What to Know About Weapons’ Amy Madigan After Critics Choice Upset

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Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, and there were no major surprises or upsets with her win.

Though many were surprised by the 75-year-old’s historic win at the awards show on January 4th – especially considering she beat out popular stars like Teyana Taylor, Ariana Grande, and Elle Fanning – those who loved her memorable performance as the villainous Aunt Gladys in the hit horror film Weapons were thrilled with the result.

Madigan was visibly moved when her name was announced as a winner – she’s already impressed many critics – and likely has more awards coming, with a Golden Globe nomination on January 11th and potential Oscar recognition to follow on January 22nd.

Oh my gosh, I was completely floored when she said that on stage at the Critics Choice Awards! It was just… everything! She said she hoped people would like the movie, and that they’d connect with Gladys, but it’s so much more than that! People aren’t just liking Gladys, they love her! It’s absolutely insane, and honestly, I’m living for it! I knew everyone would feel the same way I did, but to hear her say it… it’s just perfect!

According to Madigan, the character is simply a woman of a particular age doing her best to cope, relying on makeshift solutions and with the unexpected help of seventeen enchanted third-graders.

Who can’t relate?

As a big fan, I’ve been seeing all sorts of content about her – makeup tutorials, beautiful paintings, you name it. There was one really strange video, though, that focused on her as a sex symbol. I honestly didn’t want to explore that side of things, so I quickly moved on.

She then expressed her gratitude to Warner Bros., as well as studio leaders Pam Abdy and Mike DeLuca. She also thanked the film’s publicists, the cast of Weapons, and everyone who worked on the film’s visual design.

“Because,” Madigan quipped, “once we found those bangs, we knew we had it.”

She explained that she hadn’t fully understood the importance of thanking fans until now, something she’d usually observed with successful musicians. However, she wanted to express her gratitude to her own fans as well.

Madigan isn’t a newcomer to fans. Even if you didn’t recognize her as the bald Gladys, you’ve likely seen her work before. She’s an award-winning actress with Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe nominations – and she could win another Golden Globe next week, making it her second win!

Here is more to know about Madigan before awards season carries her off into the night:

Who is Amy Madigan?

Born on September 11, 1950, Madigan is the child of Dolores Hanlon, an administrative assistant and community theater performer, and John Madigan, a political journalist.

Originally from Chicago, she earned a philosophy degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee before pursuing her passion for acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City.

Before launching her acting career, Madigan gained attention in the 1970s, including a memorable appearance in Playboy covered in jelly to promote her band, Jelly – where she was the lead singer. She first appeared on screen in the TV show Hart to Hart in 1981, and the following year starred in her debut film, Love Child, alongside Beau Bridges and Mackenzie Phillips. This role earned her the first of four Golden Globe nominations, recognizing her as a promising new female film star.

The actress began her career with an off-Broadway performance in The Lucky Spot in 1987, which earned her a Drama Desk Award nomination. She later gained recognition on Broadway in 1992 for her role as Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire.

What is Amy Madigan’s movie Weapons about?

Directed and written by Zach Cregger, Weapons centers around the mysterious disappearance of seventeen third-graders from a quiet suburban town. One night, they all leave their homes and are never seen again. The next day at school, only one student, Alex (played by Cary Christopher), is present, and his teacher, Julia Garner, is left to grapple with the unsettling event.

Spoiler alert, Alex’s creepy Aunt Gladys—played by Madigan—has something to do with it.

What other movies has Amy Madigan been in?

As in, where do you know her from? The answer to which is, from a lot of things.

Besides her acclaimed roles in the 1989 TV movie Roe v. Wade (where she won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy for playing attorney Sarah Weddington) and the 1985 film Twice in a Lifetime (which earned her an Oscar nomination), she’s also widely known as the mother in Field of Dreams!

Yes, she played Annie, the incredibly patient wife of Kevin Costner’s character, Ray. He firmly believed that if he built a baseball field, players would magically appear.

Before starring in Weapons, she appeared in a number of other films, including Uncle Buck, Pollock (which featured her husband – we’ll talk about him shortly), Gone Baby Gone, Rules Don’t Apply, and The Hunt.

Madigan has also been very busy on television, with appearances in popular shows like Frasier, A Bright Shining Lie, The Laramie Project, Carnivàle, Grey’s Anatomy, ER, Law & Order, Fringe, Grace & Frankie, How to Get Away With Murder, and Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.

Who is Amy Madigan married to?

Oh my gosh, I’ve been following Ed Harris forever, and it’s just amazing to me that he’s been with Amy Madigan since 1983! They’re such a lovely couple. And their daughter, Lily Harris, is an actress too – she’s 32 now, can you believe it? It’s like a whole family of talent! I just adore them all.

Although Harris and his wife haven’t been seen together at any awards shows so far this season, there are still more events coming up. His wife, Madigan, has frequently accompanied him to these ceremonies over the years, including the 2001 Oscars, where he was nominated for Best Actor for his role in the movie Pollock.

Madigan portrayed art collector Peggy Guggenheim in a 2000 movie, but that wasn’t the first time she and the director had collaborated. They actually first met while working on a play together in Los Angeles back in 1981.

Madigan explained to Broadway.com in 2016, while performing in a London production of Sam Shepard’s Buried Child – her debut on the London stage – that she enjoys working with her husband, Ed. She said people often wonder if their work affects their home life, but they simply enjoy acting together. As you’d expect from a long-term partnership, they’ve developed a natural understanding and easy communication on set.

Who is nominated for a 2026 Golden Globe alongside Amy Madigan?

Wunmi Mosaku, who starred in Sinners, is the only actress Madigan highlighted at the Critics Choice Awards who isn’t also nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 2026 Golden Globes on January 11th.

Emily Blunt, who stars in The Smashing Machine, joins Teyana Taylor from One Battle After Another, Ariana Grande from Wicked: For Good, and Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas from Sentimental Value as nominees in this category.

May the most captivating performance win [snap].

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2026-01-05 23:48