Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Veteran actress Amy Madigan recently made history at the 98th Academy Awards.
She won her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, thanks to her captivating performance as Aunt Gladys in the supernatural thriller "Weapons."
The win was announced on March 15, 2026.This win at the age of 75 makes her one of the oldest winners in the category and also breaks the record for the longest gap between two Oscar nominations for an actress.
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This historic moment marks recognition of Amy Madigan's extraordinary talent, having worked for decades in the Hollywood film industry.
A Historic Win at a Late Age
Amy Madigan, now 75, made her mark in Academy Awards history by winning her first Oscar.
This award comes four decades after her first nomination in 1986.
Her previous nomination was for her role as Sunny in the film “Twice in a Lifetime” (1985).
The 40-year gap between these two acting nominations is the longest for an actress in Oscar history.
This achievement makes Madigan one of the oldest Best Supporting Actress winners in the history of this prestigious award ceremony.
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The Iconic Role That Shaken Up “Weapons”
Madigan won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role as Aunt Gladys in the supernatural thriller “Weapons.”
This mysterious ginger-haired witch captivated audiences and critics alike.
Her eerie portrayal of Aunt Gladys, the great-aunt of a boy whose classmates have disappeared, became a cultural phenomenon. In fact, the character became a TikTok and Halloween costume staple before awards season began.
This win also holds significant significance for the horror genre at the Academy Awards.
This was the first Oscar for a horror villain since Anthony Hopkins in “The Silence of the Lambs” in 1992, proving that horror was beginning to be accepted as a “serious” acting platform.
An Emotional and Appreciative Speech
Upon accepting her Oscar, Amy Madigan was visibly elated and moved, even breaking into a chuckle on stage.
She expressed her sincere gratitude.
Madigan specifically thanked director Zach Cregger for giving her her “dream role.”
She also expressed her appreciation for the support of her husband, actor Ed Harris, who has been with her for over 40 years.
In her acceptance speech, Madigan revealed that the character of Gladys had surprised her by receiving so much love and attention from audiences.
She even joked that she didn’t expect so many people to want to “hang out” with Gladys.
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A Look Back at Amy Madigan’s Career
Born on September 11, 1950, Amy Madigan is an American actress with a long history in the acting world.
In addition to her Oscar nomination for "Twice in a Lifetime," she also has a track record of other awards.
Madigan won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film for her role as Sarah Weddington in the television film "Roe vs. Wade" (1989).
Some other notable films in her career include "Field of Dreams" and "Uncle Buck," both released in 1989. Her long career demonstrates her dedication and enduring talent.
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