Martha Madison

Last updated
Martha Madison
Born
Martha Anne Butterworth

(1977-07-27) July 27, 1977 (age 47)
OccupationActress
Years active2001–present
Spouse
A.J. Gilbert
(m. 2007)
Children1

Martha Madison (born Martha Anne Butterworth; [1] July 27, 1977) is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Belle Black on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives .

Contents

Early life

Madison was born in Newport News, Virginia. She was raised in Houston, Texas, attended Cypress Creek High School, and graduated from Texas A&M University in 1999 with a degree in psychology. She was also the Captain of the Texas A&M Dance Team. [1] In 1999, she moved to New York City to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She danced with the Peyari Dance Project for two years. However, after several injuries, she was forced to retire from dance.

Television career

Madison had a small role in the film Kate & Leopold in 2001. She moved to Los Angeles in 2003 to pursue a career in film/television, and briefly appeared on the NBC soap opera Passions in 2004. Madison next played the role of Belle Black on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives from 2004 to 2008. During this time in 2007, she appeared on The Tyra Banks Show to help model/host Tyra Banks through "soap opera school." [2]

In 2008, Madison appeared in the Without a Trace episode "Rewind", and in the Criminal Minds episode "The Big Wheel" in 2009. From 2010 to 2014, Madison appeared on the soap opera web series The Bay as Marly Nelson-Foster. [3] In June 2011, Madison temporarily took over the role as Elizabeth Webber on General Hospital , appearing from June 8–20, 2011. She and General Hospital's Lilly Melgar currently co-host TradioV.com's SoapBox with Lilly and Martha, which airs live every Thursday at 2pm Pacific time (PT) on tradiov.com. In 2015, Madison began starring as Miranda Winterthorne in the soap opera web series Winterthorne . [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] Later in 2015, Madison returned to her role as Belle Black on Days of Our Lives.

Other pursuits

Starting in 2005, Madison was named an ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and helped re-design their website. Her mother has been living with multiple sclerosis for nearly 25 years. [1]

In July 2009, Madison and her husband A.J. Gilbert opened a gastro sports pub in Studio City called Henry's Hat (which they named after their Weimeraner, Henry). Together, Madison and Gilbert also own Luna Park in Hollywood and Luna Park in San Francisco. The couple sold Henry's Hat in August 2012, and sold Luna Park Los Angeles in March 2013.

In October 2012, Madison and Gilbert launched the first, free, web-based restaurant inventory management system called ChefSheet, available on iTunes.

Personal life

Madison announced on her official forum, [9] that she had become engaged to her boyfriend, restaurateur A.J. Gilbert, the owner of Luna Park in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, on July 29, 2006, when he took her to the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego for her birthday. Madison and Gilbert married on August 25, 2007.

In April 2013, Madison announced that she was pregnant with her first child. On November 3, 2013, she gave birth to her daughter Charley Elizabeth Gilbert. [10]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes
2001 Kate & Leopold Office Woman
2003 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Susan WatkinsEpisode: "Cherry Red"
2004 Passions LolaApril 8–14, 2004
2004–08,
2015–2023
Days of Our Lives Isabella "Belle" Black August 10, 2004 – March 24, 2008, November 25, 2015 – September 12, 2016, January 24 – February 20, 2017, December 4, 2017 – March 27, 2018, August 21 – November 8, 2018, March 18 – July 9, 2019, June 8, 2020 – November 9, 2023
2006 Biker Mice from Mars Catalina Cat/Cataina Mouse (voice)Episodes: "New Cats in Town" and "The Tender Mouse Trap"
2007 The Singles Table Married womanEpisode: "The Work Dinner"
2008 Without a Trace JolieEpisode: "Rewind"
2009 Criminal Minds KateEpisode: "The Big Wheel"
2009The Mother of InventionChandra
2011 General Hospital Elizabeth Webber # 2Temporary recast: June 8–20, 2011
2011Undercover BridesmaidSallyTelevision film
2010–14 The Bay Marly Nelson-Foster26 episodes
2015 Winterthorne Miranda Winterthorne4 episodes
2016 One Mississippi Bibby BaxterEpisodes: "The Cat's Out", "Let the Good Times Roll"
2016Ladies of the LakeVivian Montgomery4 episodes
2017 Great News Belle BlackEpisode: "War Is Hell"
2018To The Beat!ClareAlso associate producer
2018The Price for SilenceDeana
2019A Place Called HollywoodSissy Satire3 episodes
2019-2020Days of Our Lives: Last Blast ReunionBelle BlackWeb Series

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2016
Indie Series Awards Best Lead Actress - Drama Winterthorne Nominated
2019
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Days of Our Lives Nominated [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzanne Rogers</span> American television actress (born 1943)

Suzanne Rogers is an American actress with film and television credits. Her stage name was inspired by Ginger Rogers, whom she cites as a personal inspiration for joining the entertainment industry. Rogers got her start as a dancer/performer at New York City's Radio City Music Hall, but she is best known for playing Maggie Horton, a role she originated and has played since 1973 on the NBC/Peacock soap opera Days of Our Lives. She is currently noted as the longest serving actress still appearing actively on an American soap opera. In August 2023 Days of Our Lives aired Rogers 50th anniversary show celebrating the milestone.

Mary Beth Evans is an American television actress, known for her role as Kayla Brady on the NBC daytime soap Days of Our Lives, and her role as Sierra Estaban on the CBS daytime soap As the World Turns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alison Sweeney</span> American actress (born 1976)

Alison Ann Sweeney is an American actress, reality show host, director and author. Sweeney is best known for her portrayal of Samantha "Sami" Brady on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, a role she played under contract with the show from January 6, 1993 to October 30, 2014. In this role, she earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination, four Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Fan Voted Daytime Emmy Award. After making sporadic appearances since then, she returned as a series regular in 2021. In 2007, she became the host of The Biggest Loser in its fourth season, and left the series at the end of the 16th season in 2015.

Kirsten Storms is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Zenon Kar in the Zenon trilogy, Emily in Johnny Tsunami, and Bonnie Rockwaller in Kim Possible. Storms played Isabella "Belle" Black on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives from 1999 to 2004. In 2005, Storms was cast as the character Maxie Jones on the ABC soap opera General Hospital and its spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eileen Davidson</span> American actress, author and television personality

Eileen Marie Davidson is an American actress, author, television personality and former model. Davidson is best known for her roles in soap operas as Kristen DiMera and Susan Banks on NBC's Days of Our Lives and Ashley Abbott on CBS's The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamara Braun</span> American actress

Tamara Braun is an American actress known for her work on daytime television. She portrayed the role of Carly Corinthos on General Hospital from 2001–2005 and Reese Williams on All My Children from 2008 to 2009. In 2009, Braun won the Daytime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Ava Vitali on Days of Our Lives. She departed the series in 2008, briefly returning in the role of Taylor Walker during 2011. In 2015, Braun resumed the role of Ava as part of the series' 50th anniversary commemoration, remaining until 2016.

Sarah Joy Brown, sometimes credited simply as Sarah Brown, is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for originating the role of Carly Corinthos on the American daytime drama General Hospital from 1996 to 2001. For the role, she won three Daytime Emmy Awards. In 2008, she returned to General Hospital in a different role, Claudia Zacchara. She exited General Hospital once again in 2009 and began appearing on The Bold and the Beautiful in the newly created role of Aggie Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Brady</span> Soap opera character

Eric Brady is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on NBC/Peacock, played since 2012 by Greg Vaughan, the longest tenured actor in the role. Eric was introduced in the episode of October 16, 1984, together with his twin sister, Sami Brady.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mimi Lockhart</span> Soap opera character

Mimi Lockhart is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives. Mimi was portrayed by Doren Fein from August 17 to 19, 1999. The character is most recognized as played by actress Farah Fath who played the role from September 16, 1999, to March 1, 2007. In May 2018, it was revealed that Fath would be returning to the show after an 11-year absence. Fath resumed the role on October 5, 2018, and departed a month later on November 6. In November 2019, it was announced that Teressa Liane had been cast in the role of Mimi for the digital series "Last Blast Reunion".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belle Black</span> Soap opera character

Belle Black is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. Created by the head writer James E. Reilly, she was born on October 21, 1993, as the only child of supercouple John Black and Marlena Evans. She is also one-half of the supercouple Shawn Brady and Belle Black. Initially portrayed by several child actors between 1993 and 1999, Belle was rapidly aged to a teenager when Kirsten Storms took over the role from 1999 to 2004. Charity Rahmer briefly portrayed Belle for a month before being replaced by Martha Madison, who played the character from August 2004 to March 2008, when Belle departed the show. Madison returned as Belle for the soap's 50th Anniversary Celebrations in 2015 but departed the following year. Belle then appeared for various stints of different lengths before rejoining the regular cast again in 2020. She departed again in 2023. Now, Belle is set to return to Salem in December 2024.

Kevin Blair Spirtas is an American actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathleen Gati</span> Canadian actress

Kathleen Gati is a US-based Canadian actress. She is known for portraying Liesl Obrecht on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital. She appeared on the television series Leverage in 2009.

Sonia Blangiardo is an American television soap opera director and producer. She is also the creator and director of the web series Tainted Dreams, which debuted on YouTube in December 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sal Stowers</span> American actress and model (born 1986)

Saleisha Lashawn Stowers is an American actress and model. She was cycle 9’s winner of America's Next Top Model. She portrayed the role of Lani Price on NBC's soap opera Days of Our Lives.

<i>Days of Our Lives</i> American daytime soap opera (1965–present)

Days of Our Lives is an American television soap opera that aired on the network NBC from 1965 to 2022 and currently streams new episodes on Peacock. The soap is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday since November 8, 1965. A co-production of Corday Productions and Sony Pictures Television, the series was created by husband-and-wife team Ted Corday and Betty Corday. During Days of Our Lives' early years, Irna Phillips served as a story editor for the program and many of the show's earliest storylines were written by William J. Bell, who would depart the series in 1975 to focus full-time on The Young and the Restless, which he created for CBS in 1973. Following the 2007 cancellation of Passions, Days of Our Lives remained the only soap opera airing on NBC. On August 3, 2022, NBCUniversal announced that it would relocate the series exclusively to its Peacock streaming service beginning September 12 after 57 years on the network and leaving NBC as the only Big Three network without a daytime serial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ciara Brady</span> Soap opera character

Ciara Brady Weston is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. Created by Hogan Sheffer and Meg Kelly, the role is portrayed by Victoria Konefal since 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theresa Donovan</span> Soap opera character

Theresa Donovan is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. Introduced in September 1990, she was portrayed by several child actors until the character left the series in 1992, with further guest appearances in both 1996 and 1997. The character was reintroduced to the series in July 2013, under the portrayal of actress Jen Lilley, best known for her portrayal of Maxie Jones on General Hospital, and departed in November 2016. Lilley reprised the role in May 2018 for a three-month stint, departing again in July. Lilley briefly returned to the role in September 2023, with Emily O'Brien assuming the role in the following month.

<i>Winterthorne</i> 2015 American TV series or program

Winterthorne is a soap opera web series that premiered on August 27, 2015. Starring Martha Madison as Miranda Winterthorne, the ruthless matriarch of a candy dynasty, the series was created, written and executive produced by Michael Caruso. Caruso previously created the web soap DeVanity, which ran from 2011 to 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lani Price</span> Soap opera character

Lani Price is a fictional character on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, played by Sal Stowers. On September 25, 2015, Lani was introduced by co-head writers Josh Griffith and Dena Higley as a rookie police officer, who is revealed to be the daughter of long-running character, Mayor Abe Carver. While Lani is quickly promoted to detective, the character struggles to find a place on the canvas and is abruptly written out on June 9, 2016, after Stowers was released from her contract. Lani was reintroduced on December 19, 2016, and Stowers became a series regular again a year later.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rienzo, Alice. "Martha Madison". Bella Online: The Voice for Women. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
  2. "Who, Where and Wow!". Soap Opera Weekly . 2007-02-13. p. 32.
  3. Logan, Michael (February 18, 2011). "Exclusive: Online Soap The Bay Looking For a TV Home". TV Guide . Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  4. Bishop, Jenn (November 17, 2014). "DeVanity Creator Returns with New Sweet Saga Winterthorne". TV Source Magazine. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  5. Lee, NaVell (November 17, 2014). "DeVanity Creator Michael Caruso Returns to the Web with Winterthorne". Buzzworthy Radio. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  6. "Watch The Winterthorne First Trailer … Where Candy and Drama Come Together!". Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps . May 22, 2015. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  7. Mulcahy, Jr., Kevin (August 27, 2015). "Watch the Premiere of Michael Caruso's Winterthorne". We Love Soaps . Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  8. Kerr, Luke (May 22, 2015). "Winterthorne Debuts Epic First Trailer". Daytime Confidential. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  9. Martha-madison.com Archived 2007-08-19 at the Wayback Machine
  10. Di Lauro, Janet (May 23, 2013). "Days of Our Lives Ex Martha Madison" . Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  11. "Daytime Emmy Nominations: 'Days Of Our Lives' Leads Programs & CBS Tops Networks". Deadline Hollywood . March 20, 2019.