Demi Moore’s expected Oscar win eluded her Sunday, when Anora star Mikey Madison, 25, took home the award in a shock win that defied several major predictions for the season.
Moore, 62, won Best Actress at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and Critics Choice Awards for her leading role in The Substance, but the Oscars is where her streak ended, after what had been an inspirational awards-season run for the actress. Moore touched her heart and smiled as Madison delivered her acceptance speech—but her disappointment was evident.
Moore’s success during awards season was particularly sweet as she’d often made the point that her career opportunities diminished as she aged—a central theme to The Substance’s storyline. Madison is both a first-time Oscar nominee and first-time winner for Anora, which won in a major sweep on Sunday.
The Sean Baker-directed film won five awards at the ceremony, for Original Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Director, Best Picture, and Madison’s Best Actress in a Lead Role. The low-budget indie film premiered at Cannes, where it won the Palme d’Or— the highest honor.
Last year’s Best Actress Oscar winner Emma Stone presented the award to Madison, who thanked “the sex worker community” and “all the incredible people, the women I’ve had the privilege of meeting,” who she said “have been among the highlights of this entire incredible experience.”
As for the other nominees, Madison said, “I want to recognize the breathtaking work of my fellow nominees. This is a dream come true. I am probably going to wake up tomorrow.”
