Academy voters delivered a different result, though.
Mikey Madison won Best Actressat the Oscars 2025 for her starring role inAnora, the Best Picture winner.
This was an opportunity for her to be awarded the highest honor she could in her field.
Losing any Oscar hurts, but there’s an ironic twist in this case because ofThe Substance.
The movie follows Moore’s character as she is pushed aside by the entertainment industry.
Moore is defeated as a younger star gets recognition.
Madison was the early favorite to win Best Actress afterAnoradebuted at the Cannes Film Festival and won several awards.
Only after Demi Moore won at the Golden Globes did the race shift away from her.
The biggest development wasAnorabecoming the Best Picture winnerafter earning frontrunner status.
There was a much broader love for the movie than forThe Substance.
Ultimately,Anorawon five of the six Oscars it was nominated for.
That’s a terrific showing, and the best of any movie this year.
Custom Image by Cooper Hood
That overall appreciation forAnoraclearly carried over to Best Actress and played a part in Madison defeating Moore.
That trend was a major point in Demi Moore’s favor.
Instead,Mikey Madison became the ninth youngest person to win Best Actress.
Custom Image by Ana Nieves
She joins Jennifer Lawrence, Brie Larson, and Emma Stone as recent examples of under-30 Best Actress winners.
Neon
