Mae Akins Roth: What to Know About Laurie Metcalf’s Daughter

Mae Akins Roth is the daughter of Laurie Metcalf, one of the most decorated stage and screen actresses in America. Laurie’s resume is staggering — three consecutive Emmy wins for Roseanne and The Conners, an Oscar nomination for her role in Lady Bird, and multiple Tony Awards earned on Broadway. She’s the kind of actress other actors study.

Mae’s father is Matt Roth, an actor and Laurie’s third husband. Mae was born in 2005 via surrogacy, and she’s now 20 years old. Despite growing up in a household defined by performance, she’s stayed mostly out of the spotlight. That’s no small feat when your mother is a household name.

Her family is deeply theatrical in every direction. Mae’s half-sister Zoe Perry plays the younger version of Laurie’s character Mary Cooper on Young Sheldon — literally stepping into her mother’s shoes on screen. It’s the kind of family where talent doesn’t skip generations. It runs straight through them.

Early Life and Background

Where Was Mae Akins Roth Born and Raised?

Mae Akins Roth was born on July 5, 2005. She arrived via surrogacy, a decision her parents made privately and have rarely discussed publicly. Her roots trace back to Edwardsville, Illinois, the same small city where her mother grew up.

Growing up, Mae split her time between Illinois and Los Angeles, depending on where her mother’s work took the family. Laurie Metcalf is originally from Edwardsville and attended Illinois State University — the same school where she co-founded the legendary Steppenwolf Theatre Company alongside John Malkovich and Gary Sinise. That Midwest foundation shaped Laurie’s career, and it likely shaped Mae’s childhood too.

The back-and-forth between a quiet Illinois town and the chaos of L.A. sets and Broadway rehearsals gave Mae an unusual upbringing. She wasn’t just a celebrity’s kid sitting in a trailer. She was absorbing two very different worlds at once.

Who Are Mae Akins Roth’s Parents?

Mae’s mother is Laurie Metcalf, and the list of credits speaks for itself. She’s best known for playing Jackie Harris on Roseanne and The Conners, Mary Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, and the sharp-edged mother in Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird — a role that earned her an Academy Award nomination. On Broadway, she’s won multiple Tony Awards. There aren’t many actors working today with that kind of range across stage and screen.

Her father is Matt Roth, an actor who appeared on Roseanne alongside Laurie. That’s where they met. They married in 1993 and built a family that blended kids from different chapters of their lives. Mae also has a brother who was fostered at age six, a detail that speaks to the family’s openness.

Then there’s the extended family. Mae’s half-sister Zoe Perry — from Laurie’s first marriage to actor Jeff Perry — became an actress in her own right. Zoe plays the young Mary Cooper on Young Sheldon, essentially portraying the younger version of her own mother’s character. Mae also has a half-brother, Will Theron Roth. It’s a big, blended, thoroughly theatrical family.

Mae Akins Roth’s Connection to Laurie Metcalf

How Is Mae Related to Laurie Metcalf?

Mae Akins Roth is the biological daughter of Laurie Metcalf and Matt Roth, born in 2005 through surrogacy. Laurie is a three-time Emmy winner and Oscar nominee — credentials that put her in extremely rare company among working actors.

Mae grew up watching her mother perform both on Broadway stages and on television sets. That kind of exposure to high-level craft from birth isn’t something most people experience. Whether it was watching Laurie rehearse a Steppenwolf production or sitting in the audience of a Tony Awards ceremony, performance was woven into Mae’s daily life.

The family connection to entertainment runs deep, and it’s not just theoretical. Mae’s half-sister Zoe Perry literally plays the younger version of Laurie’s character on Young Sheldon. When your sister is acting as the younger version of your mother on a hit CBS show, the word “theatrical” doesn’t quite cover it.

Personal Life

What Is Mae Akins Roth Doing Now?

Mae is 20 years old as of 2026. She maintains a very private life and doesn’t appear to have any public social media presence — unusual for someone her age, but not surprising given her family’s intentional approach to privacy.

There are no confirmed details about her career plans or educational path. She hasn’t made public appearances at red carpet events or industry functions. As a young adult, she’s been effectively shielded from media attention by her parents, and she seems content with that arrangement.

In a family full of performers, Mae’s choice to stay private is its own kind of statement. Whether she’ll eventually step into the spotlight remains to be seen. For now, she’s living her life on her own terms — far from the cameras that follow her mother.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Mae Akins Roth?

Mae Akins Roth is the daughter of Emmy-winning actress Laurie Metcalf and actor Matt Roth. She was born in 2005 via surrogacy and has been raised away from the public eye.

How old is Mae Akins Roth?

Mae Akins Roth was born on July 5, 2005. She is 20 years old as of 2026.

Who is Mae Akins Roth’s mother?

Her mother is Laurie Metcalf, a three-time Emmy winner known for Roseanne, The Big Bang Theory, and her Oscar-nominated role in Lady Bird.

Does Mae Akins Roth act?

There’s no public information confirming that Mae has pursued acting. Her half-sister Zoe Perry followed in Laurie Metcalf’s footsteps, but Mae has stayed out of the spotlight.

Related Celebrities

• Laurie Metcalf — Mae’s mother, Emmy-winning actress
• Zoe Perry — Mae’s half-sister, actress on Young Sheldon
• Matthew Roth — Mae’s father, actor
• Will Theron Roth — Mae’s brother