Demi Moore had a feeling that Mikey Madison would win Best Actress at theOscars. At the 97th Academy Awards, which aired this past March 2,Moore was nominated for her performancein the body horror film,The Substance, as a fading celebrity who takes a black market drug to create a younger, better version of herself, with unexpected side effects. Instead, it was Madison who won the Oscar for her performance in Sean Baker’sAnoraas the titular stripper who impulsively marries the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch, whose parents attempt to have the union annulled.
Talking toTimefor their “100 Most Influential People of 2025,“Demi Moore reflected on losing Best Actress to Mikey Madison at the Oscars. The actress says that, during the commercial break right before Best Actress was announced, she had a strong feeling that Madison would win, as she leaned over and whispered to her manager, “I think it’s going to Mikey.” So when her name wasn’t called, she wasn’t very surprised, but of course, she still admits that losing stings. Read her full comments below:
I leaned over and whispered to my manager, “I think it’s going to Mikey.” I don’t know why I knew, but I did. I was so centered and calm. I didn’t feel gutted. I didn’t feel any of those kinds of things. I just trusted, and am in trust of, whatever is going to unfold. The physical, human part that has ego, of course, has disappointment. It certainly would have been wonderful to have won.
What Demi Moore’s Comments Mean For Mikey Madison’s Oscar Win
It Was Easy To See Coming
Demi Moore having a feeling that Mikey Madison was going to win Best Actress certainly wasn’t a supernatural premonition, asit was easy to sense that the Academy was leaning inAnora’s directionthroughout the course of the night.Anorawon an early awardfor Best Oringal Screenplay and while, shortly after,The Substancewon for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, that would be the body horror movie’s only award of the night, andAnoraended up sweeping nearly every major category it was nominated in.
Anorawent on to win Best Editing and Best Director, both for Baker. At that point, it was clear that the Academy was leaning inAnora’s direction, butit was still somewhat of a surprise when Madison won Best Actresssince Moore was favored heading into the night. Once Madison won, it was a foregone conclusion thatAnorawould win Best Picture. As the writer, director, editor, and producer ofAnora, Baker became the only person to win four Oscars for the same film in a single ceremony.
Our Take On Mikey Madison Winning Best Actress Over Demi Moore
The Academy Made The Right Decision
Though Demi Moore turned in a strong performance inThe Substance, and she deserves all the praise and accolades she received, the Academy ultimately made the right decision awarding Best Actress to Mikey Madison.Her performance inAnorais arguably more impressive, as she learned Russian, studied pole dancing, and mastered the Brooklyn accent for the film. However, there is something to be said about the 62-year-old Demi Moore losing to the 25-year-old starlet at theOscars, as ifThe Substance’s central conflict had spilled off the screen and into real life.
