Amanda Milius was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of director/screenwriter John Milius (Apocalypse Now, Jeremiah Johnson, Dirty Harry, Big Wednesday, Conan The Barbarian) and actress Celia Kaye. After growing up inundated with Westerns, historical epics, and other violent films, Amanda is forging a style influenced by these factors but with her own take on ideas of morality and honor.

Amanda spent most of her twenties in New York, where she attended the New School University with a focus on philosophy and film. During this time Amanda worked as a fashion photographer and in her off-time wrote a string of short films focusing on the counter-culture of the 1960s and 70s, and its effect on current society.

Amanda attended the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and completed her thesis film, The Lotus Gun, for her USC MFA program in 2015, which will be playing in the coming year at festivals and screenings around the US and internationally. During her time at USC, Amanda's films focused on the psychology of four strong female lead characters in harsh landscapes and environments (Duel, Silver Beach, Disconnect and Maneater).