Veteran actor Amy Madigan added a major career milestone to her résumé on January 4, when she won Best Supporting Actress at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards for her performance in the horror film Weapons. The ceremony, held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, marked Madigan’s first-ever Critics Choice win and nomination, making the moment especially meaningful after decades of acclaimed work across film and television.
Amy Madigan Reflects on Critics Choice Awards Win for ‘Weapons’
During her acceptance remarks at the Critics Choice Awards, Madigan expressed genuine surprise at the scale of audience response to Weapons and to her character, Aunt Gladys. She explained that while she expected viewers to enjoy the film, she did not anticipate how deeply people would connect with Gladys. Madigan noted that the affection for the character had gone far beyond typical reactions, describing the response as overwhelming in the best possible way.
She also shared that fan creativity had been particularly striking. Madigan mentioned receiving makeup tutorials inspired by Gladys, as well as paintings and other artistic tributes. She added that some reactions were unexpected, including messages framing the character as a cultural icon in surprising ways. Throughout her speech, she emphasized gratitude, saying the experience helped her better understand what it means to thank fans, something she had previously associated more with musicians than actors.
Madigan went on to acknowledge the Weapons creative team, highlighting the importance of the character’s visual design. She credited the hair and makeup team for helping solidify Aunt Gladys’ identity, noting that once the look—especially the bangs—was finalized, the character fully came together.