Martha Madison

Martha Madison (born Martha Anne Butterworth;^[1] July 27, 1977) is an American actress.

Life and career

Madison was born in Newport News, Virginia. She was raised in Houston, Texas, attended Cypress Creek High School, and graduated from Texas A&M University in 1999 with a degree in psychology where she was also the Captain of the Texas A&M Dance Team.^[1]

In 1999, she moved to New York City to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. After a lifetime of dance training, she had hoped to land in the musical world of Broadway. She danced with the Peyari Dance Project for two years. However, after several injuries, she was forced to retire from dance. In 2003, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film/television.

She became famous for portraying Belle Black on the soap opera Days of our Lives from 2004 to 2008. Madison was the third adult actress to portray Belle on the daytime drama, which was portrayed by Kirsten Storms from 1999 to 2004, then briefly by Charity Rahmer in 2004 before Madison took the role. She previously appeared on the daytime drama Passions and had a role in the film Kate and Leopold.

Starting in 2005, Madison was named an ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and helped re-design their website. Madison's mother has been living with multiple sclerosis for nearly 25 years.^[1]

In 2007, Madison appeared on Tyra Banks' talk show to help Tyra through "soap opera school."^[2]

In July 2009, Martha and her husband, AJ, opened a gastro sports pub in Studio City called Henry's Hat (which they named after their Weimeraner, Henry). Together, Martha and AJ also own Luna Park in Hollywood and Luna Park in San Francisco. The couple sold Henry's Hat in August 2012. They also sold Luna Park Los Angeles in March 2013.

Beginning in 2010, Martha has starred in the web series, "The Bay," as "Marly," daughter to "Sara Garrett" played by her Days co-star, Mary Beth Evans. She was credited as a producer for season 2. You can see all episodes at www.thebaytheseries.com

In June 2011, Madison temp took over the role as Elizabeth Webber on General Hospital. Her air dates were from June 8–20, 2011.

In April 2012, Martha co-starred in the Hallmark Movie, "Undercover Bridesmaid" with Brooke Burns.

In October 2012, Martha and AJ launched the first, free, web-based restaurant inventory management system called ChefSheet. You can currently download the app for free in the iTunes store.

In October 2012, Martha joined the Carnival Girls Theater Company in New York City. The company is committed to creative growth for women. You can follow them @CarnyGirls

Personal life

Martha became engaged to her boyfriend, restaurateur AJ Gilbert, the owner of Luna Park in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, on July 29, 2006 when he took her to the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego for her birthday. Martha announced it on her official forum.^[3] Martha and A.J. married on August 25, 2007.

In April 2013, Madison announced that she was pregnant with her first child. On November 3, 2013, Madison gave birth to her daughter Charley Elizabeth Gilbert.^[4]

Filmography