Mikey Madison talks about her 2025 ‘Best Actress’ Oscar win for ‘Anora’

Mikey Madison poses backstage with the Oscar for ‘Actress in a Leading Role.’ Photo Credit: Etienne Lauren, The Academy.

On Sunday, March 2nd, Mikey Madison took home the 2025 Academy Award for “Best Actress” for her portrayal of the title character in “Anora,” a film which won a total of five Oscars.

Madison triumphed over her fellow nominees Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”), Fernada Torres (“I’m Still Here”), Demi Moore (“The Substance”), and Karla Sofía Gascón (“Emilia Perez”).

After she accepted her Oscar, Madison spoke with members of the media at the Oscars Press Room.

Synopsis of ‘Anora’

The synopsis is: Mikey Madison plays Ani, a young sex worker from Brooklyn whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets and impulsively marries Vanya, the impetuous son of a Russian oligarch.

When Vanya’s parents catch wind of the union, they send their henchmen to annul the marriage, setting off a wild chase through the streets of New York.

Madison on ‘Anora’ winning a total of five Academy Awards

On their film “Anora” winning a total of five Academy Awards (four win for Sean Baker and a “Best Actress” win for Madison), she remarked, “Oh my gosh, it’s for lack of a better word, just incredibly surreal.”

“I never thought anything like this would happen in my life,” Madison admitted. “I just love making movies and I’ve dreamed of being an actress that has, that would be able to be in a film like ‘Anora’ my entire career as an actress.”

“So, it’s a huge honor, one that I think will soak in later down the line, hopefully. I really did not expect it at all,” she reiterated.

Madison on Sean Baker and the ‘Anora’ team

Madison praised “Anora” director, writer, and producer Sean Baker. “Sean is such a wonderful and incredible filmmaker,” she admitted. “He is an incredible writer and an amazing editor.”

Madison subsequently described Baker as a “true lover of cinema” and as a “kind person.” “Sean has dedicated so much of his career to telling really important stories,” she said.

“I am so happy for him because he is just a true indie filmmaker. Like we went off and just made this weird and crazy movie. We had fun and poured our hearts into it,” Madison elaborated.

“I adore him and I adore Sammy Quan and Alex Coco and the entire team, and so
I could keep talking about them forever, but I am so happy for them,” she added.

Her “Best Actress” Oscar speech may be seen below.

Madison on how her Oscar win will impact her career moving forward

The actress discussed how her Academy Award win will influence her career moving forward.

“It’s interesting,” she admitted. “I’ve been thinking about the future a lot, and also
the past. I’ve been really trying to remind myself to stay as present as possible throughout all of this, so I don’t know. I really don’t know what will happen
in the future.”

“I just want to keep making movies, and continue to work with people who inspire me and play interesting characters, and tell stories that are compelling,” she acknowledged.

“So, that’s just what I hope to do and I really don’t know what will happen. I just know that tonight I’m going to go home to my new puppies and probably, you know, clean up their mess, and it’s gonna bring me right down to earth,” she elaborated.

Madison on ‘Anora’ helping her gain confidence

On making this movie, she explained, “This film gave me confidence as an actor and as a creative. I think that it really inspired me, reinvigorated my love of cinema and reminded me of the kind of work that I want to do.”

“I still have so much love for her,” Madison said about her character (Anora).

“I’m grateful that I was able to portray her for a short period of time. There will always be a small part of me that carries around the experience of making the film and the character because it has changed my life in so many ways,” she expressed.

“I was able to work with Sean Baker, and I was able to meet incredible people from the sex work community that has been such a wonderful part of this. I’ve met
and made so many incredible friends,” she concluded.

Please Note: This journalist was credentialed for the 2025 Academy Awards, and participated in the Press Room interviews with the 2025 Oscar winners following their wins.