Madelaine Petsch on Rejection and Taking Control of Her Future | Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky

This week on Reclaiming, actress and producer Madelaine Petsch gets real about what it actually takes to keep going when Hollywood keeps saying no. Before landing her breakout role of Cheryl Blossom in Riverdale, she faced more than 250 rejections — and instead of letting them define her, she used them to build resilience, confidence, and a thicker skin. Madelaine opens up about learning how to set boundaries to protect her peace in an industry that constantly asks for more, and why horror movies became an unexpected form of emotional regulation — a safe way to give her nervous system a jolt and feel in control of anxiety instead of consumed by it. She also reflects on navigating a deeply personal chapter of her life: supporting her father through serious mental health challenges and how that experience reshaped her understanding of strength, compassion, and self-preservation. 00:00 Introduction to Madelaine Petsch 02:35 Challenges and Realities of Producing 06:33 Childhood and Family Dynamics 10:12 Navigating Boundaries and Personal Growth 12:38 Therapy and Healing 32:22 Reflecting on Past Friendships 33:35 Portraying a Bully on Riverdale 37:16 Childhood Trauma and Family Dynamics 46:28 Navigating Anxiety and OCD 51:44 Producing and Creative Freedom 57:55 Reclaiming Spirituality