
Madison Reyes is an American actress and singer known for starring as Julie Molina in the Netflix musical series Julie and the Phantoms. Her breakout performance earned her an MTV Movie & TV Award and a nomination for a Daytime Emmy Award.
Personal life
Reyes became engaged to her partner, Shaun Scudder, in July 2025 after two years of dating. The couple announced they were expecting their first child shortly afterward, and Reyes gave birth to their son, Maru Reyes Scudder, on November 11, 2025.
Born to Puerto Rican parents Ricardo and Maggie Reyes, she grew up alongside a younger sister named Megan. Reyes has been open about living with dyslexia, frequently using her platform to raise awareness and support for the condition.
Early life and casting breakthrough
Reyes was born and initially raised in Brooklyn, New York, before moving with her family to Allentown, Pennsylvania, at age 10. To save money on formal voice lessons, she taught herself vocal techniques at home. She later attended Arts Academy Charter Middle School and completed her freshman year at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts before switching to homeschooling to accommodate her professional commitments.
Her path to acting began when her high school theatre teacher circulated an open-call casting notice from Netflix seeking a 15-year-old Latina performer. Reyes submitted an audition tape where she memorized all dialogue for every character in the scene and sang the ballad "She Used to Be Mine" from the musical Waitress. Director Kenny Ortega selected her from an international pool of roughly 700 candidates, inviting her to chemistry reads in Los Angeles alongside Owen Joyner, Jeremy Shada, and Charlie Gillespie.
Julie and the Phantoms and musical success
In September 2020, Reyes made her screen debut as the lead character in Julie and the Phantoms. During a six-week musical boot camp prior to filming, Reyes and co-star Charlie Gillespie wrote the song "Perfect Harmony," drawing inspiration from classic musical duets. After they presented the track to Ortega and the series showrunners, it was integrated directly into the series storyline and soundtrack.
The soundtrack attained international chart placements, and Reyes's work on the project was recognized across several major television awards. In 2021, she and her castmates won the MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Musical Moment, and she received an Imagen Award for Best Young Actress as well as a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Younger Performer in a Daytime Fiction Program.
Solo music and subsequent screen roles
Reyes began releasing independent solo music in July 2021 with her debut single, "Te Amo," which she followed with the collaborative single "Main Thing" alongside Julie and the Phantoms co-star Jadah Marie. She also recorded a cover of Selena's "Dreaming of You."
On June 3, 2022, Reyes released her debut extended play, All Kinds of Love, issued through Madison Reyes Records. Her subsequent single releases include "Make It" in 2023 and "Moth" in 2024. In addition to music, Reyes continued acting, appearing in the 2022 television movie The Bad Seed Returns and contributing the song "We Ride Together" to the series Barbie Mysteries in 2024.
Quick facts
- Reyes taught herself how to sing at home to save her family the cost of vocal lessons.
- She won the lead role in Julie and the Phantoms after competing against approximately 700 other actors in an open-call audition.
- For her audition video, she memorized every character's dialogue in the scene rather than only her own lines.
- She performed the song "She Used to Be Mine" from the Broadway musical Waitress for her Julie and the Phantoms audition tape.
- During pre-production rehearsals, she and co-star Charlie Gillespie wrote the duet "Perfect Harmony", which the producers liked and included in the show.
- She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 2021 for Outstanding Younger Performer in a Daytime Fiction Program.
- She released her debut five-track solo EP, All Kinds of Love, on June 3, 2022.
FAQs about Madison Reyes
What role is Madison Reyes known for?
Madison Reyes is best known for playing the lead role of Julie Molina in the 2020 Netflix musical series Julie and the Phantoms.
Does Madison Reyes write her own music?
Yes, Reyes co-wrote the song "Perfect Harmony" with Charlie Gillespie for Julie and the Phantoms and has released original music, including her 2022 EP All Kinds of Love.
Does Madison Reyes have children?
Yes, Reyes and her partner Shaun Scudder have a son, Maru Reyes Scudder, who was born on November 11, 2025.
Where is Madison Reyes from?
Reyes was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Puerto Rican parents and relocated to Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 10.
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