A shocking twist at the 2025 Oscars! If this awards season has shown anything, it’s that nothing is guaranteed. Demi Moore, who had dominated the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards for her role in The Substance, seemed like the clear favorite. But when Mikey Madison won the BAFTA, the race suddenly became unpredictable.
Against all expectations, it was Mikey Madison—not the night’s top contender, Demi Moore—who took home the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Anora. Even she seemed stunned. “This is very surreal,” Madison said while accepting the award at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “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.”
Anora, which also won Best Picture, is a ‘dramedy’ directed by Sean Baker that previously won the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2024. Often described as a modern-day Pretty Woman or Cinderella story, the film follows Anora Mikheeva, a stripper who marries the son of a Russian oligarch and is suddenly pulled into a life of luxury. But things take a turn when her new husband’s family interferes in their marriage.
When Mikey Madison accepted her Oscar, she used the moment to speak up for sex workers. She dedicated part of her speech to calling for respect and dignity for them.
She had already made her stance clear in interviews while promoting the film: “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.”
With this win, Madison became the ninth-youngest actress in Oscar history to take home the award.
Who Is Mikey Madison, and How Did She Win an Oscar?
Mikaela Madison Rosberg was born on March 25, 1999, in Los Angeles, California. She started out acting in short films before gaining recognition in FX’s comedy series Better Things (2016–2022).
Before becoming one of Hollywood’s breakout stars, she had supporting roles in big productions. One of her most notable performances was as a follower of Charles Manson in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She also played the latest Ghostface in Scream (2022).
However, her big break came with Anora, a role that earned her major awards, including the BAFTA, the Independent Spirit Award, and now, the Oscar. Madison’s win wasn’t just about her talent—it was also driven by the success of Anora. The film won big at the Writers Guild Awards and the Producers Guild Awards, securing its place as one of the most praised films of the year.
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