Hollywood loves a breakout star and Mikey Madison is having her moment. With an Academy Award under her belt, she’s joined the ranks of the most celebrated young actresses of our time. She has already left an indelible mark as a powerhouse talent with an incredible depth and range.

Her name is on everyone’s lips, and for good reason! Here are ten must-know facts about Mikey Madison:

She won an Oscar on her first nomination.

Some actors spend decades chasing an Oscar but Mikey Madison did at 25.  Her performance as Ani in Anora was so powerful that it landed her not just an Oscar nomination but a win—on her first try. Taking home the Best Actress trophy in 2025, she bested a lineup of A-list contenders, marking her place in Hollywood history as one of the youngest winners of the prestigious award. Mikey triumphed over a prestigious lineup of nominees that included Demi Moore (The Substance), Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), and Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez).

Quentin Tarantino gave her one of her first big breaks.

In 2019, Mikey played Susan “Sadie” Atkins, a Manson Family member, in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood. Though a smaller role, it was a major moment for her career, putting her on the radar of directors who saw her potential—including Anora’s Sean Baker who credited Quentin for being the one to bring Mikey into the spotlight. 

She has a twin brother, and they used to pretend they weren’t related.

Born on March 25, 1999 in Los Angeles, Mikey has a twin brother, Miles. They share an inseparable bond, though growing up, Miles often joked that they weren’t siblings. She recalled how, on the last day of school, classmates were stunned to see him getting into her car, finally realizing they were related. Despite the playful childhood antics, he was right by her side when she won her Oscar, proving their connection runs deep.

“My twin brother always pretended we weren’t siblings," she joked, adding, “On the last day of school, people were like, ‘Miles, why are you getting in [Mikey’s] car with her?’ And he was like, ‘Oh, she’s my sister.’”

In a 2025 interview with Deadline, Miles revealed they were both born via cesarean section simultaneously to refrain from any arguments about who was older—though technically, he was listed as arriving one minute before Mikey on their birth certificates.

She’s the lone actor in her family.

Acting isn’t exactly a family business for Mikey. While her younger brother is into Parkour and her older sister is into writing and directing, she took a different route—being the only one who pursued acting. Interestingly, it was her sister’s student films that first introduced her to the world of performance, kickstarting her journey to stardom.

She told Interview, “I was just painfully shy. I couldn’t talk to anyone. Going up in front of class, I would have to mentally prepare myself to raise my hand. That was even just a couple years ago. I was a competitive horseback rider, and all of a sudden I just decided, “I think I want to be an actor.” I know this is cheesy, but I saw The Hunger Games and I was like, “That’s so cool. I want to do what she’s doing.”

Her parents are both psychologists.

Mikey grew up in an intellectually stimulating environment—her father specializes in schizophrenia, while her mother primarily works with children. She believes that this background helped her deeply understand human emotions, which has been a major asset in her ability to bring complex characters to life on screen—all translated into her layered and nuanced performances.

“My parents being psychologists, I’ve grown up really understanding people and why they do things and why they don’t do things. I think that’s helped me to a certain degree because they’ve taught me to be people-savvy, in a way,” she put it.

Shopping is her biggest vice.

When she’s not acting, Mikey has a serious passion for thrift shopping. She loves scouring flea markets for unique finds and once bought ten crystals after being told they had magical properties. She also owns a black widow ring, which she jokingly tells people is meant to intimidate boys.

“Even though I get everything at thrift stores, every single flea market I’ll go and buy things that I completely don’t need. Last time I was there, I bought ten crystals. The guy told me they had magic powers. I think it’s so ridiculous. I got this ring; it’s a black widow. I bring it everywhere because it intimidates boys. Every time someone’s like, ‘Oh, what is that?’ I tell a boy, ‘You know, a black widow, after they have babies they kill and eat their husbands.’ I think that’s so dope,” she told Interview in 2017.

She was a former competitive equestrian.

Before she found her passion for performing, Mikey was all about horseback riding. Homeschooled after seventh grade to dedicate more time to equestrian sports, she was fully committed to the sport. But at 14, her trajectory changed when she started acting in her older sister’s student films. That passion quickly took over, leading her straight to Hollywood.

She’s an advocate for sex workers’ rights.

Beyond her talent on screen, Mikey has been using her voice for social advocacy. During her award season run, she continuously spoke out about the importance of respect and humanity for sex workers.

At the 2025 BAFTAs, she directly addressed the community, saying, “I want to take a moment to recognise the sex worker community. I want to say that I see you; you deserve respect and human decency. I will always be a friend and ally, and I implore others to do the same.” Her advocacy made headlines again when she reaffirmed this message in her Oscar acceptance speech.

She terrified audiences in Scream.

Before Anora, she stepped into the horror world with Scream (2022) in which she played Amber Freeman, one of the film’s killers in the first Scream movie in over a decade. Critics singled out her performance as paranoiac and unhinged, and the role solidified her presence in Hollywood as more than just an up-and-coming actress.

Among the many moviegoers who saw Scream on its opening weekend was indie director Sean Baker. As Madison later revealed in an interview, Sean contacted her just days after seeing the film and invited her for a coffee meeting.

She chooses roles based on passion and strong writing.

Mikey is drawn to roles that come with compelling scripts and passionate storytellers. She has expressed a deep love for independent films and aims to portray a variety of characters throughout her career. A strong advocate for well-written female roles, she acknowledges that opportunities for women in the industry have expanded, though she believes there is still room for improvement. The characters she has played so far reflect her commitment to meaningful and complex storytelling.

“I’m just a sucker for a good script and people that are passionate about it. I love independents. I would like to play all different kinds of characters. Now is a time where there are so many more opportunities for women in this industry. I think it can still be better, but the characters that I have played so far have had great writing for women,” she shared on choosing roles.

Lead photo from @anorafilm