Amy Madigan has won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at the 2026 Academy Awards for her portrayal of the antagonist Aunt Gladys in the horror film Weapons. During the ceremony, which took place last night, Madigan was presented with the award by last year’s winner, Zoe Saldaña. The actress was excited to receive the recognition and especially thanked the writer and director of the film, Zach Cregger, for giving her such a challenging role: He wrote a dream role and let me grab it by the neck, she stated.
An actress stitching what seemed impossible
The movie Weapons, although it did not receive more nominations, stood out thanks to the magnetic performance of Madigan, who became the Villain of the Year 2025 according to GamesRadar+. In her acceptance speech, Madigan paid tribute to other nominees at the event, including Elle Fanning, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Wunmi Mosaku, and Teyana Taylor, in front of an enthusiastic audience.
The impact of Weapons seems to have resonated with critics, even though it did not feature among the major contenders of the night. In contrast, the film Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, established itself as the most nominated in Oscar history, with an impressive total of 16 nominations, thus highlighting the dominance of horror at this year’s ceremony.
Madigan portrayed the terrifying Aunt Gladys, who becomes a central figure in the life of the shy Alex and feeds off his energy through his kidnapped classmates. The combination of ironic humor and horror in her performance has been widely praised, making her character one of the most memorable in the genre in 2025.
The night was marked by the celebration of cinema in all its forms, and Madigan, despite her film not being recognized in other categories, left a mark with her performance that will be remembered for a long time.
