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Mädchen Amick

Mädchen Amick

Actor · Born December 12, 1970 (55) · Sparks, Nevada, USA

Mädchen Amick (born December 12, 1970) is an American actress who rose to prominence in the early 1990s. Her name "Mädchen" means "girl" in German, though she was born in Sparks, Nevada. Her most iconic role came in 1990 when David Lynch cast her as Shelly Johnson in the cult classic series "Twin Peaks." The waitress character became one of the show's most beloved roles, and Amick's performance helped launch her career. She appeared in both the original series (1990-1991) and the 2017 revival. Notable Works: "Twin Peaks" (1990-1991, 2017) as Shelly Johnson "Gilmore Girls" (2002-2003) as Sherry Tinsdale "ER" (2004-2005) as Wendall Meade "Witches of East End" (2013-2014) as Wendy Beauchamp "Riverdale" (2017-present) as Alice Cooper "American Horror Story: 1984" (2019) "Sleepwalkers" (1992) "Dream Lover" (1993) "Trapped in Paradise" (1994) She married David Alexis in 1992, and they have two children: Sylvester Time Alexis (born 1992) Mina Tobias Alexis (born 1993) She has been open about mental health awareness and advocacy, particularly after her daughter was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She works to reduce stigma around mental health conditions and promote better understanding and support.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 12, 1970 (55)
From
Sparks, Nevada, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 67 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Up 3% in 30 days

What are Mädchen Amick's films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
25%
Self
25%
Morality
22%
Survival
19%
Society
8%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 7 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 6 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 8 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 7 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 3

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Shadow
3 of 8
Hero
3 of 8
Shapeshifter
1 of 8
Ally
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Dread
6
Melancholic
7
Absurd
4
Warm
4
Other
14

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous5
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Mädchen Amick's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Mädchen Amick's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

67 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Fractured (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Director

  • Brilliant Minds(2024)

    Show 1 episode · Director · as Alicia Ramati

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Riverdale(2017)

    Show 137 episodes · Director · as Alice Cooper

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Love(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Mom

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Shelly Johnson

  • Witches of East End(2013)

    Show 23 episodes · as Wendy Beauchamp

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Political Animals(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Mindy Meyers

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Longmire(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Deena

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • American Horror Story(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mrs. Ellison

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Ringer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Greer Sheridan

  • Priest(2011)

    as Shannon Pace

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Unanswered Prayers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Ava Andersson

  • Pleading Guilty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Brushy

  • White Collar(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Selena Thomas

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • My Own Worst Enemy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 9 episodes · as Angie Spivey

  • In Plain Sight(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Susan Campbell

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Viva Laughlin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · as Natalie Holden

  • Gossip Girl(2007)

    Show 4 episodes · as Catherine Beaton

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Californication(2007)

    Show 5 episodes · as Janie Jones

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Damages(2007)

    Show 5 episodes · as Danielle Marchetti

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Mad Men(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Andrea Rhodes

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Shark(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Gina Romero

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Kidnapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Vivian Guttman

  • Psych(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Jacqueline Medeiros

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Four Corners of Suburbia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Rachel Samson

  • Freddie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 22 episodes · as Allison

  • Lies and Deception (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Jean Brooks

  • Joey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 5 episodes · as Sara

  • Queens Supreme (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Lisa Salinger

  • Global Effect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Dr. Sera Levitt

  • The Rats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Susan Costello

  • Scenes of the Crime(2001)

    as Carmen

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Cherry Pie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Shelly Johnson

  • Hangman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Grace Mitchell

  • Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Celeste 'CeCe' Royce

  • Gilmore Girls(2000)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sherry Tinsdale

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The List (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Gabrielle Mitchell

  • Mr. Rock n Roll: The Alan Freed Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Jackie McCoy

  • Fantasy Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 13 episodes · as Ariel

  • Psychopath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Rachel Dwyer

  • The Hunted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Samantha Clark

  • Dawson's Creek(1998)

    Show 3 episodes · as Nicole Kennedy

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Heartless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Annie O'Keefe

  • Bombshell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Angeline

  • Wounded(1997)

    as Julie Clayton

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • French Exit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Zina

  • The Courtyard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Lauren

  • Central Park West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 16 episodes · as Carrie Fairchild

  • Trapped in Paradise(1994)

    as Sarah Collins

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 10 episodes · as Wendall Meade

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Dream Lover(1994)

    as Lena Mathers

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Love, Cheat & Steal(1993)

    as Lauren Harrington

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Fallen Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Trina

  • Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me(1992)

    as Shelly Johnson

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Sleepwalkers(1992)

    as Tanya Robertson

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Borrower(1991)

    as Megan

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • For the Very First Time(1991)

    as Rhonda

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Message to the Allied Forces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Shelly Johnson

  • The Boyfriend School(1990)

    as Mandy

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Alissa Goodwyn

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • I'm Dangerous Tonight(1990)

    as Amy

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Twin Peaks(1990)

    Show 30 episodes · as Shelly · as Shelly Briggs · as Shelly Johnson

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Jury Duty: The Comedy(1990)

    as Miss Doddsworth

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Twin Peaks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Shelly Johnson

  • Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier(1989)

    as Laurie

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Baywatch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Laurie Harris

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Teenage Girl

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 67 titles from 1987 to 2025; peak year 1993.

Biggest box office

Priest (2011)

$78M worldwide

Highest rated

Twin Peaks (1990)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Riverdale (2017)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19872025

Peak 1993 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting66 of 67: 64 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thDirecting3 of 67: 1 only directing, 2 with another role

By decade

1980s4 · acting1990s26 · acting2000s24 · acting2010s11 · 11 acting · 1 crew2020s2 · 1 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 15% of 13 roles
8994

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Mädchen Amick's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 31st percentile, the median of all 14; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 32nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 35 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

For the Very First Time (1991)

77th percentile spread · 12% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Twin Peaks (1990)

Midcredits 98th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Mädchen Amick's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles38–86 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles11–66 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles34–63 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles18–74 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles45–89 · median 68 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Mädchen Amick work with?

People who share at least 2 of Mädchen Amick's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kyle MacLachlan shares the most, 3.

Actors

Composers

Mixed roles