Every year, the film industry flourishes with new, astonishing feats of innovation in various fields, including cinematography, directing, sound design and more. The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, serve as the pinnacle of critical acclaim and recognition, marking the film industry’s highest honor.
For the 2024-2025 award season, the race for, arguably the most competitive category, Best Actress in a Leading Role, seemingly lay firmly within the clutches of Demi Moore for her lead role in “The Substance” as Elizabeth Sparkle. Moore, an icon in Hollywood for decades, has been featured in numerous blockbuster films throughout her career such as “Ghost” and “G.I. Jane.” However, throughout her illustrious career, she never managed to acquire a role that put her on a path to critical acclaim success, with this year’s nomination being her first Oscar nomination. For a while, it seemed like she only needed one nomination to get the Oscar trophy because she was sweeping during the early stages of the award season at major televised events like the Golden Globes and Critics Choice.
Just when it seemed like a set-in-stone victory campaign for Moore and her Oscar, “Anora” star Mikey Madison unexpectedly won the BAFTA award, shocking movie enthusiasts around the world and disrupting Moore’s unbreakable momentum. Like Moore, Madison was on her first Oscar nomination with one key difference between the actresses: experience. Madison was new in the industry only being in her 20s. Her movie, “Anora,” was rapidly gaining momentum and it seemed that she was swept up in it, winning the BAFTA award at the most critical time during the season. This event took place in the midst of the Oscar voting frenzy, effectively turning the tide toward Madison.
As the Oscar ceremony on March 2, 2025, approached, uncertainty plagued the film industry. With Best Actress still unannounced, the question was clear: Who would win the coveted Oscar trophy? Would it be Moore, the veteran actress making a triumphant return with her powerhouse performance in a genre film, or the young, breakout talent whose career was taking off with a standout role in a comedy-drama?
It was 25-year-old star Madison who ended up taking home the Best Actress Oscar award, leaving Moore fans in utter devastation. The 2024-2025 awards season was marked by many unexpected twists, with this year’s race standing out as one of the most unpredictable in recent memory and may mark a trend shift from career Oscars to awarding the most deserving performance.
