Veteran actress Amy Madigan, aged 75, delivered a memorable moment at the newly renamed 32nd Actor Awards in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday. While accepting the trophy for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role, she recreated the iconic run from her film Weapons, captivating the audience at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall.
A Spellbinding Performance and Award-Winning Moment
Madigan's character, Aunt Gladys, in the critically-acclaimed horror mystery Weapons, possesses the eerie ability to compel people to chase after her deadly goals while under a spell. The film's director, Zach Cregger, drew inspiration from the 1972 Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph The Terror of War, which depicts a nine-year-old naked South Vietnamese girl covered in napalm during the Vietnam War. This haunting imagery influenced the film's tense and dramatic atmosphere.
As Madigan made a beeline towards presenter Orlando Bloom onstage, she remained in character, striking a pose that echoed her film role. Bloom handed her the trophy, marking a triumphant moment for the Chicago native. In her acceptance speech, Madigan expressed surprise at the love for her character, stating, "Gladys has surprised me. She's getting a lot of love back. I didn't know y'all wanted to hang out with her so much!"
Gratitude and Recognition for Peers
Madigan emphasized the importance of the ensemble cast, giving shoutouts to co-stars including Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, and young actor Cary Christopher. She also acknowledged Benedict Wong, Toby Huss, the children who worked on set, and the stunt team, humorously noting, "I did terrorize them, but I let them rip me apart, so it was okay." Concluding her speech, she shared, "I wasn't expecting this, but it does really mean a lot to me from my peers."
This was not the first time Madigan has mimed the run publicly; she previously performed it onstage while presenting at the 41st Film Independent Spirit Awards on February 15 alongside host Ego Nwodim. Her consistent engagement with the role highlights her dedication to the character and the film's impact.
Oscar Prospects and Industry Challenges
For her witchy role in Weapons, Madigan also secured the Critics Choice Award for best supporting actress on January 4. However, she faces an uphill battle for Oscar glory at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards, airing March 15 on ABC and Hulu. According to Gold Derby predictions, the former singer-pianist has a 25.57 percent chance of winning, while Teyana Taylor, star of One Battle After Another, holds a 51.33 percent chance.
Madigan addressed the Oscar race in an interview with Variety on February 20, laughing as she said, "I mean, did you think Aunt Gladys would end up here at the Oscars? No! Not because of quality, but because of genre bias. But I’ve loved being wrong about this." This comment reflects the ongoing challenges horror films face in major award ceremonies despite critical acclaim.
A Career Resurgence and Family Support
The Uncle Buck alum has not been nominated for an Oscar in 40 years, since Anjelica Huston beat her for best supporting actress in 1986 for Prizzi's Honor. Madigan's recent success marks a significant career resurgence, supported by her husband of 42 years, Ed Harris, and their 32-year-old daughter, Lily Harris. She told Variety, "He knows what it's all about, and he knows the business side often doesn't coincide with the artistic side. I'm very lucky that I've got someone watching my back."
Madigan and Harris originally met in 1983 while portraying a Texan couple having an affair in Robert Benton's Depression-era drama, Places in the Heart. Their long-standing partnership has been a cornerstone of her personal and professional life.
Future Projects and Ongoing Work
Following the success of Weapons, which had a $38 million budget and amassed $270 million at the box office, Madigan is set to reunite with director Zach Cregger on a prequel centered on Gladys. In a January interview with Deadline, she mentioned, "He's got some ideas and we've talked a little bit about it, but he's finishing up work [on Resident Evil] and we'll see what happens down the road. If that happens, that would be really exciting, but you know, I don't have any answers to that kind of a thing."
Beyond this, Madigan has been actively working on other projects. Last month, she shot a guest-star role as Scarlett Cunningham in the Netflix limited series All The Sinners Bleed, an adaptation of S.A. Cosby's 2023 novel by showrunner Joe Robert Cole. Additionally, she has been on the Los Angeles set of James Ponsoldt's AA psychological thriller Sponsor for Apple Original Films, co-starring Jason Segel and John C. Reilly.
Actor Awards 2026 Highlights
The Actor Awards 2026 featured several notable wins across film and television categories. In film, Sinners earned surprise victories, including outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture and outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role for Michael B. Jordan. Other winners included Jessie Buckley for female actor in a leading role in Hamnet and Sean Penn for male actor in a supporting role in One Battle After Another.
On the television side, The Pitt won ensemble in a drama series, with Noah Wyle and Keri Russell taking home awards for male and female actor in a drama series, respectively. In comedy, The Studio swept categories, including ensemble and awards for Seth Rogen and Catherine O'Hara. These results underscore the diversity and talent recognized at the ceremony, with Madigan's win adding to the celebration of supporting roles in genre films.
As Madigan continues to navigate her career resurgence, her performance in Weapons and recognition at the Actor Awards highlight her enduring talent and the evolving landscape of award ceremonies embracing diverse genres.
