Oscars 2026: Amy Madigan wins ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for ‘Weapons’
Amy Madigan has become the first winner of the night at the Oscars 2026, winning the award for ‘Best Supporting Actress’.
She reigned supreme in what was considered one of the most unpredictable races of the night, beating out the rest of the category, which included Elle Fanning, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Wunmi Mosaku, and Teyana Taylor.
Having the nominees come from Weapons, Sinners, One Battle After Another, and two from Sentimental Value shows the breadth of the performances under consideration, considering they hail from a horror movie, a powerful drama, a vampire flick, and a searing socio-political thriller.
Unlike many previous years, there wasn’t a clear frontrunner heading into the Oscars, with many of Hollywood’s biggest awards bodies rewarding different performances, although Madigan and Taylor had arguably edged toward the head of the pack.
It was a close one to call, and while you could state a strong case for any of the five actors walking away with the gold, it’s hard to say the Academy made the wrong choice for handing ‘Best Supporting Actress’ to a performer who lit up the screen in every scene.
The only thing that everybody knew ahead of time was that there would be a first-time winner, with none of the quintet having an Oscar of their own. In fact, Madigan was the only one who’d ever been shortlisted before, and that came 40 years ago in the same category for Bud Yorkin’s Twice in a Lifetime.
Understandably, Madigan was overwhelmed with emotion when she collected her Oscar, and it’s a rare acting victory for horror, which doesn’t tend to receive as much recognition from the Academy as the more typical, award-baiting genres.
The star made a point of saluting her fellow nominees, as well as director Zach Cregger, but for anyone who’s seen her tour de force performance in Weapons, it’s impossible to say that ‘Best Supporting Actress’ is going to lead to any cries of snubs or daylight robbery.
The 98th Oscars are officially underway, and it kicked off with a bang, with Aunt Gladys officially an Oscar-winning character.
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