Mikey Madison Reflects on Being a “Horse Girl” and “Riding a Russian Twink” in Hilarious SNL Monologue

Mikey Madison, the Academy Award-winning star of Anora, took the Saturday Night Live stage with a monologue that was equal parts unhinged, self-deprecating, and strangely inspiring. She kicked things off by revealing a fact no one saw coming. She was, in her words, a “self-proclaimed horse girl” growing up.

Yes, before she was gracing the Oscars stage and pole-dancing her way into critical acclaim, she was trotting around on ponies, probably judging other girls for not knowing the difference between a canter and a gallop. “I was that girl,” Madison admitted, conjuring images of a young, ultra-serious equestrian, decked out in riding boots and an alarming sense of superiority.

But in true SNL fashion, she didn’t let the horse girl reveal sit too long before delivering the night’s best line:

“In a way, I kind of feel like horseback riding prepared me for doing Anora, but instead of riding horses, I was riding a Russian twink.”

And just like that, Madison cemented herself as the first Oscar-winning actress to publicly compare her method acting to, well… whatever that was.

Horse Girl to Hollywood Hustler

For those who haven’t stalked her Wikipedia page yet (which you absolutely should), Madison’s early life was deeply intertwined with horseback riding. Both her mother and grandmother were equestrians, so naturally, little Mikey was riding before she could form full sentences. She was so dedicated that she even homeschooled herself to spend more time in the stables.

Imagine being that committed to something other than watching TV and ignoring responsibilities. Unfortunately (or fortunately for the film industry), puberty hit, and so did the realization that maybe she was destined for something a little more cinematic.

At 15, Madison pivoted to acting, giving up her dreams of competitive riding in favor of scripts, auditions, and eventual Hollywood domination. It was a tough call, but let’s be real. “Oscar-winning actress” looks better on a résumé than “horse girl forever.”

Anora, Russian Oligarchs, and a Stripper Pole in the Living Room

So, how exactly did horse girl energy prepare Madison for Anora? Well, for those unfamiliar, Anora follows a Brooklyn stripper who accidentally marries the son of a Russian oligarch, only to have her in-laws come crashing in like a Moscow mafia fever dream. It’s wild, emotional, and apparently required a lot of physical training.

To get into character, Madison went full method. She spent months learning Russian, perfecting her pole-dancing technique, and mentally preparing for the absolute chaos her character endures. In fact, she took it so seriously that her father, bless his supportive, confused soul, installed a stripper pole in their home so she could practice.

Yes, you read that right. While other dads were helping their daughters with homework, Mr. Madison was casually setting up a vertical metal rod in the living room, all in the name of art.

“He didn’t really question it,” Madison later revealed in an interview, proving that some dads truly understand the grind.

The Twink That Changed It All

And now, we arrive at the most important part of this story. The Russian twink.

In Anora, Madison’s character falls headfirst (and possibly legs-first) into a whirlwind romance with a ridiculously wealthy, ridiculously naive Russian heir. Enter the “twink” in question. A baby-faced, track-suit-wearing, trust fund disaster. Clearly, Madison found some spiritual connection between breaking in a horse and breaking in a confused rich boy, and honestly? She’s onto something.

“The control, the patience, the ability to make someone (or something) do exactly what you want? Yeah, that tracks.”

From the Stables to the Stage

Madison’s SNL monologue was the perfect mix of self-roast, unexpected backstory, and casual awards-season flexing. She took a deeply personal and deeply horse-girl-coded part of her past and turned it into comedy gold, proving that you really can go from shoveling manure to winning an Oscar if you just believe (and if you’re insanely talented).

Now, as Madison rides (no pun intended, or maybe fully intended) her Anora success into Hollywood’s A-list, one thing is certain. The horse girl era may be over, but the Russian twink-riding era has only just begun.