After losing the BAFTA in the “Rising Star” category, Mikey Madison took home the title of “Best Actress” at the 2025 British Academy Film Awards. The star of “Anora” claimed the award during the 78th edition of the prestigious event, held at the iconic Royal Festival Hall in London and hosted by David Tennant.
Visibly emotional, Madison took the stage and surprised everyone with a heartfelt and spontaneous speech.
“I didn’t expect this. I probably should have listened to my publicist and written a speech or something like that”, she confessed with a smile. She then dedicated an emotional thank you to “Sean Baker”, the director of “Anora”:
“I adore you. You’re an incredible person. I know you don’t like being praised, but I have to do it, even if just for a second. You’re so wonderful. You literally made my dreams come true”, she expressed.
But her gratitude didn’t stop there. The actress also thanked her team and, with a tender voice, recalled the unwavering support of her mother, who couldn’t attend the gala:
“She’s not here, but she’s taken me to hundreds of auditions, helped me record many of them, always helps me memorize my lines, and she’s my favorite scene partner. I love you”, she said emotionally.
In addition to celebrating her victory, Madison also took a moment to praise the talent of her fellow nominees: “Cynthia Erivo (*Wicked*), Karla Sofía Gascón (*Emilia Pérez*), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (*Hard Truths*), Demi Moore (The Substance) and Saoirse Ronan (The Outrun)”.
“To my fellow nominees, I admire you so much. You all gave amazing performances. And honestly, the best part of all this has been meeting all of you”, she stated.
A Message of Struggle and Empowerment
Before wrapping up her speech, the actress took a moment to send a powerful message in support of the **sex worker community**, aligning with the themes of *Anora*, where she portrays a stripper and sex worker in a modern-day fairy tale.
“I want to take a moment to recognize the sex worker community. You deserve respect and dignity. I will always be a friend and ally, and I urge others to do the same. Thank you so much”, she concluded firmly, receiving an ovation from the audience.
A Promising Future
Thanks to her performance in *Anora*, Mikey Madison has been nominated for prestigious awards, including the “Critics Choice Awards, Film Independent Spirit Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards”. Her career is on the rise, and in a recent interview with *PEOPLE*, she revealed that she has received exciting offers following the success of the film.
“There are definitely projects I’m really excited about, and I’m crossing my fingers. My biggest dream is to continue my career in film. I’d love to do a western or something like that”, she confessed.
However, before diving into new projects, the actress wants to enjoy the present and make the most of the 2025 awards season, where she’s also competing for her first “Oscar”.
“I’ve received a lot of advice, but I think the best advice is to stay present and not take myself too seriously”, she shared.
Finally, reflecting on her experience with *Anora*, Madison spoke about how the film changed her perspective on the direction she wants to take in her career:
“It changed the way I want to make films, and it really changed how I want to feel when I’m working on something… I’m really chasing this very specific feeling, this joy”, she concluded.
Without a doubt, this is just the beginning of a promising journey for Mikey Madison, who has emerged as one of the brightest and most committed actresses of her generation.
