Maddison Jaizani Makes Her Television Debut

Maddison Sunshine Al-Jaizani (born 3 June 1995) is an English actress and model best known for her work in international television drama. She gained prominence through her portrayal of Sophie de Clermont in the historical series Versailles (2015–2018), later appearing as Odessa in AMC’s action series Into the Badlands (2017–2019) and as Bess Marvin in The CW’s mystery drama Nancy Drew (2019–2023). Born in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, to an English mother and an Iranian father, Jaizani spent her childhood in Sale, Greater Manchester. She attended Sir John Deane’s College for sixth form before completing a BTEC Extended Diploma in Performing Arts at Bury College in 2014. Her passion for acting and performance developed during her time in education, where she immersed herself in theatre and screen work.

Jaizani made her television debut in 2014, playing the teenage version of Leila (the adult version portrayed by Moran Atias) in the FX political drama Tyrant, in the episode “State of Emergency.” The following year, she was cast as Sophie de Clermont in Versailles, a period drama co-produced by Canal+ and BBC Two, set in the court of Louis XIV. Her performance as the intelligent and ambitious noblewoman earned her critical recognition and established her as a rising talent in European television. Between 2017 and 2019, Jaizani joined the cast of AMC’s Into the Badlands, taking on the recurring role of Odessa, a fierce and independent fighter navigating a dystopian world. In 2019, she was cast as Bess Marvin in The CW’s modern reimagining of Nancy Drew, bringing wit, style, and charm to the role of the iconic character. The series ran for four seasons, with Jaizani appearing throughout its successful run.

Alongside her acting career, Maddison Jaizani has also worked as a model. In 2020, she signed with Elite Model Management, marking her official entry into the fashion industry. Her work combines performance and visual storytelling, often reflecting her multicultural background and modern creative sensibility. Earlier in her career, Jaizani was represented by Red Door Management, a UK-based talent agency known for launching international performers. Though the specific dates of her representation are not publicly documented, it coincided with her early television success.

Maddison Jaizani continues to be recognised as one of Britain’s emerging screen talents, balancing acting and modelling while maintaining a growing international profile.

August 4, 2019, Beverly Hills, CA, USA: LOS ANGELES – AUG 4: Scott Wolf, Riley Smith, Tunji Kasim, Maddison Jaizani, Kennedy McMann, Leah Lewis, Alvina August, Alex Saxon at the CW’s Summer TCA All-Star Party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 4, 2019 in Beverly Hills, CA (Credit Image: © Alamy and Kay Blake/ZUMA Wire)