It’s a rare feat for an actor to receive an Oscar nomination for their work in a horror film, but Amy Madigan is the latest to do it: she’s up for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Aunt Gladys in Zach Cregger‘s “Weapons.” And according to Madigan, she think Gladys would be thrilled about the accolade.
READ MORE: ‘Weapons’ Director Zach Cregger Says Aunt Gladys Originated From An Early “Shelved” Script, A Mekons Song & ‘The Serpent And The Rainbow’
In a new interview with Deadline, the actress expressed gratitude for Cregger casting her in the now-iconic role. “It’s been a really unusual, unexpected, really fun ride,” Madigan said. “I’m happy for the film, I’m happy that people recognized Aunt Gladys, and she would be very, very happy with all of this, trust me. She would be very happy to get the acclaim.”
“Weapons” was one of 2025’s biggest genre hits, grossing $269 million worldwide and earning high marks from critics, who especially championed Madigan’s performance. Audiences loved Gladys, too; so much so that Cregger and New Line Cinema are developing a “Weapons” prequel centered on the character. But fans will need to wait until Cregger wraps work on his “Resident Evil” movie before Gladys graces the screen again.
Did Madigan have any details to dish out to Deadline about the “Weapons” prequel? Not really. “You know, I leave it with Zach, what he said. He’s got some ideas and we’ve talked a little bit about it, but he’s finishing up work [on “Resident Evil”] and we’ll see what happens down the road,” said the actress. “If that happens, that would be really exciting, but you know, I don’t have any answers to that kind of a thing.”
In the meantime, Madigan will bask in the moment of her latest Oscar nomination. As she should, as it’s the actress’s first one in 40 years. The last time it happened? 1985’s “Twice In A Lifetime,” which Madigan co-starred in opposite Gene Hackman. But Gladys would want Madigan to celebrate the nod, too. “This is a woman who knows what she has to do, and she does it,” Madigan said of the character. “Now, granted, some of her methods might be a little unusual. But she has that, and I think all women in our business should have more of that confidence, myself included. So if I can take that away from it, I’ll say this is a win for Aunt Gladys and for me.”
Madigan faces elite competition in the Best Supporting Actress race. Teyana Taylor may be the favorite for her role in “One Battle After Another,” but strong cases could be made for Wunmi Mosaku in “Sinner,” Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas in “Sentimental Value,” and, of course, Madigan in “Weapons.” If Madigan does win on March 15, she’ll join Ruth Gordon as the only other actress to win Best Supporting Actress for a horror movie; Gordon won the award in 1969 for “Rosemary’s Baby.”
After the Oscars race ends, Madigan has a few upcoming projects: the TV series “Department Of One,” the Apple thriller “Sponsor“ opposite Jason Segel and John C. Reilly, and “The Ploughman,” a film directed by her husband, Ed Harris. “The Ploughman” isn’t a guarantee, however; Harris is still looking for some help producing the adaptation of the Kim Zupan novel. As for Sponsor, Madigan called the project “really exciting” and “a very, very unusual story” with “a lot of surprises.”
So, will Amy Madigan and Aunt Gladys pull off a dark horse victory at this year’s Oscars Best Supporting Actress race? Tune into the awards show on March 15 to find out.
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