The 2025 Oscars season has been a Hollywood gossip columnist’s dream. This year’s award show is already riddled with controversy, and the category of Best Actress is no exception. The five nominees are Karla Sofía Gascón for “Emilia Pérez,” Cynthia Erivo for “Wicked,” Demi Moore for “The Substance,” Mikey Madison for “Anora” and Fernanda Torres for “I’m Still Here.”
The most controversial nomination is Gascón in “Emilia Pérez.” The French, Spanish-language film received 13 Oscar nominations, the most for any film this year and just short of the all-time record held by “All About Eve,” “Titanic” and “La La Land.” The musical centers around a Mexican cartel boss who leaves a life of crime to receive a gender reassignment surgery. The film’s portrayal of transgenderism resulted in backlash from both sides of the political spectrum and left many moviegoers wondering how it received so many nominations. Gascón is also the first trans-identifying person to be nominated in an Oscars acting category, sparking a cultural conversation about gender identity within award shows.
The most expected nomination for this category is Cynthia Erivo for her portrayal of Elphaba in Jon Chu’s adaptation of “Wicked,” the Broadway musical following the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West. “Wicked” earned 10 Oscar nominations and became the highest grossing movie musical of all time, dethroning “Mamma Mia!” Erivo not only defied gravity, but her toned down, layered portrayal of Elphaba also defied expectations because of its stark contrast from the typical stage portrayal. It allowed for groundedness amongst the wonderfully theatrical world of Oz, creating balance with Ariana Grande’s Glinda. Erivo’s captivating performance kept moviegoers attentive during the film’s two hour and 40 minute run time.
After a four-decade long career, Demi Moore has finally received a nomination for her performance in the body horror film “The Substance.” The 62-year-old Moore gave a deeply emotional performance as a washed up actress, highlighting the realities of being an aging woman in Hollywood, with the infamous bathroom mirror scene prompting discussions about body image and beauty standards. Moore’s performance in “The Substance” solidified her standing as a dramatic actress worthy of an Oscar nomination, finally moving away from her former “popcorn actress” image that las lingered since the 80s. If Moore takes home the trophy, it would continue an interesting streak of Sci-Fi leads winning the Best Actress category, following Emma Stone for “Poor Things” and Michelle Yeoh for “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”
Mikey Madison is the youngest nominee for this year’s Best Actress category for her breakout role in the film “Anora.” The 25-year-old delivered a heartfelt yet edgy performance that commanded attention in the R rated indie film. “Anora” explores the ideas of forbidden romance between social classes, centering around a prostitute from Brooklyn who falls in love with the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch. Madison’s powerful performance as the titular character is part of a broader cultural movement to lessen the stigma surrounding prostitution and the way that it is portrayed in the media.
The other independent film lead nominated in this category is Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres for “I’m Still Here.” “I’m Still Here” is definitely a pass-the-Kleenex kind of movie—largely due to Torres’ raw, emotionally stirring performance. She plays Eunice, a mother who is coping with her husband’s disappearance during the Brazilian military dictatorship. Eunice is at the center of this tragic story, an opportunity for Torres’ acting skills to tug on the heartstrings of viewers. Her performance in this powerful story has made her a popular contender for the award among fans.
This year’s Best Actress nominee list is nothing short of eclectic. Three of the five nominees are over the age of 50 and many are first time nominees. They span several genres, including two movie musicals, a sci-fi thriller, a romantic comedy and a period drama. Each film has also been a spark for conversations about social and cultural issues including gender, beauty and humanity. Amongst all of the chaos surrounding this Academy Awards season, the world is still holding space for the Best Actress Oscar race.