Overview

• Mikey Madison earned her first Oscar for Best Actress for her role in 'Anora,' a modern fairy tale about a Brooklyn stripper navigating a tumultuous marriage to a Russian oligarch's son.
• 'Anora' dominated the 97th Academy Awards, winning five out of six nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay for Sean Baker.
• Madison's victory followed her BAFTA and Independent Spirit Awards wins, overcoming early awards-season frontrunner Demi Moore, who had won the Golden Globes and SAG Awards.
• In her acceptance speech, Madison expressed gratitude to the sex worker community, acknowledging their stories as a key inspiration for her performance.
• Director Sean Baker wrote the role of Ani specifically for Madison, who prepared extensively for the role by learning Russian, pole dancing, and performing her own stunts.