At the 2025 Oscars on Sunday, March 2, in Los Angeles, the 25-year-old star of Anora appeared stunned as she claimed her first-ever Academy Award, pulling off a surprising victory over frontrunner and fellow first-time nominee, Demi Moore.
Mikey Madison took a moment to thank her team, the film’s creators, her family in attendance, the sex-worker community, and her fellow Best Actress nominees: Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), Moore (The Substance), and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here).
“This is a dream come true; I’m probably gonna wake up tomorrow,” Madison said, acknowledging the surreal nature of her win before adding a heartfelt thank you to Anora director Sean Baker: “I adore you. This is all because of you.”
Madison stars in Baker’s Anora, playing the titular role of a sex worker caught in a whirlwind Cinderella story.
Her performance, which earned nods at several precursor ceremonies, ultimately led her to victory at this year’s BAFTA Awards.
Upon accepting her Oscar from last year’s winner, Emma Stone, Madison reflected on the “surreal” experience, sharing how she grew up in Los Angeles but “Hollywood always felt so far away for me.” She continued, “So to be here standing in this room today is really incredible.”
The other nominees were incredibly deserving and delivered outstanding performances this year.
Moore’s portrayal of actress Elisabeth Sparkle in The Substance, Coralie Fargeat’s body-horror satire, earned her accolades throughout awards season, including wins at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, and more.
In her Golden Globes acceptance speech, the 62-year-old actress expressed being “in shock,” “humbled,” and “grateful,” adding, “I’ve been doing this for over 45 years, and this is the first time I’ve ever won anything as an actor.”
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