Mikey Madison wins 'Best Actress' at the 2025 Oscars, beating Demi Moore in a surprising victory

By: Shawn
Mikey Madison, star of Anora, won the Best Actress award at the 2025 Academy Awards, beating out frontrunner Demi Moore, who was widely expected to win for her role in The Substance. Madison’s win came as a surprise to many, with the actress delivering a heartfelt speech at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night.

Mikey Madison accepts the best actress award for 'Anora' at 2025 Oscars.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

“I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me,” Madison shared during her acceptance speech. In Anora, she portrayed a Brooklyn sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, only to face danger from his powerful family. Madison expressed her admiration for the sex worker community, stating, “I just wanted to recognize and honor the sex worker community. I will continue to support and be an ally. Meeting incredible women from this community has been one of the highlights of this experience.”

Madison also opened up about how her interactions with sex workers helped shape her performance. Speaking at The Hollywood Reporter’s actress roundtable, she explained the physical and mental demands of playing such a complex role. “It’s not only physically demanding but mentally demanding as well, because you’re having to walk up to someone and immediately try to connect with them,” she said. “And physically, you’re on your feet all day, dancing in these really tall stilettos. Understanding the stamina that comes with that was crucial to the performance.”

While many had predicted Demi Moore to win the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in The Substance, Madison's victory was a significant upset. Other nominees in the category included Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here). Despite Moore’s win at the Golden Globes, Madison notably triumphed at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, a key precursor to the Oscars.

At just 25 years old, Madison has become the first Gen Z actor to win an Oscar in an acting category, marking a historic moment for the younger generation in Hollywood.

The 97th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, took place at the Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood. For a complete list of the 2025 Oscar winners, click here.

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