“Anora” Star Mikey Madison Talks Career Taking Off

Mikey Madison is having a breakthrough moment. The 25-year-old actress, known for her roles in Better Things and Scream (2022), says that starring in Anora has completely changed the direction of her career. Since the film’s debut last year, Mikey has been receiving exciting offers and is optimistic about what’s ahead.

“There are some things that I am really excited about and have my fingers crossed,” says Mikey, a Los Angeles native and first-time Oscar nominee. She is in the running for Best Actress at the 2025 Academy Awards alongside Demi Moore (for The Substance), Cynthia Erivo (for Wicked), Fernanda Torres (for I’m Still Here), and Karla Sofía Gascón (for Emilia Pérez).

“My biggest dream is to continue a career in film. And so, I’m really hopeful that this year I’ll get to keep doing that,” she shares.

Anora, directed by Sean Baker, follows Mikey’s character, a bold stripper and sex worker from New York City, who impulsively marries Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), the reckless son of a powerful Russian oligarch. The film, met with critical acclaim, has transformed how Mikey views acting. 

According to her, the film “changed the way that I want to make movies” and “how I want to feel when I’m working on something.” 

Looking ahead, Mikey has her sights set on new challenges. “I want to do a Western or something,” she says. Raised in a family of five siblings by psychologist parents Michael and Tracy, she is eager to expand her creative horizons.

Despite her excitement for the future, the actress is making an effort to stay present and enjoy awards season. “I’ve gotten a lot of advice. I think just to try to stay present, not take yourself too seriously, is advice I think I consistently keep getting,” she shared.

She admits that she sometimes struggles with overthinking. “I am constantly reminding myself to stay present, which is sort of a hard thing to remind yourself of,” she reflects, adding, “But I do feel often in my life I’m sort of living a little bit into the future, or too far back in time. And so I’m really trying to just remember, keep certain memories to have forever.”

The 2025 Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will air live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu.