The biggest stars in film lit up the 2025 Oscars, as both first-time and returning winners celebrated backstage, sharing their emotions upon hearing their names and accepting an Academy Award.
Adrien Brody claimed his second Academy Award for Best Actor for The Brutalist on Sunday night. Mikey Madison secured her first Oscar, winning Best Actress for Anora, which also took home Best Picture. Zoe Saldaña made history as the first American of Dominican origin to win Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez. Meanwhile, Kieran Culkin earned his first Oscar, winning Best Supporting Actor for his performance in A Real Pain.
Following their victories, all four stars stopped by backstage to chat with Good Morning America about their achievements and what the moment meant to them.
Kieran Culkin explains why 1st Oscar win means so much to him
Kieran Culkin, who made his film debut at age 7 in Home Alone alongside his older brother Macaulay Culkin, told GMA that winning an Oscar was never something he actively pursued.
“Without meaning it the wrong way, it was never on my radar,” Culkin, 42, explained. “Acting has always been a part of my life—it wasn’t something I set out to chase. I’ve just always done it.”
He added, “I act the same way I shower at night or eat—it was never a conscious decision to say, ‘I’m going after this.’ It’s just always been there, which is why this recognition means so much to me.”
Zoe Saldaña celebrates 1st Oscars win, despite feeling sick
Zoe Saldaña made history at the Oscars when she won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Mexican lawyer Rita Castro, becoming the third Latina and the first American of Dominican descent to win in this category.
Speaking to GMA, she shared that having her husband by her side to experience the moment and offer support was crucial.
“I’m so glad he was there with me. He spent all night and morning preparing me, telling me, ‘You’ve got this,’ ‘You’re wonderful,’ and ‘Take your Theraflu,'” she said, revealing that she had woken up feeling a little sick.
Saldaña explained, “It felt like my body was just giving up on me—it’s been a 10-month-long incredible journey.”
Adrien Brody reflects on sweeter 2nd best actor win
During his emotional acceptance speech for Best Actor, which even caused the orchestra to stop playing him off the stage, Adrien Brody shared, “Acting is a very fragile profession. It looks very glamorous, and at times, it is. But what I’ve learned, having the privilege to return here, is to gain some perspective.”
Over two decades after his first Best Actor win for the 2002 war drama The Pianist, Brody told GMA that this second win “is sweeter because, once again, it comes with the perspective of a life of work and love, knowing how precarious it all is.”
“I think the first time around, I was somewhat of a complete unknown,” Adrien Brody said of his historic first Academy Award, which made him the youngest-ever Best Actor winner. “When I got here, people saw me as an overnight success in many ways, but I had already been working for 17 years.”
Reflecting on the moment, Brody praised 25-year-old Madison for winning Best Actress, calling it “an amazing moment for her.”
1st time Oscar winner Mikey Madison thanks independent filmmaker Sean Baker
Madison called her Best Actress win for her role in Anora a “dream come true” while accepting the award on Sunday night, joking, “I’m probably going to wake up tomorrow.”
The small but powerful independent film, with just 40 people on the crew, took home five Academy Awards that weekend. Madison credited the success to Sean Baker, who wrote, edited, and directed Anora, saying, “It’s all thanks to him.”
“I think Sean is such an incredible filmmaker and has been creating beautiful work for decades,” Madison told GMA backstage. “So, for this film to be the one that really puts him in this special position is amazing, and I feel so lucky to be a small part of that.”
