Summary
Madelyn Cline has had smaller roles in various TV shows and movies before her breakout role in Outer Banks, but even those supporting roles have exposed her to a wide audience.
In Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Cline's character provided her an opportunity to step away from her previous high school teen roles and display her comedic prowess.
Her involvement in Outer Banks marks Cline's most notable role thus far, as she adeptly handles various genres like romance, action, mystery, and comedy, establishing herself as an exceptional performer within the series.
Madelyn Cline's rise to stardom can be attributed to her lead role in the popular Netflix drama, Outer Banks. However, this is not her first foray into acting. She made her debut in the short film Milites Christi in 2009, followed by her feature film debut in 23rd Psalm: Redemption two years later. Cline has also had notable appearances in various TV shows, including Stranger Things, Vice Principals, and The Originals, although they were in supporting roles. Nevertheless, these roles helped her gain exposure to a wider audience due to the popularity of the series.
In recent years, Cline's career has taken a significant turn with her casting in Outer Banks and her role in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story. Previously, her roles were often generic high school teen characters, reflective of her age and experience. However, her involvement in Outer Banks and subsequent projects indicates that she will be tackling more substantial roles in the future. Even her smaller roles deserve recognition, as her filmography includes well-known series and acclaimed films.
This Is The Night (2021)
This Is the Night is available for streaming on Netflix. However, despite coming from the creator of The Purge franchise, James Delmonaco, this more personal and dramatic film falls short of the high standards set by his horror films. Set in the 1980s on Staten Island, the movie revolves around a family's attempts to solve their individual problems on the night of Rocky III's premiere. The youngest son, Anthony Dedea (Lucius Hoyos), is struggling to gather the courage to ask his longtime crush, Sophia Larocca (played by Madelyne Cline), on a date. Cline's performance is commendable, but it is within a fairly generic role in a film that failed to make a significant impact.
Boy Erased (2018)
Boy Erased is now available for rental on Apple TV+. Directed by Joel Edgerton, who is primarily known for his acting roles, the film is a biographical drama based on the memoir of Garrard Conley. The story follows Jared Eamons, portrayed by Lucas Hedges, as he is compelled to attend a gay conversion therapy camp by his devout parents. Madelyn Cline takes on the role of Chloe, Jared's girlfriend prior to his public acknowledgment of his sexuality. While Chloe's character is relatively brief, she plays a crucial part in illustrating the extent of Jared's ongoing struggle with his identity. Unlike the typical stereotype of a cheerleader girlfriend, Chloe displays understanding and empathy towards Jared, although her presence concludes prior to the main plot at the conversion camp.
Vice Principals (2016-2017)
Vice Principals is now streaming on Max, featuring Danny McBride and Walton Goggins. This comedy series, created by McBride and Jody Hill (known for Eastbound and Down), offers an outrageous and hilarious story with a darker mean streak. Madelyn Cline's exceptional performance as head cheerleader Taylor Watts adds to the wild and laugh-a-minute style of the show. Alongside the great side characters, Taylor shines as one of the best.
The Originals (2017)
You can now stream The Originals on Netflix. It is a spin-off of the CW vampire series, The Vampire Diaries, and centers around the Mikaelson siblings, who are the original vampires. The series delves into the supernatural politics of New Orleans, a city they themselves established. In season 4, Madelyn Cline portrays Jessica, a French Quarter witch who is chosen as a sacrifice for the Harvest ritual. Although she is brought back to life, Jessica undergoes a significant transformation and becomes haunted by the experiences of the ritual.
Stranger Things (2017)
Stranger Things is currently available for streaming on Netflix. In season 2 of Stranger Things, viewers were introduced to Madelyn Cline's character, Tina. Tina is a student at Hawkins High School and a member of the popular girl clique led by Carol Perkins. In the Halloween episode 2 titled "Trick Or Treat, Freak," Tina hosted a party filled with pop culture references and dressed up as pop star Madonna. Prior to that, Tina made an appearance in the season 2 premiere episode "Madmax," where she and her friends caught the attention of Billy Hargrove, a new student at Hawkins High. Although Cline's screen time is limited, her portrayal of Tina, complete with an authentic period outfit and exaggerated reaction to Billy, leaves a lasting impression.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery can now be streamed on Netflix.
In Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Madelyn Cline breaks away from her previous teen roles to portray Whiskey, the anti-feminist girlfriend and Twitch streamer assistant of Duke Cody (Dave Bautista). This role brings a touch of humor to the already colorful ensemble cast of the Knives Out franchise. Cline's portrayal of Whiskey, a character who values social status but remains innocent in her actions, is both comedic and endearing. The interactions between Whiskey and the intellectually superior Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) are especially amusing, as her naivety clashes with his sharp wit.
Outer Banks (2020-Present)
Content Outer Banks is available to stream on Netflix.
Madelyn Cline stars in Outer Banks as Sarah Cameron, a character known as the "Kook Princess" who finds herself caught between two groups on the island. Alongside John B. (Chase Stokes), she embarks on a quest to uncover a hidden treasure. Cline's portrayal of Sarah is her standout performance to date, showcasing her talent in romance, action, mystery, and comedy. With each season, the show's plotlines become increasingly intricate and sometimes bordering on the unbelievable, but Cline's strong performance anchors the series and keeps it grounded.