Mia Goth
Mia Gypsy Mello da Silva Goth was born on the 25th of October 1993 in Guy's Hospital in London. Her mother is Brazilian and her father is Canadian from Nova Scotia. The family moved to Brazil when she was two weeks old because her mother needed help raising her. They returned to the United Kingdom when Mia was five years old. She then briefly relocated to Canada at age ten. During that time in Canada, she attended nine schools within a single school year. Goth later described this period as very difficult for her family. At twelve, she settled in southeast London with her mother. Her mother worked as a waitress to support them in a single-parent household.
At sixteen years old, Mia Goth stood at the Underage Festival in London. Fashion photographer Gemma Booth spotted her there. Booth signed Goth to Storm Model Management immediately after meeting her. She appeared in advertising campaigns for Miu Miu and Prada. Her face graced the pages of magazines like Vogue Italia and Dazed. She also appeared in W, Love, Interview, AnOther, British Vogue, Document Journal, Glamour, and Pirelli. Her runway debut came much later in 2023 when she opened the Miu Miu F/W 23 Show. This early career in fashion laid the groundwork for her transition into acting roles.
Goth began auditioning for films while still only sixteen years old. After finishing sixth form education, she won her first role in Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac in 2013. She shared the screen with Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe in the segment titled The Gun. In 2014, she appeared in Future Unlimited's music video Haunted Love directed by Shia LaBeouf. She then starred in Stephen Fingleton's short film Magpie alongside Martin McCann. The following year, she played Milja in the post-apocalyptic thriller The Survivalist. She took on supporting roles in Everest and Suspiria during 2015 and 2018 respectively. These early projects established her presence in independent cinema circles before mainstream recognition arrived.
Ti West released the slasher film X in March 2022 to critical acclaim. Goth donned extensive prosthetic makeup to portray the elderly Pearl character. It took about ten hours in the makeup chair each day plus a twelve-hour shoot. Makeup artist Sarah Rubano constantly touched up the prosthetics and checked her contacts throughout filming. West stated that she understood the duality of Maxine Minx and Pearl very well. David Sims of The Atlantic called the dual showcase remarkable for an actress who previously stood out only in supporting roles. She subsequently co-wrote and filmed the prequel Pearl immediately after finishing X. The film was released in September 2022 to positive reviews from critics worldwide. Her performance earned nominations including an Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Performance.
In January 2024, background actor James Hunter sued Mia Goth over events on the set of MaXXXine. Hunter claimed she intentionally kicked him in the head causing a concussion. He alleged verbal and physical assault occurred during production. Hunter stated he was fired the following day after the incident. The studio A24 issued a statement denying the allegations and defending Goth publicly. Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com criticized the film and Maxine Minx's characterization despite praising Goth as a singular screen presence. Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times described Goth's performance as sublime even while noting the character became less interesting as she faced danger. These legal and critical debates surrounded the release of the third film in the series.
Goth received multiple award nominations for her work in Pearl and Infinity Pool. Austin Film Critics Association named her Best Actress for Pearl in 2023. Chicago Film Critics Association also nominated her for Best Actress that same year. She won the Saturn Award for Best Actress in 2024 for her role in Infinity Pool. The Dorian Awards honored her with Film Performance of the Year for Pearl. Her work in Frankenstein earned her an AACTA International Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 2026. Critics' Choice Super Awards recognized her twice for horror performances across different films. These accolades highlighted her status as one of the most interesting actors working in genre movies at the moment according to Rolling Stone.
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Common questions
When and where was Mia Goth born?
Mia Gypsy Mello da Silva Goth was born on the 25th of October 1993 in Guy's Hospital in London. Her mother is Brazilian and her father is Canadian from Nova Scotia.
How did Mia Goth start her career in fashion modeling?
Fashion photographer Gemma Booth spotted Mia Goth at the Underage Festival in London when she was sixteen years old. Booth signed Goth to Storm Model Management immediately after meeting her, leading to campaigns for brands like Miu Miu and Prada.
What role established Mia Goth as a lead actress in horror films?
Mia Goth portrayed the elderly character Pearl in Ti West's slasher film X released in March 2022. She donned extensive prosthetic makeup for about ten hours each day during filming and subsequently co-wrote and filmed the prequel Pearl which was released in September 2022.
Who sued Mia Goth over events on the set of MaXXXine?
Background actor James Hunter sued Mia Goth in January 2024 claiming she intentionally kicked him causing a concussion. The studio A24 issued a statement denying the allegations and defending Goth publicly while Hunter stated he was fired the following day after the incident.
Which awards has Mia Goth won for her performances in recent years?
Mia Goth won the Saturn Award for Best Actress in 2024 for her role in Infinity Pool and received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Lead Performance for Pearl. Austin Film Critics Association named her Best Actress for Pearl in 2023 and Chicago Film Critics Association nominated her for Best Actress that same year.