On March 29, 2025, 26-year-old actress Mikey Madison made her first appearance as host of Saturday Night Live, joined by country star Morgan Wallen as the musical guest. The Best Actress award that she won for Anora at the 2025 Oscars made her one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood and ensured that she was one of the hosts of the 2024 SNL.
While introducing the show, Madison mentioned the spoof that the cast member, Heidi Gardner, did on her during the previous season. “I did all my own stunts, including the dancing,” she said, countering assumptions about her pole-dancing scenes. “It bugs me when people think it wasn’t me up there—it was, and I can prove it.” She walked over to a nearby stripper pole, only for the scene to cut to a lookalike in a matching sparkly black dress and long wig, executing an impressive routine complete with a handstand. Moments later, Madison reappeared, tossed her hair, and winked at the audience.
The episode featured Madison in a number of sketches, some of which she wrote herself. In one, she played a rather eccentric jury duty candidate; in another, she played a doctor having a clash with a midwife in a rather tense delivery room scene. She also acted as a student in an eccentric acting teacher’s class, which was one of the funniest moments of the night.
The musical guest Morgan Wallen, 31, performed two songs from his upcoming album, *I’m the Problem*. He kicked off with the title track and later came back for “Just in Case.” Wallen’s last *SNL* appearance was in December 2020, following a canceled 2019 slot after he violated COVID-19 protocols by partying maskless in Alabama—a misstep that briefly derailed his debut.
Madison’s Oscar triumph earlier in March saw her outshine a competitive field, including Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here), and presumed favorite Demi Moore (The Substance). Accepting her award from 2024 winner Emma Stone at the Dolby Theatre, Madison gave an emotional speech, calling the moment “surreal.” She expressed gratitude to the Anora team, her family in the audience, sex-worker community, and her fellow nominees, reminiscing about her childhood in Los Angeles.
In Anora, directed by Sean Baker, Madison plays the role of a sex worker in a contemporary take of the Cinderella story. Her performance was also praised at the precursor awards before she won the BAFTA Award this year. In an interview with PEOPLE for their 2025 Oscar Portfolio, Madison hinted at the possibilities that lay ahead after Anora’s success. “I’ve been getting some great offers,” she said. “There are projects I’m thrilled about—fingers crossed.”
The next episode of Saturday Night Live airs on April 5 with Jack Black as the host and Elton John and Brandi Carlile as the musical guests. Anora is currently available for purchase and streaming.