Bailee Madison has marked her 27th birthday with a reflective Instagram post from the set of her latest project.
The actor, who first gained notice as six-year-old May Belle Aarons in 2007’s Bridge to Terabithia, celebrated the milestone this week surrounded by cast and crew while filming. Madison shared photos of the occasion, including a birthday cake, alongside a lengthy caption that traced the emotional arc of her past year.
“Celebrated 27 on set surrounded by so much nostalgic and new love and warmth,” Madison wrote on Instagram. “What an absolute priceless gift it is to feel so embraced by people who build your sparkle in this life & make you feel seen.”
The post struck a wistful tone as Madison looked back at age 26. “This past year has taught me more than I could even begin to describe, in such a way that I feel so sentimental and nostalgic over it,” she continued. “It’s given me the chance to feel a multitude of emotions in the most extreme way, and it’s because of that that I was able to see the beauty in all of life.”
Madison leaned into the contrasts that defined her year. “What a gift it is to cry so much that you run out of steam to keep crying, and then find yourself one day laughing so hard that tears run down your face from pure joy,” she shared. “To know the feeling of picking yourself off the floor with more questions than answers, and then find yourself reflecting on that time with so much newfound peace in your heart.”
She wrapped the post with forward-looking optimism. “I’m truly so thankful for the chapter of 26, and I do believe heavily in this new chapter of life…” Madison wrote. “Here’s to 27, I’m curious and so excited to see what it will bring and who I’ll have become by the end of it.”
The birthday arrival has prompted widespread reaction online, with many fans noting how much time has passed since her breakout role in the fantasy adaptation that earned an 85 percent Rotten Tomatoes score nearly two decades ago.
After Bridge to Terabithia, Madison quickly built momentum through a string of high-profile film roles. She appeared in 2009’s Brothers, followed by the 2010 horror remake Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, and the 2011 Adam Sandler-Jennifer Aniston comedy Just Go With It.
Her more recent work has shifted toward television and streaming. Madison played Imogen in HBO Max’s Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, a horror-tinged continuation of the franchise. Earlier this year, she starred in Roommates, a Netflix comedy that debuted in April to mixed reviews and currently holds a 68 percent Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Netflix release marked her most prominent project to date in 2025, though her birthday post confirms she has since moved on to another production that has kept her on set.