A Standing Ovation for Mikey Madison
The Academy Award for Best Actress goes to Mikey Madison! As her name is announced, the audience erupts into thunderous applause, and the iconic Oscar music plays in the background. This marks Madison’s first Oscar win and nomination, a career-defining moment for the talented actress.
A Surreal Moment on Hollywood’s Biggest Stage
Stepping onto the stage, visibly emotional, Madison takes a deep breath before addressing the audience. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she acknowledges the surreal nature of the moment.
“Wow, this is… very surreal. Forgive me, I’m nervous, so I’m going to read from a paper. But thank you so much to the Academy.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Madison reflects on her journey, expressing disbelief at how Hollywood once felt so far away, despite growing up in its shadow.
Heartfelt Thanks to Family and Filmmakers
She goes on to thank the teams behind her success, showing appreciation for Neon, FilmNation, and Universal for believing in her. Her speech takes a deeply personal turn as she acknowledges her family, including her mom, dad, sister, little brother, and twin brother, Miles—whom she playfully calls her “best best friend, not that you have a choice.”
She also extends her gratitude to the film’s creative team, giving a special shoutout to:
- Sean Baker (Director)
- Sami Quan
- Alex Coco
- Drew Daniels
- Ura Mark V Kin
- Ann Woodward
- Rachel Arick
- Nikki Fante
- Rich Dean
- Dan Don Fed Ward
Honoring the Community That Inspired Her Performance
Madison takes a moment to recognize the Brighton Beach community, thanking them for lending their beautiful backdrop and incredible spirit to the film.
She also delivers a powerful tribute to the sex worker community, acknowledging the incredible women she had the privilege of meeting during her preparation for the role.
“I will continue to support and be an ally. Meeting the incredible people from that community has been one of the highlights of this entire experience.”
A Tribute to Fellow Nominees and a Dream Come True
In closing, Madison honors her fellow nominees, calling their work thoughtful, intelligent, and breathtaking.
“This is a dream come true. I’m probably going to wake up tomorrow and realize it wasn’t real.”
She ends her speech with a heartfelt thank you to director Sean Baker, saying:
“Sean, I adore you. This is all because of you. Thank you.”
With a final wave and a teary-eyed smile, Mikey Madison walks off the stage, Oscar in hand, to a standing ovation.