Mikey Madison has been a captivating actor to look at, particularly after her Oscar win for Anora. Madison’s efficiency as Ani was one of many highlights of the movie and helped Anora turn into the general winner of the 2025 Academy Awards, taking dwelling 5 awards, together with Greatest Image. Not solely was Anora a important darling, however it additionally turned Neon’s third-highest-grossing film of all time (per The Numbers), making its Cinderella success story much more spectacular.
Although Anora is on the prime of Mikey Madison’s best movies, almost each venture she has been a part of since her profession started within the mid-2010s has been well-received. She has performed a stellar job of choosing sturdy initiatives from the start, and her spectacular filmography proves it. One position particularly is not talked about almost sufficient alongside the remainder of Mikey Madison’s initiatives, although, and that’s the underrated FX collection Higher Issues.
Mikey Madison Delivered A Powerhouse Efficiency As An Indignant Teen In Higher Issues
Higher Issues Was One Of The Earliest Roles In Her Profession
Higher Issues premiered on FX on September 16, 2016, and it ran for 5 seasons earlier than ending in 2022. Although the Anora star had appeared in a couple of small initiatives prior, Higher Issues was considered one of her first main roles and remains to be considered one of Mikey Madison’s best performances. She performs Maxine “Max” Fox, an offended teenager who lives along with her mother and two youthful sisters. Mikey Madison appeared in all 52 episodes of Higher Issues‘ five-season run.
Mikey Madison’s first characteristic movie position in Liza, Liza, Skies Are Gray was truly filmed earlier than her position in Higher Issues, however wasn’t launched till 2017.
It will have been simple to have Max be a surface-level angsty teenager, however the writing in Higher Issues, paired with Mikey Madison’s masterful efficiency, gave the character a powerful quantity of complexity and depth. Over the course of 5 seasons, Max grows lots as a personality, and Madison navigates Max’s journey with nice talent and empathy.
Higher Issues Creator Pamela Adlon Received “Emotional” Rewatching Madison In The Present
Pamela Adlon Stars As Mikey Madison’s Mother In Higher Issues
Pamela Adlon (King of the Hill) performs Max’s mother, Sam Fox, in Higher Issues, and her chemistry with Mikey Madison all through the collection is spectacular. Alongside starring within the collection, Pamela Adlon additionally served as one of many government producers in addition to the present’s creator, making her an integral a part of Higher Issues‘ success. In an interview with Variety, she opened up about rewatching Mikey Madison within the present, noting how emotional it truly made her.
I’m emotional watching it as a result of it’s triumphant for me to have the ability to make folks snigger after which deliver it again round to the center of it. Once I was casting the ladies within the present, they have been all infants. All of them had one thing that was particular. Mikey, I imply, she appears like she got here out of my vagina. She appears like everyone on my dad’s facet of the household.
By no means mincing phrases, very like her character in Higher Issues, Pamela Adlon’s delight in Mikey Madison and her accomplishments is touching. Although Higher Issues is commonly foolish and typically absurd, it additionally feels painfully actual in a variety of methods, and Pamela Adlon’s response to it’s simple to grasp. Giving Madison an opportunity at a significant position within the collection was the proper selection.
What’s Subsequent For Mikey Madison
She Has One other Spectacular Movie Lined Up
With a Greatest Actress win below her belt so comparatively early in her profession, Mikey Madison is primed to proceed to take Hollywood by storm. Mikey Madison was reportedly offered a role in Shawn Levy’s upcoming Star Wars film, Star Wars: Star Fighter, however she turned it down, seemingly indicating that she has little interest in becoming a member of one other main franchise in the mean time following her Scream position in 2022.
Associated
Rising star Mikey Madison recounts her As soon as Upon a Time in Hollywood audition to show to Quentin Tarantino that she was proper for the Manson position.
As a substitute, Mikey Madison will star in the upcoming thriller Reptilia by director Alejandro Landes Echavarría (Monos). Reptilia is shaping as much as be one other sturdy outing for Mikey Madison after Anora, as she will probably be alongside Kirsten Dunst for the upcoming movie. She has come a great distance for the reason that early seasons of Higher Issues, however it’s going to probably proceed to be among the finest roles of her whole profession.
Supply: The Numbers, Variety
