New behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage of Mikey Madison as she prepared for her role as Anora is causing a stir online, just days after she was awarded the Best Actress Oscar at the 2026 ceremony.
The video shows Mikey Madison as she rehearses a twerking scene over and over again, paying special attention to hip movements and control as she plays a Brooklyn sex worker.
It shows months of work and training, including pole dancing and exhaustion, which eventually led to her performance.
According to critics such as Variety, Mikey Madison’s performance was honest and vulnerable.
People are divided over the video.
“One person said, ‘It was really interesting to see men praise this performance when it first came out and sexualize this actress, yet they criticize sex workers in the real world.'”
Another person said, “Is this twerking or is this a white woman juggling her legs before she bounces on it?”
Others are defending Mikey Madison over the Oscar win. “Anyone still saying she didn’t deserve the win after watching this rehearsal clearly didn’t see the movie. She earned every bit of that Oscar with work like this,” said one person.
Mikey Madison has issued no statement.
