The97th Academy Awardsceremony unfolded with some surprises , but the biggest perturbation of the Nox was undoubtedly Mikey Madison bring home the bacon the Oscar for Best Actress for herrole inAnoraover Demi Moore . The 25 - year - old actress has been participating since 2013 , but is a comparative fledgeling compared to her contender in the Big Three family at the Oscars . Prior to her starring function inAnora , Madison had little rolesin Quentin Tarantino’sOnce Upon A Time In Hollywoodand the 2022 sequelScream , along with a starring role in the FX comedy dramaBetter Things .

Demi Moore , on the other hand , has been acting since the early 1980s , and has been an established star in Hollywood since her breakout in 1990’sGhostalongside Patrick Swayze . In recent year , Moore ’s act roles have been determine to mostly self-governing movies and TV shows . Her function in Coralie Fargeat’sbody horror filmThe Substanceacted as a kind of career replacement for Moore , with her performance receive universal acclaim . She took home several fundamental awards during the 2024/2025 awards time of year , and was a favorite for the Academy Award for Best Actress to the very end .

While there were not too many surprising parts of the   97th Academy Awards , a blue-ribbon handful of winnings were truly stunning , especially for Best Actress .

Mikey Madison from Anora, Ralph Fiennes from Conclave, and Timothée Chalamet from A Complete Unknown, with Oscars imagery in background

Mikey Madison Had A Strong End To Awards Season Before The Oscars

Madison Picked Up Several Key Awards Late In Awards Season

Demi Moore appear like the odds - on best-loved for Best Actress in the first place in 2025 , as she swept several of the major awards that are typically a forerunner to winning Best Actress . For her gripping and committed performance in The Substance , Moore took home a Screen Actors Guild Award , a Golden Globe , and a Critics ' Choice Award , along with a plethora of regional critic ' awards . It seemed probable that her career renewal would be topped off with the Best Actress nod at the Oscars , but Madison gather ground on her in the last week before the ceremony .

Mikey Madison had not earned any major award nominations prior to her performance inAnora , which garner her more than 30 nominations and more than 20 win in amount across the major and minor accolade circuits .

The biggest sign that the newcomer could be a serious threat to Moore was Madison taking home the British Academy Film Award ( BAFTA ) for Best Actress in a Leading Role , beating out Moore herself to do it . She also win the Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Performance , again beating out Moore . Madison ’s chances seemed to improve by the workweek , and it obviously culminated with her taking home the ultimate prize in cinema .

Charles Melton holding a rifle and looking serious in Warfare

Anora Becoming The Best Picture Frontrunner Helped Mikey Madison’s Chances

The Movie Picked Up Steam In The Final Weeks

Madison ’s fortune were likely helped by the fact that the movie she starred in started to gain momentum as the Oscars line nearly . While it jump off secure by winning the Palme d’Or for its first appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 , the quixotic comedy - dramatic play slowly picked up more steam as more people saw the motion-picture show and word - of - mouth spread . It wound up grossing $ 41 million at the box office on a budget of just $ 6 million , and drumhead began to reverse in the direction of author / manager Sean Baker and his independent film .

The concluding evidence ofAnora ’s excellence came in the form of Oscar nomination . It bring in six entire nominating speech ( including Madison ’s Best Actress nominating address ) , with Baker becoming the second person to ever win four Academy Awards for the same movie as he pull in them for writing , producing , redaction , and directing the pic . It became an unstoppable force in the latter stages of award season , which glow a bright spotlight on Madison ’s captivating performance .

Mikey Madison Beating Demi Moore For Best Actress At The Oscars Is Still Surprising

Moore’s Career Rejuvenation Made An Oscar Win Feel Poetic

Despite all that impulse , it still arrive as a jolt to many when Emma Stone announce Madison as the achiever or else of Moore . While both woman , along with the other brilliant finalists , were deserve , it mat like Moore had an edge leave the physically - acute nature of her role inThe heart and soul . On top of that , she was returning to the spotlight after years away from the bright lights in Hollywood , and the narrative of her acquire an Oscar as she revitalized her vocation felt poetical . Taking nothing aside from the other actresses , Moore felt like the right choice to many .

Despite Demi Moore ’s incredible operation inThe Substance , Mikey Madison was utterly excellent inAnora , and between Madison and Moore there really was n’t a ill-timed answer .

However , the momentum of Madison and ofAnorain general was enough to lever the desired Best Actress away from Moore in the last week before the Oscars . Fortunately , it is n’t a case of a clear inferior option getting the edge with the Academy , as has been the case in the Oscars ' history . Mikey Madison was absolutely first-class inAnora , and between Madison and Moore there really was n’t a haywire answer . Generally speaking , the2025 Oscarswas loaded with talent and great movies , and it would be operose to fence against a triumph for any of the candidate for Best Actress .

Elle Fanning’s Thia ensnared in branches in Predator Badlands

Your Rating

Your gossip has not been saved

Cast

Ani (Mikey Madison) in ANORA

Image via NEON

Ani tied up in Anora

Demi Moore wearing the velvet dress in The Substance

Anora Official Poster

Headshot Of Mikey Madison

Headshot Of Mark Eydelshteyn

Movies

The Oscars | Academy Awards

Anora