Born and raised in Sparks, Nevada, Mädchen Amick was encouraged by her parents to follow her own creative instincts where she learned the skill of playing the piano, bass, violin and guitar as well as being able to do tap, ballet, jazz and modern dancing.
Her parents chose the name because they wanted an unusual name.
Best known for her starring role on the cult television series called Twin Peaks as Shelly Johnson from 1990 to 1991, its prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me in 1992, as well as its revival television series Twin Peaks: The Return in 2017.