Mikey Madison took home the trophy for best actress at the 97th Academy Awards – a bit of a shock to viewers at home counting on Demi Moore.

Mikey Madison, 25, shocked the audience by becoming one of the youngest best actress winners in Academy history, over presumed front-runner Demi Moore.

Mikey Madison won the best actress Oscar on Sunday for “Anora,” a role that catapulted the 25-year-old into a burgeoning film career after achieving initial success on television. The Brooklyn-set comedy-drama had received six nominations.

Danielle Brooks reacts to Mikey Madison winning best actress. “I did vote for her because she’s amazing.” Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

"Anora," the story of a New York sex worker who gets a chance at a new life when she marries a wealthy Russian client on a whim, won five Academy Awards on Sunday (March 2), including the coveted best picture Oscar.

Mikey Madison wins best actress for Anora

One of Sunday’s biggest shockers ended up being the race for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Mikey Madison won the coveted award at the 97th Academy Awards for her role in “Anora” when most assumed the trophy would go to Demi Moore for “The Substance.