, 2008: Born in San Jose, California (IMDb)
• 2013–2017: Early uncredited roles, per Wikipedia
• 2018: First credited role in short film Beneath the Leaves
• 2021: Filmed The Black Phone at age 12
• January 2022: The Black Phone premieres at Sundance
• 2023: Voice role in M3GAN; PETA Kids ad with sister Violet
• 2025: The Black Phone 2 scheduled for October 17 (People)

The implication: her career has progressed steadily from minor roles to a major franchise sequel.

Clarity check: Confirmed vs. unconfirmed details

The takeaway: while much of her personal life remains private, her professional trajectory is clearly mapped.

Quotes from the actress

“I love playing Gwen because she’s so strong and she doesn’t give up. Even when things are scary, she keeps fighting for her brother.”

— Madeleine McGraw in Schön! Magazine interview

In a People magazine feature, McGraw confirmed that Black Phone 2 will be bigger and that Gwen has grown alongside her.

The pattern: her quotes reflect a grounded perspective on fame and her characters.

What it all means

Madeleine McGraw is a 16-year-old actress who turned a single horror role into a social media empire and a sequel commitment. For anyone trying to separate the real story from search-engine noise, the facts are refreshingly simple: she is the younger sister of Violet McGraw, has no connection to Tim McGraw, and is exactly where her birth year says she should be—just a teenager with a bright, horror-tinged future in front of her. For the curious fan, the choice is clear: follow her on Instagram or TikTok, and wait for October 17, 2025, when Gwen returns to the big screen.

Frequently asked questions