Mikey Madison – a young American girl created an “earthquake”, shining brightly with her first leading role in her career – the movie “Anora” and defeated a series of “heavyweight” opponents.
The 2025 Oscars saw many surprising moments, but one of the most shocking was Mikey Madison’s win in the category of “Best Actress.”
The young American girl shone brightly with her first leading role in her career – the movie “Anora” and defeated a series of “heavyweight” opponents such as Demi Moore ( “The Substance” ), Cynthia Erivo ( “Wicked” ), Fernanda Torres ( “I’m Still Here” ) and Karla Sofia Gascon ( “Emilia Perez” ) to win the prestigious golden statue.
“Anora” explores the gap between rich and poor in a sharp way, while taking viewers on a young girl’s emotional journey as she faces the harshness of high society.
In the film, Madison plays Ani – a “modern-day Cinderella”, a strong girl who fights for the life she believes she deserves, but is ultimately overwhelmed by that very world.
Ani works at high-class clubs in Manhattan. One day, she meets Ivan – the son of a Russian tycoon, and is quickly drawn into his lavish world.
A wild night of partying in Las Vegas ends in a whirlwind wedding, but when Ivan’s parents find out, they decide to intervene in every way possible.
Ani quickly realizes that this world is not for her. She is drawn into a chaotic escape through Brighton Beach (Little Odessa), trying to find Ivan, and eventually comes face to face with the harsh reality of class distinctions.
Standing on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Madison could not hide her emotions when receiving her first Oscar. She shared: “I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always seemed so far away from me. Standing here today is really unbelievable.”
Before ” Anora,” Madison had played supporting roles in notable works such as Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” and the horror film “Scream” (released in 2022). It was director Sean Baker who noticed her after seeing her impressive performances in these films.
Director Sean Baker shared: “I have never worked with such a dedicated actor. She has a natural sense of humor, determination in her acting. I believe she will become a big star.”
Madison spent three months pole dancing and hitting nightclubs to get into character. She also learned a Brooklyn accent, as well as some basic Russian phrases to ensure her portrayal was as authentic as possible.
One of the most impressive scenes in the film lasts 28 minutes, where Ani is confronted by Russian and Armenian thugs, hitting, screaming and even biting back those who try to force themselves on her. Madison performed all of these actions herself without the use of a stunt double.
Born on March 25, 1999 in California, Madison grew up in a family with no connection to the arts – her parents are both psychologists.
Madison initially pursued a professional equestrian career before accidentally falling into acting.
Sharing with the press, Madison said: “I thought acting seemed interesting, like a safe way to explore experiences that I don’t have to live in real life.”
Madison is also one of the few young stars who doesn’t use social media. She frankly said that she doesn’t really understand the public’s curiosity about the actors’ private lives: “I understand why people are interested in the characters in the movies, but I’ve never understood why they are interested in the actors in real life.”
Mikey Madison’s win at the 2025 Oscars is not only a milestone for her personally but also marks the rise of talented young actors.
In an Oscar season filled with veteran names, a young actress like Madison being able to win shows a change in the way Hollywood views new talent./.
