Joey Magidson
To call Anora a breakthrough for Mikey Madison is to do a disservice to both the film and the actress. The movie itself as brilliant, as I’ve already said, while Madison has already had our attention previously. Together, however, they create something truly stunning. I spoke to Sean Baker about the movie on the same day that I discussed it with Madison. My conversation with him is here, while my one with her comes your way right now…
Back at the Telluride Film Festival, I raved about Madison’s performance in Anora here, writing:
Mikey Madison gives the performance of the year here, full of vim and vigor. You immediately fall in love with Ani and want her to be happy. You worry for her safety when things get intense, cheer when she has the upper hand, and are heartbroken when you realize how the odds are stacked against her. Madison plays all this perfectly, leaning in to not just her sexuality, but also her toughness. So much is unsaid, but you have no trouble understanding Ani’s life, which is a credit to Baker and Madison. I haven’t seen a performance like this so far in 2024. If she’s not nominated for an Academy Award in Best Actress, something is wrong.
Below, you can see my chat with Madison. I was fascinated to find out more about how she found Ani, given the specificity of the character. She really went in with open arms, too, creating someone I thought was instantly recognizable. Baker and I talked a lot about the Brighton Beach and Coney Island of it all, so I picked that up with Madison here. She’s well on her way to her first Academy Award nomination, with a true shot at the Oscar for Best Actress. Stay tuned there, but Anora is a must see, so make it your business to check it out this weekend, when it begins its theatrical run.
Here now is my interview with Anora star Mikey Madison. Enjoy:
Anora begins its theatrical run by opening in select theaters this weekend!
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