tech
February 18, 2026
‘I don’t wish anyone to fall down a sewer. Except sometimes’: TikTok sensation and Oscar-nominated star of Weapons Amy Madigan
As her nightmarish turn as orange-wigged child-catcher Aunt Gladys takes her to Oscars night, the actor talks about surviving ‘brutal’ Hollywood, the fury that almost drove her from the US – and still being homeless after the wildfires
TL;DR
- Amy Madigan is nominated for an Oscar for her role as Aunt Gladys in the horror film 'Weapons,' a performance that has become a TikTok sensation.
- She notes that awards season has become a 'big unruly beast' compared to when she was first nominated in 1985.
- Madigan and her husband, Ed Harris, are currently living in a rental after their home burned down in wildfires last year, and rebuilding is expected to take years.
- She describes Aunt Gladys as a 'nightmarish' character who feeds on children, and acknowledges the film's frightening impact on younger audiences.
- Madigan reflects on her career, noting periods of 'fallow time' and the 'brutal' nature of the film business, but maintains her love for acting.
- She discusses her refusal to applaud director Elia Kazan at the 1999 Oscars due to his cooperation with the House Un-American Activities Committee, a decision rooted in her politically minded upbringing.
- Madigan expresses anger and despair about the current political landscape in the US but remains guardedly hopeful due to signs of resistance and activism.
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