Mikey Madison won the Oscar for best actress thanks to her acclaimed performance in “Anora,” which headed into the night as a frontrunner in several categories such as best picture and best director. In addition to her victory at the Academy Awards, Madison picked up best actress prizes this year from the BAFTAs and Spirit Awards.
“This is very surreal,” Madison said at the start of her speech. “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.”
“I just want to recognize and honor the sex worker community,” she added. “Yes. 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 this incredible experience.”
Madison continued, “I also just want to recognize the thoughtful, intelligent, beautiful, breathtaking work of my fellow nominees. I’m honored to be recognized alongside all of you. This is a dream come true.”
Madison was nominated at the Oscars opposite Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here”), Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”) Karla Sofía Gascón (“Emilia Pérez”) and Demi Moore (“The Substance”). While Moore started the season with major best actress wins at the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards, Madison proved she was a formidable Oscar contender with a win at the BAFTAs. The race was anyone’s game after the SAG Awards, where Moore prevailed. While some recent SAG best actress winners such as Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) and Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”) went on to repeat at the Oscars, the category has frequently split from the Academy Awards with winners such as Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) and Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”).
Madison plays the title role in Sean Baker’s “Anora,” which centers on a sex worker whose life is thrown into chaos after she marries the son of a Russian oligarch. In her BAFTAs acceptance speech, Madison paid tribute to the sex worker community.
“I do want to just take a moment to recognize the sex worker community. I just want to say that I see you,” she said to applause. “You deserve respect and human decency. I will always be a friend and ally.”
From Variety US