Amy Madigan dedicates Actor Award to ‘union people’ after win for Weapons

amy madigan, 75, captured her first Actor Award for supporting actress for her performance as Aunt Gladys in Zach Cregger’s horror film Weapons, a victory that has intensified Oscar buzz and renewed talk of a Gladys prequel.

Amy Madigan’s first Actor Award at the 32nd ceremony in Los Angeles

The 32nd annual Actor Awards took place at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles on Sunday night with Kristen Bell hosting, and Madigan walked away with the trophy for best female actor in a supporting role. It was her first Actor Award win and her first nomination from the guild, and she was the lone Weapons star nominated at this year’s ceremony.

Win for Aunt Gladys in Zach Cregger’s summer horror hit

Madigan earned the prize for portraying the unhinged Aunt Gladys in Zach Cregger’s original horror film Weapons, a summer hit that helped her find viral fame after years of ups and downs. The victory has shaken up the Oscars race for supporting actress; before the Actor Award, Teyana Taylor had seemed to be the favorite.

She beat a field that included Teyana Taylor, Odessa A’Zion, Ariana Grande and Wunmi Mosaku

Madigan beat out nominees Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another, Odessa A’Zion for Marty Supreme, Ariana Grande for Wicked: For Good and Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners. Ariana Grande did not attend the show because she was rehearsing for an upcoming tour.

Acceptance speech: union roots, Chicago upbringing and the Ken doll joke

Onstage Madigan called the honor “such an honor” and said, “I’ve been doing this a long ass time. ” She framed the moment as one for fellow performers, invoking her Chicago upbringing and calling herself “a union person. ” She added, “We’re all union people, and I don’t care what somebody says. They’re not going to bust us, ever. ”

She also joked about the trophy, comparing the moment to the childhood gag of pulling down a Ken doll’s drawers and shouting, “Ken has nothing!”—then apologized for digressing as she said she felt nervous and overwhelmed.

Stunts, ensemble shout-outs and behind-the-scenes upheaval

Madigan said she used a stunt double only for the very last scene of the physically demanding movie and noted, “I did all that running and all that ridiculous stuff. ” She told a story of cast and crew holding their breath during the action but said she avoided any major mishap and was proud of that.

She gave a wide-ranging thank-you to the Weapons ensemble, naming Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, Toby Huss, the little kids who ran around with them and the stunt people. She also thanked Zach Cregger for the honor and singled out Allison Jones for assembling the cast after a period of casting changes prompted by COVID and strikes.

Prequel talk, critical response and Oscar nomination details

Viewers and fans have already expressed longing for a prequel centered on Gladys; Madigan said Zach Cregger “has a map of what he would like to do, ” but cautioned that ideas don’t become real until they are finalized. She called the possibility “such a blast” and said she was excited about it.

Weapons has drawn strong critical approval, receiving a 93 percent critics rating, and Madigan’s awards season haul includes nominations from the Golden Globe Awards, Critics Choice Awards and the Academy Awards. She is nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress on March 15, marking her second Academy Award nomination after her nod 40 years ago for playing the fiery Sunny in Twice in a Lifetime.

Reflections on a long career and sudden renewed attention

Madigan has spoken in recent interviews about how the awards attention feels new after decades of work; in a November interview she said, “I haven’t done this in a while, so it feels like a new experience for me, but I know what it is very well, ” and conceded, “It’s a little daunting at times. ” A recent podcast appearance also explored how her role as Gladys led to viral fame after years of professional ups and downs.

Her onstage moment included a playful recreation of the film’s iconic run that the children demonstrate, and she was introduced by Orlando Bloom with a quip about “terrorizing a suburb in a wig and a tracksuit, ” underscoring how the Gladys character has captured public imagination.