GOTH
Mia

• 1. Career
• 1.1. 2012–2021: Early modelling and acting
• 1.2. 2022–present: Breakthrough with the X film series

Mia Gypsy Mello da Silva Goth is a British actress. After modelling as a teenager, Goth made her acting debut in the erotic art film Nymphomaniac (2013). She earned recognition with the films The Survivalist (2015), High Life (2018), Suspiria (2018), and Emma (2020). She achieved a career breakthrough for playing Maxine Minx and Pearl in the X film series (2022–2024), which established her as a scream queen.

Career

2012–2021: Early modelling and acting

At the age of 14, Goth was discovered at the Underage Festival in London by fashion photographer Gemma Booth, who signed her to Storm Model Management. She subsequently appeared in advertising campaigns for Miu Miu and Prada, as well as in the magazines Wonderland, Vogue, Vogue Italia, W, Love, Dazed, Interview, AnOther, British Vogue, Document Journal, Glamour and Pirelli. Goth made her runway debut in 2023, opening the Miu Miu F/W 23 Show.

Goth began to audition for films at 16, and after finishing sixth form, won her first role in Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac (2013), along with Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe in the segment "The Gun". Goth played Sophie Campbell in an episode of Sky Atlantic's crime drama series The Tunnel.

In 2014, Goth appeared in Future Unlimited's music video for "Haunted Love", directed by Shia LaBeouf. She then appeared in the Stephen Fingleton directed introductory short film Magpie with Martin McCann. In 2015, Goth played the lead role of Milja in the post-apocalyptic thriller The Survivalist directed by Fingleton, followed by roles as Meg Weathers in the disaster adventure-thriller film Everest (2015) directed by Baltasar Kormákur, and Hanna Helmqvist in an episode of BBC One's crime series Wallander.

Goth appeared in the horror film A Cure for Wellness (2016) directed by Gore Verbinski and had supporting roles in Luca Guadagnino's remake of Suspiria (2018) and the sci-fi mystery film High Life (2018) directed by Claire Denis. Goth appeared in Guadagnino's short film The Staggering Girl (2019) and Autumn de Wilde's period romantic comedy film Emma (2020). She also starred in Karen Cinorre's action drama film Mayday (2021) with Grace Van Patten and Juliette Lewis.

2022–present: Breakthrough with the X film series

Goth starred in Ti West's slasher film X, released in March 2022 to critical acclaim. Goth donned extensive prosthetic makeup to portray the elderly Pearl. Describing her experience, Goth stated, "It was a good 10 hours in the makeup chair, and then I'd go and do a 12-hour day on set, and the makeup artist, Sarah Rubano, who was incredible, would constantly be touching me up and making sure my contacts were all right and all those sorts of things." She received praise for her roles as both protagonist Maxine Minx and antagonist Pearl, with West stating, "She understood the characters really well, and she understood the duality of Maxine and Pearl." David Sims of The Atlantic wrote "The dual showcase is a remarkable one for Goth, who previously stood out in supporting roles in Emma, High Life, and A Cure for Wellness". She subsequently starred in the prequel film Pearl, which she co-wrote with West and began filming immediately after X. The film was released in September 2022 to positive reviews. Goth's performance in the film received praise, and is considered to be one of the best film performances of its year. For her portrayal of the character, she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Performance, among other awards.

Goth next starred in Brandon Cronenberg's thriller Infinity Pool opposite Alexander Skarsgård. The film premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival to positive critical reception, with her performance receiving praise. David Fear of Rolling Stone wrote "Goth makes an even stronger post-Pearl case for her being the single most interesting actor working in genre movies at the moment" and Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting concluded "Goth progresses her character's devious machinations with a scene-stealing level of unhinged glee that might give Pearl a run for her money".

Goth reprised the role of Maxine Minx in MaXXXine, the third film in the X series, which was released in 2024. Goth felt that the script was the best of the series so far. Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times praised the film and coined Goth's performance "as usual, sublime". In contrast, Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com was critical of the film and Maxine's characterization, who believed that Goth "remains a singular screen presence, but she can only do so much with a character who becomes less interesting as she finds herself drawn deeper into danger."

Goth is set to appear in the crime thriller Sweet Dreams. She is also to be attached to star in Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein and in Marvel Studios' Blade.