Mikey Madison wins Oscar for best actress for ‘Anora’ from N.J.’s Sean Baker

Mikey Madison, the breakout star of “Anora,” has won the 2025 Academy Award for best actress.

Madison, 25, wins for her performance as Brooklyn sex worker Anora “Ani” Mikheeva in the film.

“This is very surreal,” the actor said, accepting the award Sunday.

“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.”

Sean Baker, the writer-director of the film, who hails from New Jersey, wrote the movie for Madison.

Baker won his first Oscar Sunday for best original screenplay for “Anora,” followed by best director and best editing. He set a new record, becoming the first person to win four Oscars for the same film at one Academy Awards ceremony.

When he accepted the screenplay award, Baker thanked the sex worker community, something Madison also did after she won best actress.

Baker, who was born in Summit and grew up in Short Hills and Branchburg, has dedicated most of his films to centering and humanizing sex workers.

“I will continue to support and be an ally,” Madison said. “All of the incredible people, the women that I had the privilege of meeting from that community has been one of the highlights of this entire incredible experience.”

Recognizing her fellow best actress nominees, Madison called the win “a dream come true.”

“I’m probably gonna wake up tomorrow,” she said, thanking Baker.

“I adore you,” she told him. “This is all because of you.”

Baker wanted to cast Madison after seeing her performances in “Scream” (2022) and Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019), the director told NJ Advance Media last year. (Tarantino happened to present Baker with the Oscar for best director.)

In both films, Madison screams her head off in villainous roles.

READ MORE: With ‘Anora,’ Sean Baker’s moment has arrived. N.J. director on the movie eyeing Oscar gold (interview).

“When you can see an actor go to those places and yet still keep it grounded and not cartoonish or not a caricature, I’m so impressed,” Baker, 54, told NJ Advance Media.

“And I was even more impressed when I met her and realized she’s a quiet, reserved, almost shy young woman who is so different from those roles, that she definitely wasn’t typecast.”

Madison screams plenty in “Anora,” but here she’s the heroine of the story.

Ani’s life changes when she meets Ivan “Vanya” Zakharov, the young, charming son of a Russian oligarch played by Russian actor Mark Edelshteyn.

The privileged good-time Charlie becomes a client and spends more and more time with her. During a raucous trip to Las Vegas, he proposes marriage. They get married in a rush only to see their happy adventure fall apart when Vanya’s parents get wind of the nuptials.

READ MORE: Sean Baker wins Oscar for best director for ‘Anora.’ Indie film champion is from N.J.

Toros, the wealthy family’s fixer (Karren Karagulian), sends two henchmen to find Ani and Vanya so they can break up the marriage, but Ani is not the kind of person to quietly acquiesce. (Hence screaming, kicking and punching.)

When Vanya flees the scene, Madison’s character forms an uneasy relationship with the hired muscles sent her way. But one of them, Igor, played by Russian actor Yura Borisov, proves he’s no unforgiving tough guy.

This was the first Oscar nomination for Madison as well as Borisov, who was recognized in the best supporting actor category.

“Anora” received a total of six Oscar nominations at the 97th Academy Awards, including best picture, director, original screenplay and editing nods for Baker.

Before “Anora,” the indie film auteur helmed “Starlet” (2012), “Tangerine” (2015), “The Florida Project” (2017) and “Red Rocket” — all movies about sex workers.

Madison, who is also known for her work in the FX series “Better Things,” wins the best actress Oscar over Demi Moore in “The Substance,” Fernanda Torres in “I’m Still Here,” Cynthia Erivo in “Wicked” and “Karla Sofía Gascón in “Emilia Pérez.”

Before the Oscars, Madison won best actress at the BAFTAs in London and best lead performance at the Film Independent Spirit Awards.

“Anora” is rated R, runs 2 hours and 18 minutes and is available to watch on demand.

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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads.