Fresh off winning Best Supporting Actress at the 2026 Academy Awards, Amy Madigan spoke with reporters about the character that earned her the honor, the growing recognition of horror films by the Academy, and why she prefers to keep things spontaneous when delivering a speech.
Madigan won the Oscar for her performance as Aunt Gladys in Weapons, a role she said immediately resonated with her when she first read the script. “I loved the script,” Madigan said. “As soon as I read it, I knew. I knew this woman. A lot about her. I just knew that I could grab it by the throat.”
Madigan described Gladys as a character pushed to the edge, fighting to survive in difficult circumstances, something she believes many people can relate to. “She’s someone that’s just pushed to the limit,” Madigan said. “She’s just fighting for survival, I think. A lot of people relate to that.”
The actress also credited writer director Zach Cregger for giving her the freedom to explore the character fully. “Zach just said, ‘Do it. Go for it,’” she said. “I guess it worked out.”
Following her win, Madigan was asked whether audiences might someday see more of the character in a prequel focused on Gladys. “I’ve been asked that quite a number of times,” she said. “Zach says yes, this is going to happen. But we know how long things take in this business. Nothing’s real until it is. But if it worked out, that would be great.”
Madigan also spoke about the speech she delivered on stage, which many viewers noted felt natural and unscripted. According to the actress, preparation was minimal. “Well, I was in the shower last night and I thought, ‘Well, this must be a special day because I’m shaving my legs,’” she joked. “I wanted to thank a few people, especially my family, but that was about it. I work a little better when I shoot from the hip.”
During the press conversation, Madigan also addressed the growing recognition of horror films within the awards landscape. Historically, the genre has often been overlooked by major awards bodies, but that perception appears to be shifting.
“Horror used to be treated like you were at the little kids’ table at Thanksgiving,” she said. “But that’s not true. You still need a great writer, a great director and wonderful actors and crew.”
She pointed to the success of films like Sinners as an example of how the genre can tackle deeper themes while still delivering entertainment. “Look at Sinners,” Madigan said. “It deals with racial inequities, but does it through this vampire story.”
Madigan added that she hopes the industry continues to embrace a broader range of voices and stories. “I like that everybody can be in the mix,” she said. “It makes me really happy, and I hope it continues to open things up.”
The Oscar marks Madigan’s first Academy Award win, coming 40 years after her first nomination for Twice in a Lifetime, making the moment a long-awaited milestone in the veteran actress’s career.
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