Mikey Madison shocked at the Oscars when she took home the award for Best Actress over Demi Moore in a stunning turn of events.
Though the 25-year-old “Anora” star had been a favorite to take home the statue ahead of the official start of awards season, Moore’s performance in “The Substance” soon overshadowed Madison’s chances at a win. Even so, her portrayal of a spitfire sex worker from Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach defied most Oscar watchers’ predictions.
Upon accepting the award from reigning Best Actress Emma Stone, a soft-spoken Madison thanked the Academy for the “dream come true.
“I’m probably going to wake up tomorrow,” said Madison, who also beat out Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”), Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here”), and Karla Sofía Gascón (“Emilia Pérez”).
Madison’s win was the fourth of five Academy Awards for the indie Cinderella story-turned-sour, which also took home the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director (Sean Baker), Best Original Screenplay (Baker), and Best Editing (Baker).
Speaking to the Daily News in 2021, Baker said his films “are just a reaction of what I’m not seeing enough of coming from U.S. film and TV.
“Underrepresented communities, cultures, microcosms,” continued Baker, who was promoting his film “Red Rocket,” about a former porn star (Simon Rex).
Baker’s 2015 film “Tangerine” spotlit transgender sex workers while 2017’s much-loved “The Florida Project” centered on those struggling to make ends meet while living next to Walt Disney World.
