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Mikey Madison: From Scream to Anora – A Star is Born!
Get ready, because Mikey Madison is about to become a HUGE name! Her incredible performance as Anora (aka Ani) in Sean Baker's new film, is already making major waves. The movie premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, earning the Palme d'Or, along with other accolades and serious praise aimed squarely at Madison's performance! This breakout role has everyone talking!
Anora has screened at tons of other festivals (Toronto International Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, to name just two), and it’s opening in limited release October 18th before going nationwide!And those awards predictions? Major Best Actress buzz is centered around Madison and this recognition shows just how big her success really is.
Anora follows Ani; a New York City sex worker who falls hard and fast for Ivan (Mark Eidelstein), the son of Russian oligarchs. They get married impulsively! What follows is totally crazy chaos. WhenIvan’sfamily finds out, their fairy tale quickly becomes an intense nightmare. The movie doesn’t pull punches.
Before this role,Madisonwas already gaining fame, even achieving significant popularity starring in Scream (2022) as well as featuring in productions likeBetter ThingsandOnce Upon a Time…In Hollywood! Yet Anora has already launchedMadisonto new heights. And how does she feel about all this amazing success?
Madison remains grounded: "I don't know," she says, reflecting upon all the awards chatter, adding "I'm just so happy that people have been loving the film and that it's going to be shown in a much broader way than I ever could have anticipated." She reflects happily on those travel opportunities to international festivals– it's a "dream come true!"
This really opened up new avenues. "I have a running Google Doc of directors I love, producers, writers, [and] actors," she mentions and excitedly explains that this success continues to fuel her own ambitions, as well as generate interest in finding new projects she wants to participate in and explore. She especially calls outLuca GuadagninoandAlice Rohrwacher, suggesting more intense exploration in a more artistic and critically-acclaimed directions, perhaps suggesting an avenue where more complex stories might become the standard for this increasingly ambitious actress.
There are differences betweenMadisonandAni; and that contrast isn't something unseen between people! WhileMadisondescribes herself as calm and introspective,Ani’s bold; outgoing and outspoken, not to mention having that unmistakable thick New York accent which really does a lot to bring about those important local dynamics found throughout the entirety ofAnora.
To fully realize Ani,Madisonreally went above and beyond. "I worked with a dialect coach to create a base for the accent," she explains in an interview, and these preparations involved immense effort which impacted everything: it involved significant immersion within theBrighton Beach community, fine-tuning that specific accent through interaction; even going as far as testing that hard work through practical experimentation! She tried this accent on everyone— ordering coffee, listening, and carefully checking her results, testing her hard-earned perfection! It's amazing dedication and she eventually became capable of portraying this incredible skill seamlessly!
Mikey Madison is incredible inAnora, already earning serious accolades. It showcases an incredible transformative skill that leaves many expecting more incredible things to come in the future. Her thoughtful approach to her role— masteringAni'saccent, understanding the nuance of sex work and her obvious skill in portraying her emotions— suggests a massive career on the horizon and an ongoing pursuit to remain a critically and artistically respected member of that elite class within the filmmaking and acting world!
So get ready. Anora opens doors, for Madisonand audiences! And considering just how strong her initial success has become already, these suggestions demonstrate and predict an ongoing path of success.