What happened to the enigmatic yet iconic actress who played Maddy Perez in the hit HBO series Euphoria (2019–2026)?
Maddy’s toxic love story and glittery makeup stole every scene she was in. Alexa Demie, through her charm, captivated everyone, and people were drawn to her persona right away. Naturally, all of us believed she would become the next big thing, just like her co-stars Sydney Sweeney (2025) and Zendaya (2025).
But surprisingly, she vanished from the spotlight as soon as her time on the show peaked. So everyone is wondering: what happened to her? And where is she now?
The Mystery of Her Early Life
Alexa Demie Wilson Vanerstrom was born in Los Angeles, allegedly on December 11, 1990. But that date has been widely debated online. Fans were taken aback when they discovered her name on a 2008 alumni list in 2020, indicating that she would be older than the majority of her cast members and in her 30s.
Alexa has never publicly acknowledged her age, and Wikipedia even removed her birthdate in spite of these rumors. But did you know that, like her character Maddy, Alexa was brought up by her mother, Rose Mendez (2025), a makeup artist who left Mexico in the 1980s?
She grew up in Atwater Village, surrounded by strong Latina women speaking English and Spanish. While her father, Scott Wilson Vanerstrom, is the stepson of Beach Boys co-founder Dennis Wilson (1983), it was her mom who took the lead in raising her. Even as a child, Alexa loved to perform. She wrote songs and poetry at 12 and eventually took acting classes.
The Long Road to Euphoria
She graduated from John Marshall High School in 2008 and launched her acting career with the short film Miles (2015). In 2017, she released her first single, “Girl Like Me”, and later “Leopard Limo (Archive LL11)”. Before her big break, guest roles started pouring in on shows like:
- Ray Donovan (2013–2020)
- Love (2016–2018)
- The OA (2016–2019)
Her massive break didn’t come until she was cast as Maddy in Euphoria—and she almost didn’t take it. Just as she planned to pivot to music, she got the email for the show, and the rest is history. When the show premiered, Alexa was off the grid in Tulum, Mexico, with no phone or TV. She was shocked to find out she had become an instant icon.
Related: Is Alexa Demie the original ‘iPhone Face’? Read why Michelle Randolph is facing the same critique in How Michelle Randolph almost lost her voice for Landman.
Where is Alexa Demie now?
Since Euphoria, Alexa has led a quiet life. She currently resides in a San Fernando Valley home, but her journey is far from over. Here is what she’s been up to in 2024 and 2025:
- Biopic Project: She is working on a feature film about her mother’s life, in which Alexa plays a young Rose Mendez navigating the Hollywood club scene of the 1980s.
- The Return of Maddy: She is officially returning for Euphoria Season 3. Filming finally kicked off in February 2025, featuring a major time jump beyond the high school years.
- Recent Roles: She appeared in the HBO series Fantasmas (2024) and had a brief, uncredited cameo in The Idol (2023).
- Fashion & Music: She joined Madonna (2024) on stage as a guest judge during her Celebration Tour in March. She also continues to work with major brands like Calvin Klein and Balenciaga.
With more than 11 million Instagram followers watching her every move, Alexa Demie is proving that you don’t have to be everywhere to be unforgettable.
A rare 2024 public appearance of Alexa Demie serving as a guest judge for Madonna’s iconic “Vogue” ballroom segment.
