Though her star has been steadily climbing in Hollywood over the years, Mikey Madison—known for her roles in 2019’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, 2022’s Scream, and on Pamela Adlon’s Better Things—marked her very first Cannes Film Festival this year with a buzzy new project. This week, the actor attended the premiere of Sean Baker’s comedy Anora, in which she plays a New York City stripper who gets her Cinderella story by eloping with the son of a Russian oligarch.
“It’s been a dream of mine since I started acting to one day come to Cannes with a film,” the 25-year-old tells Vogue. “The history of Cannes and what it represents has always felt very romantic to me. It’s the first film festival I’ve ever been to, and my first time in France, so to be here feels completely surreal. I am trying to soak in every moment I can. I genuinely feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”
The film—a darker, more subversive take on a classic rom-com—has emerged as one of the best films at Cannes this year, earning rave reviews from critics. Madison was instantly intrigued by the project when Baker first approached her with the script. “I felt drawn to the world he described to me,” says Madison. “He wrote the film with me in mind for the character, which was an incredible, indescribable honor.” Her character Anora, known as Ani, also proved to be an exciting new challenge for the star, and unlike any she’d played before. (It’s tough, after all, to top a psychotic Ghostface killer or psychotic Manson follower.)
“To me, Ani is someone who is deeply vulnerable, but is constantly covering it up with a hardness and defensiveness,” Madison says. “She will never let anyone see her crack, and is willing to fight tooth and nail for the life she feels she has earned. I loved her scrappiness and hustle, but mostly I admired her hopefulness, which carries her through the film.”
Of course, this being Madison’s first Cannes Film Festival, the star had to embrace the festival’s signature glitz and glamour on the red carpet. For Anora’s premiere, Madison wore a striking Chanel look that felt both Old Hollywood and incredibly modern. “I loved the juxtaposition of the black bodysuit underneath the pink skirt and top,” she says. “It made the hand-embroidered flowers and colors pop in such a beautiful way.” She also happens to be a big Chanel fan, so having the chance to wear the French label was another bucket-list moment.
“Chanel represents something classic, timeless, and iconic, and the Cannes Film Festival has always felt that way to me,” says Madison. “I tried on a few beautiful couture looks, but when I put on the pink outfit, I felt that it was what I was destined to wear for the evening! And also, pink has always been my favorite color.”
It wasn’t the only chic ensemble that Madison delivered at Cannes. For the film’s photo call yesterday, she donned a sheer black Chanel top and skirt with panel detailing. For such red carpet moments, Madison says she looks for designs that make her feel comfortable and confident. “I feel my style has evolved a lot over the past year or so,” Madison says. “What is most important to me is that it represents my emotions, and tells a story of how I want to feel.” Off-duty, you can often find the star gravitating towards vintage pieces. “I love the artistry and history of vintage clothing, especially silhouettes from the ’60s and ’70s,” she says. “But more than usual, I find myself gravitating towards my favorite pair of 501s and a vintage blouse.”
As for what’s next for the actor, now that Anora’s Cannes premiere is over? She will simply be enjoying the South of France, and the festival for what it is: a movie-lover’s dream. “I hope to be able to watch some films that are premiering here, and also to just walk around the streets of Cannes and soak it in,” she says. “In regards to the future, I’m not sure what will happen. I am just enjoying every single moment as it comes to me!”
