Mikey Madison on Her ‘Anora’ Oscar Moment and Why She Played a Saved Voicemail From Her Father to Shoot Crucial Final Scene

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Mikey Madison is still processing her Oscar nomination.

The 24-year-old actress, recognized for playing key roles in the FX series “Better Things,” movies like “Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood” and “Scream 5,” has been actively acting for more than ten years. She’s experienced both triumphs and disappointments of the business. However, this year, following her powerful portrayal in Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or winning film “Anora,” she’s emerged as a contender in awards season and earned an Oscar nomination for best actress.

Madison spoke to EbMaster’s Awards Circuit podcast for this week’s episode; listen below.

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For Madison, no moment in her work had ever been as overwhelming as the last one. She had been putting off this particular scene, feeling a sense of apprehension each time she saw it scheduled. “I would look at it on the schedule and tell myself, Well, it’s a few weeks away, I can avoid it for now,” she recalls. “But then, all of a sudden, it was upon me.

The emotional impact of the scene is heightened by the fact that Madison found her inspiration in a profoundly private source – a voicemail from her father. She disclosed, “I listened to it prior to filming. I’ve rarely, if ever, used something so personal for a scene before. Yet, it felt essential. The emotions portrayed by Annie in that scene needed to resonate as genuinely real.

The outcome was nothing less than astounding. Upon its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, the crowd remained quiet for almost a minute post-credits. “I recall looking at Sean and thinking, Wow, that’s it.” she recalls. “And then, all of a sudden, an enormous standing ovation ensued. It was surreal.” The film earned the Palme d’Or, etching its name in cinematic annals, and now, she’s an Oscar nominee – a fact that still seems unbelievable to her.

During an episode of the EbMaster Awards Circuit Podcast, Madison expresses her disbelief by saying, ‘It’s something I’ve imagined for such a long time, and now it’s happening.’ She sounds a bit stunned by the situation. After returning home, she found herself doing ordinary tasks like cleaning her house and taking care of her dogs, but everything seemed unchanged to her.

I’m nestled comfortably in the studio, clad in casual attire, with my vibrant orange Chihuahua, Larrabee Strawberry Jam, snuggled up in my lap. The tale behind his name? I chuckle, “I simply couldn’t decide, so I thought, why not bestow all of them upon him?” My cat, Biscuit, shares the stage, and naturally, their names needed to harmonize. Larrabee, indifferent to the grandeur of my Oscar moment, occasionally emits a sharp yelp during our chat, interrupting us as he needs to relieve himself.

Madison confessed that she rarely allowed herself to entertain thoughts of a nomination as it seemed unattainable. “I usually maintain a defensive barrier when tackling tasks,” she explained. “The entertainment industry has brought me immense pain. There have been numerous instances where I secured my dream role, only for it to be taken away unexpectedly.

Despite the growing excitement surrounding “Anora” during the festival period, she remained unconvinced. “I found myself thinking, ‘no, this can’t be true.’ I couldn’t let myself believe that it could possibly be genuine.

Madison was taken aback when, soon after completing “Scream,” her agent called with an unexpected offer from Sean: he wanted to discuss a movie concept with her. Although she admired Sean’s work, she hadn’t expected someone as renowned as him to personally contact her.

The meeting felt quite unusual. “I found myself wondering if this was an audition or if I was about to read a script,” she reminisces. “However, he simply invited me to sit down and shared his casual concept for a film, asking me to be part of it.” To which she responded, “Yes… but hang on, isn’t there more to it than this?

Instead of her usual practice, “Anora” turned out to be a unique opportunity for her where she didn’t need to audition. She reminisced about countless auditions she had taken part in, representing hours upon hours of work, stored in her Dropbox. However, this time was different because she secured the role without an audition. But what followed was incredibly challenging.

In his distinctive, realistic filmmaking approach, demonstrated in films like “The Florida Project” and “Tangerine”, Baker challenged Madison extensively. The character of Anora demanded a level of intensity that was as much emotional as it was physical. Madison had to portray a character who is perpetually active, battling, vocalizing, and enduring. “I navigate the world at a more leisurely pace,” she confesses. “I savor moments. Annie, however, lives life at its maximum speed, always on the move, always pushing forward. It was draining.

After the shooting of the movie concluded, Madison felt completely depleted. “I didn’t even recognize how exhausted I was until I stopped. For a whole week, I was simply lying in bed, wondering why I felt like I had the flu. Then it dawned on me — I had been operating on adrenaline for months.

Currently, following her Oscar nomination, Madison is navigating through the whirlwind of award ceremonies. She confessed that it’s all quite overpowering for her, gently petting Larrabee. However, she expresses that despite the chaos, her primary focus remains on continuing to work. That goal has always been her constant.

For now, she’s savoring the moment — no matter how surreal it feels.

Furthermore, during this particular episode, we’ll be joined by “The Wild Robot” music creator, Kris Bowers. As our Roundtable delves into the expansive competition for both Best Picture and Director awards, with the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and Producers Guild of America (PGA) being key contenders in these categories.

Listen to previous podcast episodes

EbMaster Awards Circuit Podcast

The “Awards Circuit” podcast, led by Clayton Davis, Jazz Tangcay, Emily Longeretta, Jenelle Riley, and Michael Schneider (who also produces), serves as your ultimate destination for engaging discussions about the finest works in film and television. On each episode, you’ll find interviews with prominent film and TV personalities and creators, debates on awards races and industry news, and a whole lot more. Don’t forget to subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or any platform where you download podcasts.

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2025-01-30 22:48