Madeleine Petsch

On Riverdale, the CW's dark, stylized take on the Archie comics, Madeleine Petsch played Cheryl Blossom, the wealthy, theatrical, red-haired rich girl whose twin brother's death sets the first season in motion. Cheryl began as the show's mean girl, but over seven seasons, from 2017 to 2023, she became one of its most complex characters: grieving, defiant and, eventually, a lead in one of the show's central love stories, with Toni Topaz.

She was born on August 18, 1994, in Port Orchard, Washington. The hour of her birth is not on record, so there is no Ascendant to read, but her planets are vivid. Her Sun is in late Leo, a placement of glamour, drama and commanding presence. Leo loves the spotlight and a grand entrance, and Cheryl Blossom, with her flaming red hair, sharp wardrobe and dramatic monologues, was a gloriously Leo role.

Venus in Libra adds beauty, elegance and an eye for style. Venus is at home in Libra, and Petsch has become known for her fashion sense and her work with beauty brands.

Jupiter and Pluto, both in Scorpio, describe intensity, depth and a fascination with darkness. Scorpio is drawn to mystery and danger, and Petsch has gravitated toward horror and thrillers, starring in the 2020 thriller Sightless, about a woman blinded in an attack, and in Renny Harlin's 2024 horror film The Strangers: Chapter 1 and its sequels.

Mars at the start of Cancer describes protective, emotional energy, and Saturn, retrograde in Pisces, suggests discipline applied to imaginative work. Petsch trained in dance and acting from a young age and moved to Los Angeles at eighteen to pursue her career.

Her parents are from South Africa, and she spent part of her childhood there as well as in Washington State. She has spoken about growing up between two countries and about the influence of her family on her values.

Uranus and Neptune, both in Capricorn, belong to her generation, describing a combination of ambition and imagination. Like many actors of her age, Petsch built a large following on social media and launched a YouTube channel where she shares her life, travel and personal interests, and she has spoken about following a vegan lifestyle.

Riverdale became one of the defining teen dramas of its era, drawing a passionate young audience, and Cheryl Blossom's journey from villain to beloved character became one of its most popular arcs.

The Leo Sun made her a natural for the show's most theatrical role; the Scorpio planets drew her toward the dark stories she has chosen since.