Mikey Madison Wins Oscar for Best Actress for ‘Anora’
Mikey Madison, the 25-year-old performer who stars in "Anora," has claimed the Academy Award for Best Actress. She triumphed over expected front-runner Demi Moore from "The Substance" and potential upset Fernanda Torres of "I'm Still Here." By this stage in the ceremony, "Anora" had already secured victories for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing.
Upon receiving the trophy from Emma Stone, Madison remarked, "I was raised in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always seemed very distant to me." She expressed gratitude to her fellow artists, both actors and crew members, plus Brighton Beach "for sharing your stunning scenery and remarkable neighborhood."
"I want to acknowledge the sex worker community. I will keep supporting and standing as an ally. All the exceptional individuals, the women I've been fortunate to meet... have been some of the best parts of this whole amazing journey. I want to honor the... stunning performances of my fellow nominees... This fulfills a lifelong wish. I will likely think I'm dreaming tomorrow. Thank you to Sean. Everything stems from you. I cherish you."
Earlier that evening, Sean Baker, while accepting his Best Director prize, celebrated movie theaters and asked the industry to continue backing them. "We gather here tonight and watch this show because we love films. Where did our passion for movies begin? At the cinema. Viewing a film in a theater with others creates an experience... During times when the world can feel extremely divided, this becomes more essential than ever. It offers a shared moment you simply cannot get at home. Currently, the theater experience faces threats. Cinemas, particularly those independently owned, are finding it difficult to survive. We must support them. During COVID, nearly 1,000 screens disappeared across America, and we keep losing more regularly," he stated.
Madison portrays Ani, a sex worker whose existence gets disrupted by promises from Russian heir Vanya (Eydelshteyn) in Baker's film. The movie won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in May 2024, strengthening its Oscar prospects.
Baker continued his earlier remarks, "Without reversing this pattern, we'll lose a crucial element of our culture. This serves as our rallying cry. Filmmakers, continue creating for large screens. I certainly will. Distributors, please prioritize theatrical releases for our projects. Neon did this for me, and I'm deeply thankful. Parents, show your children feature films in movie theaters, and you'll shape the next wave of cinema enthusiasts and creators."
The Best Actress competition remained unpredictable throughout awards season, with no clear favorite, though Madison previously won the BAFTA for Best Actress in February.
Madison's BAFTA victory increased her Oscar chances, despite Moore's compelling narrative as an actress who has dedicated significant time to her career and taken a role in "The Substance" that highlights the challenges faced by supposedly "too old" actresses - a storyline that gained traction in recent months.
"Anora" began filming in Brighton Beach in February 2023, a location Madison had never visited before. Living there alongside the film team helped her connect more deeply with her character, as she told IndieWire last year.
"I had never been to Brighton Beach before production started in early 2023, which is why I wanted to spend as much time there as possible," Madison explained. "I had already spent many months doing other preparation for the role. I thought, 'If I don't understand what living here feels like, it won't seem authentic or familiar to me.' I relocated there and lived near the subway station, and I really enjoyed it. The community is wonderful, and I found it fascinating. I purchased several pieces of my character's wardrobe, visited my preferred coffee shop, and listened to conversations. This helped me ground myself in both the character and the setting. Leaving Los Angeles for that environment was beneficial. You can do all the preparation, but when you're still at your house in L.A., it doesn't feel connected to what you're about to do."
Madison has not yet revealed her next project following "Anora." She previously received praise for her work in FX's "Better Things," created by Pamela Adlon who played her mother, and for her performance in Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." The Academy typically favors young newcomers, which added strength to her potential Oscar win narrative.
