Mikey Madison’s meteoric rise culminated in a Best Actress win this past weekend for her role in Anora at just 25-years-old.
This win placed her as the ninth youngest winner of the category of all time, and the youngest in 12 years, since Jennifer Lawrence won for Silver Linings Playbook at 22.
She plays Ani in the film, a sex worker who gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she becomes engaged to the son of a Russian oligarch.
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After the oligarch and his wife hear of this, they set out for New York to try and get the marriage annulled.
Madison’s win saw her beat out Demi Moore, Cynthia Erivo, Fernanda Torres, and the controversial Karla Sofia Gascon.
One interview of Madison’s had plagued her all throughout the Oscars trail, however, after she admitted she didn’t use an intimacy coordinator.
The film is one that some reviews have said has ‘so much sex’, but even in non-sexual scenes, her complex relationship and position as a sex worker led many to believe that an intimacy co-ordinator was needed on set.
Madison herself, however, revealed why she decided against using one.
She said in an episode of Actors on Actors, in which she spoke to Pamela Anderson, that she made the decision alongside her co-star Mark Eydelshteyn.
She said: “For our film, it was a choice that I made; the filmmakers offered me, if I wanted, an intimacy coordinator. Mark Eydelshteyn, who plays Ivan, and I decided it would be best to just keep it small.
“My character is a sex worker, and I had seen [director Sean Baker’s] films and know his dedication to authenticity. I was ready for it. As an actress, I approached it as a job.”
While the decision was controversial at the time, Madison still went on to take home the biggest prize in Hollywood.
In addition to this, Anora was the biggest winner of the night, with director Sean Baker taking home Best Editing, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and eventually, Best Picture.
In Madison’s Oscar acceptance speech she said: “I just want to again recognise and honour the sex worker community. I will continue to support and be an ally.
"All of the incredible people, the women I've had the privilege of meeting from that community has been one of the highlights of this entire incredible experience.
The young actor also paid tribute to the other women competing for the award, saying: “I also just want to recognise the thoughtful intelligent beautiful breathtaking work of my fellow nominees. I'm honoured to be recognised alongside all of you.”
She finished by saying: “This is a dream come true, I'm probably going to wake up tomorrow. Thank you so much Sean [Baker], I adore you. This is all because of you, thank you.”
Topics: Oscars, New York, Film, TV and Film, Sex and Relationships
Michael Slavin