Mikey Madison shocks with first Oscar as best actress for 'Anora,' thanks sex workers
"Anora" star Mikey Madison took home the trophy for best actress at the 97th Academy Awards – shocking anyone counting on Demi Moore to win the big prize for "The Substance."
"I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me. So to be here standing in this room today is really incredible," the shaky, in-awe Madison, 25, read off a prepared Oscars speech.
The film is a madcap modern fairy tale that follows a headstrong Brooklyn stripper named Ani (Madison), who's all at once heroic and ultimately heart-wrenching as she navigates a bumpy ride back to reality after marrying the young son of a Russian oligarch.
She went on to thank her family and the "Anora" crew, as well as the sex worker community. Madison had previously thanked them after winning the BAFTA best actress trophy earlier this year.
"I also just want to again recognize and honor the sex worker community. I will continue to support and be an ally. All of the incredible people, the women that I've had the privilege of meeting from that community has been one of the highlights of of this entire incredible experience."
In hindsight, Madison's BAFTA win signaled a potential Oscar win after prognosticators had been betting on Moore or Torres. But it really just was "Anora's" night.
"Anora" cleaned up big time at the Oscars this year, winning five of the six awards for which it was nominated: best picture, best director, best actress, best original screenplay and best editing. Director, writer and editor Sean Baker won four awards for "Anora"; he shared best picture with fellow producers Alex Coco and Samantha Quan, Baker's wife.
In the film, Ani is swept off her feet by Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), the oligarch's spoiled son and a rowdy big spender. But Ani's coach soon becomes a pumpkin after the couple ties the knot in Las Vegas and Ivan's scornful parents try to annul the marriage.
The character of Ani was written specifically for Madison by Baker ("The Florida Project"), who knew she could capture the intensity and naivete that Ani required.
"She has very unique eyes, and I knew we'd be getting a lot of closeups," Baker previously told Paste BN. "I love her subtlety, especially with Ivan. She really rides that fine line: You don't know whether it’s Ani performing or falling for him a bit. She allows the audience to understand that gray area with a sex worker and her client, in which she's finding some sort of attraction, too."
Check out our fun Los Angeles adventure with "Anora" actors Yura Borisov and Mark Eydelshteyn here.
Contributing: Patrick Ryan