Demi Moore experienced a profound disappointment when Mikey Madison claimed the prestigious Best Actress award at the 2025 Oscars, during a ceremony where Anora triumphed with five accolades.
Including Best Picture. At 62, Demi had been widely regarded as the frontrunner, and her frustration was evident when the name of the 25-year-old emerging talent, Mikey, was announced to a shocked audience at the 97th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
Other notable winners that evening included Zoe Saldana, who secured the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance in the contentious film Emilia Perez, and Adrien Brody, who outperformed Timothée Chalamet to win Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist. Kieran Culkin commenced the night with a Best Supporting Actor victory for A Real Pain.
Who Is Won the Best Oscar Awards 2025?
Demi was visibly tense as her name was not mentioned, yet she managed to express a quiet acknowledgment of Mikey's achievement by softly saying "nice" while applauding. This outcome was particularly unexpected, given that Demi had dominated the actress category at several major pre-Oscar events for her role in The Substance.
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Mikey's portrayal of an escort in Anora, an independent film produced on a $6 million budget, earned Sean Baker the Best Director award. In her heartfelt acceptance speech, she paid tribute to the sex worker community.
She stated, I also want to take this moment to recognize and honor the sex worker community. I will continue to support and stand as an ally. Meeting the incredible women from that community has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this journey.
Mikey concluded her remarks by acknowledging her fellow nominees, including the esteemed Demi. She expressed, I also wish to highlight the thoughtful, intelligent, and breathtaking work of my fellow nominees. It is an honor to be recognized alongside all of you. This feels like a dream, and I might wake up tomorrow. Thank you so much, Sean [Baker], I adore you. This achievement is all thanks to you. Thank you.
At the conclusion of the evening, the film secured the prestigious Best Picture Award, surpassing competitors such as The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked. The writer and director of Anora also received three accolades, which included Best Original Screenplay, Achievement in Film Editing, and the highly sought-after Best Director award.
Understanding the Best Actor of the Oscor in 2025
The narrative revolves around a young escort named Ani, portrayed by Mikey, who hails from Brooklyn and impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. However, when the news reaches Russia, her seemingly perfect fairy tale is jeopardized as his parents travel to New York with the intention of annulling the marriage.
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Pop star and actress Ariana Grande received her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Glinda in Wicked, while her co-star Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, was nominated for Best Actress.
They were ultimately outperformed by Emilia Perez’s Zoe Saldana (Best Supporting Actress) and Mikey Madison from Anora (Best Actress); Emilia Perez also won the award for Best Original Song for “El Mal.”
Best Actor of Oscar 2025
INNER: Anora, Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker, Producers
The Brutalist, Nick Gordon, Brian Young, Andrew Morrison, D.J. Gugenheim, Brady Corbet, Producers. A Complete Unknown, Fred Berger, James Mangold, and Alex Heineman, Producers. Conclave, Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, and Michael A. Jackman, Producers. Dune: Part Two, Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, and Denis Villeneuve, Producers.
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Emilia Pérez, Pascal Caucheteux, Jacques Audiard, Producers || I’m Still Here, Maria Carlota Bruno, Rodrigo Teixeira, Producers || Nickel Boys, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Joslyn Barnes, Producers || The Substance, Coralie Fargeat, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Producers.
Best Supporting Actor
Kieran Culkin, recognized for his role in "A Real Pain," is among the nominees in this category, which also includes Yura Borisov for "Anora," Edward Norton for "A Complete Unknown," Guy Pearce for "The Brutalist," and Jeremy Strong for "The Apprentice."
FAQ's- Oscar Winners 2025
Who won the best film in 2025?
The 2025 Oscars: The film "Anora" secured the award for Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards, marking a remarkable evening for Sean Baker's unfiltered and audacious narrative centered on a Brooklyn sex worker. The film garnered a total of five Oscars, including accolades for writing, editing, and directing.
Who received the Best Lead Actor award in 2025?
Anora" triumphed with the Best Picture Academy Award at the 2025 Oscars. Adrien Brody was honored with the Best Actor award for his performance in "The Brutalist," marking his second Oscar win. Brody previously made history in 2003 as the youngest recipient of the Best Actor award for "The Pianist" at the age of 29. Mikey Madison was awarded Best Actress for her role in "Anora."
What films are nominated for an Oscar in 2025?
Among the leading films contending for awards at the Academy Awards are "Emilia Perez," "Wicked," "The Brutalist," and "The Substance." The ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, celebrating some of the most critically acclaimed films and performances from the past year.
Who holds the record as the youngest actor to win Best Supporting Actor?
Timothy Hutton became the youngest winner in this category for his role in "Ordinary People" (1980) at the age of 20. John Gielgud was recognized for "Arthur" (1981), becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ winner in this category. Louis Gossett Jr. won for "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982), marking the first win for a Black actor in this category.
Who is predicted to win Best Supporting Actor in 2025?
At the 2025 Oscars, Kieran Culkin was awarded Best Supporting Actor during the 97th Academy Awards. The Red Carpet's Oscar nominees special included interviews with stars from this year's most nominated films, such as "Emilia Pérez," "The Brutalist," "Wicked," "A Complete Unknown," and others.
Who is the frontrunner for the Best Actress Oscar?
Demi Moore, for her performance in "The Substance," is currently the leading contender for Best Actress at the 2025 Oscars, with odds set at -250. Following her is Mikey Madison with +185 odds, and Fernanda Torres from "I'm Still Here" at +1000 odds.
