Mikey Madison, who got her start on the FX series Better Things, is the Best Actress Oscar frontrunner for her bold, mesmerizing turn in Sean Baker’s Anora, which won the top prize (Palme ‘d’Or) at the 2024 Cannes Film Fest.
As the title character, of a Russian American stripper in Brooklyn who falls for a client, she is alternately charming and hard-edged, pragmatic and sentimental.
Oscar Buzz
MADISON: I’ve been dreaming my entire career as an actress to be in the place that I am right now. Some of it doesn’t feel real at times.
Acting Young
MADISON: I started acting when I was about 15. “Better Things” lasted for five seasons over the course of seven years. That was my introduction to everything — I really knew nothing about acting. Over those seven years, I was able to dip my feet into the water.
Getting the Role
MADISON: Sean had seen a horror film that I did — “Scream.” He went opening weekend. He was already thinking about the plot for “Anora,” and he cast me in it just from the film. It was the easiest casting process I’ve ever had to go through. I’ve never had to not audition for something before. I had gotten into this pocket of playing very antagonistic characters; I really wanted to play a leading role, and I’m grateful Sean gave me that opportunity.
Learning the Character
MADISON: It was a character that felt so far away from home in every single way. It was very intimidating at first; how do I empathize with her? I was like, I just need to start small. I did quite a bit of pole training. I did this stripper boot camp where I was taught how to give lap dances, how to twerk. And I would know everything about her — what cigarettes she smokes, what her school life was like.
Intimacy Coordinator
MADISON: For our film, it was a choice that I made; the filmmakers offered me, if I wanted, an intimacy coordinator. Mark Eydelshteyn, who plays Ivan, and I decided it would be best to just keep it small. My character is a sex worker, and I had seen Sean’s films and know his dedication to authenticity. I was ready for it. As an actress, I approached it as a job.
Speaking Russian
MADISON: My grandmother, it was one of the languages she spoke, but it wasn’t passed on to my father. So I was starting from scratch. I never wanted it to sound perfect. I always wanted there to be some Americanized version of Russian, because I didn’t want her to fit in; she’s always on the outside looking in. I would fall asleep listening to 10 hours of Russian speaking on YouTube and just cram in as much Duolingo as possible.
