The first time is undoubtedly a charm for Mikey Madison.
In her first significant film role, “Anora,” the 25-year-old American won the Oscar for best actress on Sunday. She enthralled audiences as a sarcastic sex worker who marries a Russian oligarch’s son and gains valuable insight into the rich-poor divide.
Madison made a significant critical breakthrough in Sean Baker’s film, which first won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes film festival.
She was perhaps the most surprising winner of the night, besting heavy favorite Demi Moore (“The Substance”), Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”), Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here) and scandal-mired Karla Sofia Gascon (“Emilia Perez”).
“I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me. So to be here standing in this room today is really incredible,” Madison said, reading nervously from a piece of paper.
“I also just want to again recognize and honor the sex worker community. I will continue to support and be an ally of all the incredible people, the women that I’ve had the privilege of meeting from that community.”
“Anora” tells the story of Ani, a Brooklyn sex worker who makes her living in high-end Manhattan clubs. Her luck seems to change when she meets Ivan, a young man who turns out to be the son of a Russian oligarch.
Ivan quickly immerses Ani in his life of parties, drugs and sex and, during a wild trip to Vegas, marries her.
But the quickie marriage incenses Ivan’s parents, who head to New York to set things right, and Ani quickly finds herself out of her depth.
She is forced into a zany search for an AWOL Ivan through Brooklyn’s “Little Odessa” — Brighton Beach — and an uncomfortable trip back to Sin City to get the marriage annulled, on which she experiences the cruelty of class warfare.
Madison spent three months studying pole dancing and going to sex clubs to learn more about the job. The native of Los Angeles also studied some basic Russian and improved his Brooklyn accent.
