Madeline Zima

Mad About Her

CALIFORNICATION’S sumptuous seductress Madeline Zima explains why she loves flying by the seat of her pants.

By Nate Denver
Photography by PAMELA LITTKY

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So what are you looking for? A beautiful girl who plays guitar, who prefers a comfortably dressed man, and who is attracted to guys who read comic books? Allow us to introduce Madeline Zima, the 23-year-old actress already famous for punching David Duchovny in the grill during a sex scene on Showtime’s Californication, and soon to be even more so for locking lips with Selma Blair in the upcoming film Driving Lessons. Yes, she’s perfect, but forget about it—she expects equal value in return.

We heard you might have an inexplicable attraction to guys who read comics.

Madeline Zima: I think I do, but it’s not just comic books, it’s computers, gamer magazines. I really have a strong attraction to the nerdiest of guys.

Check. What clothes are sexy to you?

Madeline Zima: On guys, I really like vests, but I’m not too particular about what guys wear or what I wear. Comfort takes the cake. If you’re comfortable, you have a natural sexiness about you.

Comics and vests… Well, one out of two ain’t bad. You have a background in improv. Do you still get to do that much?

Madeline Zima: I haven’t done it in a long time, but the great thing about Californication is if something’s funny, you can just plug it in there.

So was the punch you gave Duchovny scripted?

Madeline Zima: That was always part of the story, but that’s one of the reasons I liked that part. There’s 10 million things that guys do to girls that are gross—for a girl to come back and shake it up was nice.

We certainly wouldn’t mind. Do nude scenes make you nervous?

Madeline Zima: I was totally nervous, but once I was actually naked, I was pretty comfortable. For some reason, the taking on and off of the clothes is the shameful aspect of it. Pulling your pants back up after it’s over, that’s the worst part. Standing around naked is natural— it’s nice.