Amy Madigan took home the Best Supporting Actress trophy at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards, and she says it completely caught her off guard. The 75-year-old star, who brought Aunt Gladys to life in Zach Cregger’s horror hit Weapons, gave a shoutout to fans for loving the character so much.

Amy Madigan ‘wasn’t expecting’ to win the Critics Choice Award for her Weapons role

Amy Madigan opened up about her surprise Critics’ Choice win at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on January 4, 2026. During her acceptance speech, she said, “I really wasn’t expecting all this because I thought people would like the movie.” Madigan continued, “And I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys. I mean, it’s crazy!”

“I get makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon,” Madigan joked (via People). She also gave props to the Weapons team, especially the crew who perfected Aunt Gladys’ unforgettable look.

For the unversed, Weapons follows a small town shaken by the mysterious disappearance of several kids. Madigan portrayed a quirky yet scary Aunt Gladys, who quickly became a fan-favorite. While talking about the character, Madigan earlier told Entertainment Weekly that she has been in this business a long time, so to get something this rewarding and see people really appreciate it, “it’s fun.” Her performance in the movie wowed both fans and critics, making Aunt Gladys impossible to forget.

This year’s Critics’ Choice Best Supporting Actress category was stacked. It featured stars like Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value), Ariana Grande (Wicked: For Good), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value), Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), and Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another). Madigan’s win was extra special as it was her very first nomination at the award show.

Madigan also made sure to give a heartfelt thanks to her fans, saying, “I never really knew what it [meant] to thank your fans… but I’m thanking my fans for this too.”

Additionally, Weapons also racked up nods in several categories. This included Best Young Actor/Actress (Cary Christopher), Best Original Screenplay (Zach Cregger), and Best Hair and Makeup.