Madeleine Yuna Voyles

Madeleine Yuna Voyles (Voy-Yuhls) is a young actress who makes her professional feature film debut in Gareth Edwards highly anticipated new sci-fi film, The Creator (2023). Madeleine went through auditions for The Creator when she was 6 years old, and was 7 years old during filming. Born and raised in San Diego, California; she is of Southeast Asian (Thai, Laotian and Cambodian mix) and German American ancestry. She has a younger sibling, Arden Briar Voyles who is also a child actress. Madeleine brings to her performances undeniable natural talent and professionalism. She shines in grounded performances bringing her precocious essence and vulnerability to the characters she portrays. For the six-year-old AI girl named Alphie, who is the story's ultimate weapon, Edwards reflected during an August 29, 2023, IMAX Live interview, on casting its star ensemble. To find the young AI star, the team held an open casting call and discovered newcomer Madeleine Yuna Voyles, whom Edwards called, "A director's dream." "We got tapes from hundreds of kids all around the world" Edwards explains. "The tapes were then narrowed down to the top 70, and then the top 10. The first person to audition was Madeleine, and she came in and was fantastic. After she left the room, I just looked at my assistant, and we both said, 'That's her.'" The director said he and everyone who saw Voyles' audition left them in tears. And every scene that they tested for was more heartbreaking than the next. In working alongside John David Washington, Edwards shared, "J.D. (Washington) got in her circle of trust. They were inseparable. Wherever J.D. sat down on set, Madeleine would just come to sit next to him. She loved J.D. And it was so good for the movie that those two bonded." Adds (Sturgill) Simpson, who portrays Drew in The Creator; "The world is about to hear all about Madeleine Yuna Voyles. Madeleine is one of the most professional, hard-working, and talented actors out there, and she was 7 years old (when we filmed it). This shoot was not for the fainthearted. We were traveling extensively and working in tough environments, and Madeleine was there every step of the way. We filmed some of the final scenes of the movie in a quarry outside Bangkok in the sweltering heat, and Madeleine delivered this breathtaking performance, and everyone was just looking at each other like: 'Did you just see that?' The entire crew, including some battle-hardened technicians, had tears in their eyes." Upon the release of The Creator on September 29, 2023, Madeleine received critical acclaim in her film debut as A.I. Super weapon Alphie; generating well-deserved Oscar buzz and on December 13, 2023; a Critics Choice nomination for Best Youth Actor/Actress. Critics unanimously agreed that Madeleine held a commanding and captivating presence, delivering one of the best performances by a child actor this decade has ever seen. Madeleine has an innate ability and a wisdom that exceeds the abilities of so many experienced actors. Her inherent talent solidifies her as a powerhouse newcomer in young Hollywood.