Mikey Madison is having a fairytale year.
It works because Madison is simply extraordinaryand the world is taking notice.
Read an edited excerpt of our conversation below.
Photo: Getty Images
Vogue: How didAnoracome to you?
I read that Sean Baker saw you inScreamand immediately called your agent?
What was it like having a part like this written especially for you?
Mikey Madison as Ani inAnora.
What were you most excited to explore with her?
Shes very different from who I am.
I admire her fighting spirit and her hopefulnessshes very scrappy.
Mark Eydelshteyn’s Ivan with Madison’s Ani inAnora.
She fights very dirtyphysically and verbally [laughs].
She doesnt think before she speaks.
She believes everything she says with every fiber of her being.
TheAnorateam celebrating their Palme d’Or win at Cannes.
Energy-wise, were so contrasting.
And I know you guys made a Pinterest board of inspiration for the film.
What was on it?
Madison in Chanel for the Cannes premiere ofAnora.
I love making thoseI do it for a lot of characters that Ive played.
For Ani, I had long acrylic nails and fake lashes.
Mikey Madison as Ani inAnora.
How else did you prepare?
While Sean was writing the script, he and I were constantly talking.
I was able to read memoirs written by sex workers.
I devoured YouTube videos that were like A night in my life as a dancer.
I learned some Russian, which I had no prior knowledge of, which was cool.
I worked on a dialect for the accentits very specific to Brooklyn and Brighton Beach.
And then obviously dancingI worked with an amazing coach.
I had no dance experience.
I was embarrassed at times.
I was so scared.
I was like, This is not going to be something Im good at.
Nothings going to move!
But we started slowly.
It was so important to get the twerking right!
And you did your own stunts, too?
I wanted to experience everything.
Id immersed so many other parts of myselflike, my entire lifeinto creating this character.
And you ended up quite bruised, right?
I didnt think Id actually get hurt, but I was literally covered in bruises.
I bruise easily [laughs].
Your screaming is also very impressive.
I was screaming for a lot of takes [laughs].
Hes so great in the film.
Did you get to hang out much?
Hes such a funny personreally hilarious.
I was like, What?
I think I laughed for like 30 minutes.
I think that summed him up as a person, and also what he brought to the character.
Mark Eydelshteyns Ivan with Madisons Ani inAnora.
Anoraweaves together comedy and tragedy so beautifully.
Is that a fine line to walk in your performance?
I wanted to know her like the back of my hand.
Shes very layered and complex.
Having done that work, each scene felt kind of intuitive.
Shes a very sensitive person, but shes constantly covering it with some kind of pain or anger.
But nobody is just angry or sassy.
Theres always something underneath that.
It was important for me to always be conscious of that.
TheAnorateam celebrating their Palme dOr win at Cannes.
The film won the Palme dOr at Cannes.
What was that moment like?
It was quite surreal.
I could have cried.
And now youre a best-actress Oscar frontrunner going into 2025.
How does that feel?
I have to ask you about fashion, too.
I loved seeing you in Chanel at Cannes.
How do you approach red-carpet dressing?
Do you have a stylist?
Madison in Chanel for the Cannes premiere ofAnora.
Are you excited to dress for awards season?
Ive always loved fashion and, when I was younger, I was so experimental with clothing.
And then, when I was 18 or 19, I was really into 70s-style dresses.
Do you know what I mean?
Im excited about experimenting more because you dont often get to wear dresses like that in everyday life.
I dont really get to go to parties where you get to be that glamorous all the time.
Im excited to see you do more of that going forward.
How did you realize you wanted to be an actor?
Id always liked moviesgrowing up, I lovedStand by Me,Pretty in Pink,Sixteen Candles.
I loved Molly Ringwald.
That wasnt quite right and then I realized I actually just wanted to be an actress.
I was intrigued by the intimacy and the connection that comes with acting.
Are you into equestrian style, too?
I feel like its having a moment.
I love that, because I literally lived in, like, polo shirts my entire childhood and teenagehood.
Theres always something very chic and polished about equestrian gear.
Do you still ride?
Not as much as I used to, but sometimes.
I think Id be more adventurous in the outfits Id choose now as opposed to when I was younger.
I kind of played it by the book.
I wanted to be seen as a very serious rider [laughs].
And so I never chose any color pants except for beige.
Id probably get white now.
I dont know if riding helps you unwind, but how do you relax when not working?
I know you have a new puppy.
I do, yes, but that does not help me unwind [laughs].
Hes the love of my life and its also absolute chaos.
Hes very cute, hes a little rescue dog.
I love cooking and baking for other people specifically, thoughit relaxes me.
Its my happy place.
My crowd-pleaser is my chocolate chip cookies, which are, I have to say, very good.
Ive perfected the recipeits been like 10 years now.
I do a good lemon loaf as well.
I hope you have more time for baking after all this.
What else is next for you?
Anorais in theaters on October 18.
