American actress Mikey Madison was awarded the BAFTA for Best Leading Actress on Sunday for her performance in 'Anora'. Spanish actress Karla Sofía Gascón was also nominated in the same category, but Madison turned out to be the unexpected winner, beating out Demi Moore and other notable actresses.
Madison, who previously lost in the 'Rising Star' category, took home the prestigious award after being recognized for her role in 'Anora', where she plays a sex worker who falls in love with a young Russian oligarch. Upon receiving the award, she thanked her mother for her support and the film's cast, including the director.
In her speech, the actress highlighted the importance of respecting and treating the sex worker community with dignity. On the other hand, Gascón, who also competed in the category, became the first transgender woman to be nominated for a BAFTA after winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes.
Despite this, the Spanish actress did not attend the gala in London due to controversy arising from past racist and xenophobic posts on social media. These events jeopardized the prospects of the film 'Emilia Pérez' on its way to the Oscars.
