Demi Moore fans have rushed to the actress's defence after Anora's Mikey Madison won the Bafta for Best Leading Actress in a surprise victory at last night's ceremony at London's Royal Festival Hall.
The 25-year-old star of Anora triumphed over seasoned favourites including Moore for The Substance and Saoirse Ronan for The Outrun.
Madison, who plays a Brooklyn stripper in the critically acclaimed drama, appeared genuinely shocked as she took to the stage, admitting she hadn't prepared a speech.
The win marks a significant upset in this year's awards season, where Moore had been considered the frontrunner after victories at both the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.
Madison's victory came during a ceremony that saw Conclave emerge as the evening's biggest winner, taking home the award for Best Film.
In an unscripted moment, Madison delivered a tribute to sex workers during her acceptance speech.
Mikey Madison bagged the Bafta for Lead Actress
PA
"I want to take a moment to recognise the sex worker community," she declared. "You deserve respect and human decency. I will always be a friend and ally, and I implore others to do the same."
The actress began by thanking director Sean Baker, saying: "I just adore you. You are an incredible person. I know you hate it when I praise you but I just have to, you made my dreams come true."
She also paid tribute to her mother, who she called her "favourite scene partner" for helping her memorise lines and driving her to "hundreds of auditions".
While the crowd in the auditorium cheered the surprise win, several film fans at home felt Moore was hard done by after losing out to the Anora leading star.
Demi Moore was the bookies' favourite for the award
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Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one fan raged: "I do love Mikey Madison, who has been great in everything she has done, but Demi Moore was robbed there. #BAFTA2025. "
"God them baftas were excruciating never again and Demi Moore was robbed #BAFTA2025," a second similarly hit out before a third weighed in: "Demi Moore absolutely robbed there #BAFTA2025."
Meanwhile, a fourth suggested: "They should give Demi Moore her Oscar because she gave an amazing performance and she deserves a legacy award... if u can do it for Jamie Lee Curtis who didn't deserve it on either counts and won it for the latter reason, you can do it for Demi."
"Demi Moore should have won. No question. #BAFTA2025," a fifth argued.
However, there were some film fans who enjoyed seeing Madison lift the gong, with one hitting back: "Mikey Madison's win for 'Best Actress' at the #BAFTAs is a powerful moment, celebrating talent and dedication. A well-deserved recognition for her incredible performance!"
Following her victory on stage, Madison later revealed she had chosen not to write a speech following advice from Robert De Niro during a recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show.
In Anora, Madison plays Ani, a young escort and table dancer from Brooklyn who experiences an unexpected fairy tale romance.
The plot follows her whirlwind relationship with Ivan, the son of a Russian oligarch, which leads to an impulsive marriage.
Their romance faces complications when news of their union reaches Russia, prompting his parents to travel to New York with the intention of getting the marriage annulled.
The film has garnered critical acclaim, with Madison's performance particularly praised for its complexity and vulnerability.
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Mikey Madison takes home the award for Leading Actress 👏 @dailyofmikeym #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/qishZs7vXz
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 16, 2025
Speaking to Variety in October 2024, Madison revealed the extensive preparation required for the role, including months of physical training.
"I was ripped, like my whole body. Never in my life have I had that much chest strength," she said of the demanding dance sequences.
Madison's Bafta triumph has dramatically altered the landscape for next month's Academy Awards.
She will compete against fellow Bafta nominees Cynthia Erivo for Wicked and Karla Sofía Gascón for Emilia Pérez at the Oscars on March 2.
The race remains notably unpredictable, with previous frontrunner Demi Moore's awards momentum potentially slowing after this upset.
