In a night filled with surprises, 25-year-old Mikey Madison delivered one of the biggest shocks at the 97th Academy Awards, winning Best Actress for her role in Anora. The rising star’s victory places her among the youngest winners in Oscar history, securing her spot as the ninth-youngest actress ever to claim the prestigious award, joining the ranks of Jennifer Lawrence, Hilary Swank and Audrey Hepburn.
The 25-year-old American won the best actress Oscar Sunday for her first major film role in “Anora,” in which she captivated audiences as a sassy sex worker who marries a Russian oligarch’s son — and learns tough lessons about the rich-poor divide.
Madison made a major critical breakthrough in Sean Baker’s movie, which first won hearts at the Cannes film festival, where it received the Palme d’Or.
She was perhaps the most surprising winner of the night, besting heavy favorite Demi Moore (“The Substance”), Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”), Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here) and scandal-mired Karla Sofia Gascon (“Emilia Perez”).
“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,” Madison said, reading nervously from a piece of paper.
“I also just want to again recognize and honor the sex worker community. I will continue to support and be an ally of all the incredible people, the women that I’ve had the privilege of meeting from that community.”
“Anora” tells the story of Ani, a Brooklyn sex worker who makes her living in high-end Manhattan clubs. Her luck seems to change when she meets Ivan, a young man who turns out to be the son of a Russian oligarch.
Ivan quickly immerses Ani in his life of parties, drugs and sex and, during a wild trip to Vegas, marries her.
But the quickie marriage incenses Ivan’s parents, who head to New York to set things right, and Ani quickly finds herself out of her depth.
She is forced into a zany search for an AWOL Ivan through Brooklyn’s “Little Odessa” — Brighton Beach — and an uncomfortable trip back to Sin City to get the marriage annulled, on which she experiences the cruelty of class warfare.
Madison trained in pole dancing for three months and frequented sex clubs to research the role. The Los Angeles native also perfected a Brooklyn accent and learned some basic Russian.