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.
