Amy Madigan Wins Oscar for Best Supporting Actress 40 Years After Her First Nomination for ‘Weapons’
Amy Madigan Wins Best Supporting Actress at the 98th Academy Awards
In a thrilling moment at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, Amy Madigan celebrated her victory as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Weapons. The awards ceremony featured a competitive field, with Madigan contending against notable performances from Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value), Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), and Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another). However, Madigan’s earlier wins at the Critics Choice and Actor Awards indicated she was a strong contender heading into the night.
Upon receiving her award, an excited Madigan let out a cathartic scream before expressing her joy on stage. “This is great!” she exclaimed, visibly moved by the honor.
This win marks a significant milestone for Madigan, as it is her first nomination in 40 years, having previously been nominated for Twice in a Lifetime. During her acceptance speech, she reflected on the differences between this awards season and her last nomination.
“What’s different is I got this little gold guy!” she quipped, momentarily shifting the focus from herself to recognize those who contributed to her journey.
Madigan emphasized the importance of acknowledging her support system, stating, “We were kind of advised, ‘Don’t say all these names because nobody knows who the hell these people are,’ but they’re people that mean something to you, that you couldn’t be here without them.” She expressed gratitude toward the cast and crew of Weapons, including director Zach Cregger, and acknowledged her fellow nominees for their warmth and camaraderie throughout the awards season.
Her journey through this awards cycle has been somewhat solitary, as Weapons received no other nominations, making her recognition even more remarkable. “When I was doing all the Weapons [awards] stuff, I was traveling on my own, and people from One Battle and Sinners just kind of gave me a hug and said, ‘Yeah, come on in and let us know you, and you can know us,’” she recalled, highlighting the sense of community among the nominees.
With this win, Madigan sets a new record for the longest gap between a first nomination and first victory at the Oscars for an actress. The previous holder, Geraldine Page, won for The Trip to Bountiful in 1986, 32 years after her first nomination for Hondo.
As she left the stage, Madigan concluded with heartfelt appreciation, saying, “Thank you very much. I’m very overwhelmed!”
