Mikey Madison won the Oscar for best lead actress over contenders such as Demi Moore and Fernanda Torres, but there’s only love among the nominees. Moore, whose performance in “The Substance” made her an Oscar frontrunner after she won best lead actress prizes at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice and SAG Awards, took to Instagram after the Academy Awards and gave Madison a heartfelt shoutout.
“As this awards season comes to a close, I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude for this journey,” Moore wrote. “It’s been the ride of a lifetime and we’re just getting started! So grateful for my team, my fellow nominees, and everyone who has made this experience so full of joy and light… And a huge congratulations to Mikey Madison — can’t wait to see what you do next.”
Torres won a Golden Globe for her performance in Walter Salles’ “I’m Still Here,” which made history on Oscar night by becoming the first movie from Brazil to win the international feature category. Some Oscar pundits thought Torres might surprise and win best lead actress over Moore and Madison, the latter of whom became a contender after winning at the BAFTAs. Alas, Madison prevailed.
“Brazil is very passionate and all, but I wanted to ask that you only send love to Madison,” Torres said at a press conference after the Oscars (via Omelete). “Send only love because that woman is amazing. That’s all I wanted to ask.”
Madison, Moore and Torres were joined in this year’s best actress race by Cynthia Erivo from “Wicked” and Karla Sofía Gascón from “Emilia Pérez.” Madison called the Oscar win “surreal” in her acceptance speech, noting: “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.” She plays the title role in Sean Baker’s “Anora,” which centers on a sex worker whose life is thrown into chaos after she marries the son of a Russian oligarch. The movie won five Oscars, including best picture.
“I just want to recognize and honor the sex worker community,” Madison added in her speech. “Yes. I will continue to support and be an ally. All of the incredible people, the women that I’ve had the privilege of meeting from that community has been one of the highlights of this incredible experience.”
Madison also tipped her hat to her fellow nominees by saying: “I also just want to recognize the thoughtful, intelligent, beautiful, breathtaking work of my fellow nominees. I’m honored to be recognized alongside all of you. This is a dream come true.”