LOS ANGELES, March 3: “Anora,” the gripping drama about a sex worker who takes a chance at a new life by impulsively marrying a wealthy client, triumphed at the 2025 Academy Awards, sweeping three major categories. The film won Best Picture, with director Sean Baker securing the Best Director award and 25-year-old Mikey Madison earning Best Actress for her powerful portrayal of Ani, the film’s lead character.
Directed by Sean Baker, who was already a frontrunner in the directing category after receiving top honors from the Directors Guild of America, the Producers Guild of America, and the Independent Spirit Awards, “Anora” captivated audiences with its raw storytelling. In his acceptance speech, Baker emphasized the importance of independent theaters and the unique communal experience of watching films in a cinema. Baker is known for his previous works, including “Tangerine,” “The Florida Project,” and “Red Rocket,” with “Anora” being hailed as a “bawdy modern fable.” The film garnered a total of six nominations, including Best Picture.
Mikey Madison, in her first Oscar win, secured Best Actress for her role as Ani in “Anora.” The film follows her character, an exotic dancer who marries Ivan, the son of a wealthy Russian family, only to face intense opposition from his powerful relatives. Madison triumphed over strong competition, including Demi Moore for “The Substance,” Fernanda Torres, Cynthia Erivo for “Wicked,” and Karla Sofia Gascon for “Emilia Perez.” Madison had already received Best Actress honors at the Independent Spirit Awards and the BAFTAs for the same role.
Adrien Brody won his second Academy Award, securing Best Actor for his portrayal of Laszlo Toth, a Jewish immigrant and architect in pursuit of the American dream in “The Brutalist.” Brody, who previously won Best Actor for his role in “The Pianist” at age 29, joins an elite group of multiple Best Actor recipients, including Daniel Day-Lewis, Tom Hanks, Anthony Hopkins, Jack Nicholson, and Spencer Tracy. Brody has worked with some of the most renowned directors in the industry, including Wes Anderson, Woody Allen, and Peter Jackson, and his upcoming projects include the medieval action epic “Emperor.”
In the supporting categories, Zoe Saldana won Best Supporting Actress for her role as a fixer for a Mexican drug lord in the Spanish-language Netflix musical “Emilia Perez.” Meanwhile, Kieran Culkin earned Best Supporting Actor for his role in “A Real Pain,” a film about two cousins traveling to Poland to explore their family’s roots.
The winners were chosen by roughly 11,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which includes actors, directors, producers, and film professionals. The other nominees in the Best Director category included Brady Corbet for “The Brutalist,” James Mangold for “A Complete Unknown,” Jacques Audiard for “Emilia Perez,” and Coralie Fargeat for “The Substance.”
