Madison Ekstrand is an actress from Niagara, Wisconsin, whose entertainment career began as an award-winning competitive dancer. She later transitioned to acting and relocated to Los Angeles to pursue opportunities in film and television.
Ekstrand has appeared in multiple episodes of Very Frightening Tales opposite Eric Roberts, including the award-winning Curse of Stone Hill, which also stars Michael Paré. Her credits include a co-starring role in the acclaimed horror thriller Reed’s Point, a cameo in the comedy series On All Fours, and a recently completed war drama with Roberts.
She has also collaborated with producer Suzanne DeLaurentiis and her company both on camera and behind the scenes. Now bi-coastal, Madison continues to expand her acting career in Los Angeles while remaining deeply connected to her Wisconsin roots.
@MadisonEkstrand
As you continue to take on increasingly varied roles, what kinds of characters are you most eager to explore next?
I’m really interested in characters who have a lot going on beneath the surface. I’d love to explore someone who is very different from who I am personally, whether that’s emotionally, psychologically, or even just in the way they see the world. I also want to continue challenging myself with roles that allow me to show different sides of my range. I think the most exciting characters are the ones that stay with you even after you’ve finished reading the script.
Horror has been a recurring part of your filmography, but you have also worked in comedy and drama. Is there a genre that feels especially exciting or creatively challenging for you right now?
Drama is something I’m especially excited to explore more deeply. I love horror and I’ve learned so much from working in that genre, but dramatic roles give you the opportunity to sit with a character’s emotions in a different way. At the same time, I’d love to continue doing comedy because it challenges you in a completely different way. Ultimately, I’m less focused on choosing one genre and more interested in choosing roles that push me outside of my comfort zone.
When you are preparing for an emotionally demanding role, what is your personal process for finding the character and protecting your own sense of balance afterward?
For me, preparation starts with understanding the character rather than immediately trying to “become” them. I spend a lot of time thinking about their background, what motivates them, and why they make the choices they do. Once I’m on set, I try to stay present and give the character everything I have. Afterward, I think it’s important to have a way to come back to yourself. Spending time with the people I love, getting outside, and simply giving myself a little space helps me separate my own emotions from the character’s.
Having come from a small Wisconsin community and built a career in Los Angeles, what advice would you offer young performers who may not see a clear path into the industry from where they live?
I would tell them not to let their location convince them that their goals aren’t possible. Coming from a small community in Wisconsin, there were definitely moments when the industry felt very far away, but I learned that you can start building your career wherever you are. Take the classes, make the connections, create your own work, audition, and keep learning. You don’t have to have the entire path figured out before you start. Sometimes you just have to take the next opportunity in front of you.
You have experienced film sets from both the cast and production perspectives. What do you think makes a set feel collaborative, supportive, and creatively productive?
I think it starts with everyone understanding that they’re working toward the same goal. A good set is one where people feel comfortable communicating, asking questions, and bringing ideas to the table. Having experience on both sides has made me appreciate how much work goes into making a production happen. Every person on set has an important role, and when people feel respected and valued, I think that naturally creates a more collaborative and creative environment.
Your work has taken you from independent horror projects to larger dramatic stories. What do you value most about independent filmmaking and the people who make those productions possible?
What I love most about independent filmmaking is the passion behind it. People are often putting so much of themselves into a project because they genuinely believe in the story. There can be limitations compared to a larger production, but I think those limitations can also create a lot of creativity. You get to work closely with people who are incredibly invested in what they’re making, and those experiences have taught me a lot about filmmaking and about the kind of person I want to be on a set.
Looking ahead, what would make the next chapter of your career feel meaningful—not only in terms of roles and opportunities, but also in the stories you want to help bring to audiences?
For me, a meaningful next chapter would be one where I’m continuing to grow while being part of stories that actually make people feel something. I want to take on roles that challenge me and work with people who are passionate about what they’re creating. Whether a story makes someone laugh, cry, think differently, or simply stays with them after they leave the theater, I think that’s incredibly meaningful. I’d love to build a career that feels authentic to me rather than just focusing on checking certain boxes.
Boatlift 9/11 recounts an extraordinary act of civilian courage and unity in the immediate aftermath of September 11. What has resonated with you most about the human spirit at the center of this story, and why do you feel it is especially important for audiences to experience it today?
What resonates with me most is the way ordinary people came together during an incredibly frightening and uncertain moment and chose to help one another. There’s something very powerful about seeing people put fear aside and simply ask, “How can I help?” I think that message is still incredibly important today. It reminds us that compassion and courage don’t always come from people who consider themselves heroes. Sometimes it comes from everyday people making the decision to show up for someone else, and I think that’s something audiences can take with them long after watching the story.
