Born into an old, noble Mikhalkov family, Nadezhda is the youngest daughter of actor and film director Nikita Mikhalkov and fashion designer Tatyana Shigaeva.

Nadezhda, aged 6, starred as Nadia Kotova in the film Burnt by the Sun[1] directed by her father, who also played Nadia's father in the film.

[3] Mikhalkova made an episodic appearance in the 1999 film The Barber of Siberia, also directed by Nikita Mikhalkov.

In the 2000 film President and his Granddaughter, directed by Tigran Keosayan, Mikhalkova played twin sisters.

[4] She reprised her role as Nadya Kotova, now a teenager, in the 2010 film Burnt by the Sun 2.