The 98th Academy Awards was a night of big wins and even bigger speeches, but for the Portland community, one moment stood out above the rest. Amy Madigan, a long-standing trustee at Reed College, took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her chilling performance in the supernatural thriller Weapons.
While the win itself was a career milestone, it was her candid and heartfelt acceptance speech that truly stole the show.
A Long-Awaited "Little Gold Guy"
Madigan, 75, took the stage with a mix of grace and seasoned humor. Having been in the industry for decades—and previously nominated for Twice in a Lifetime back in 1986—she addressed the elephant in the room regarding her long hiatus from the Oscar podium.
“Everybody’s been asking me, ‘Well, it’s been 40 years, what’s different about this time?’” Madigan told the star-studded crowd. She gestured to the statuette in her hand with a grin. “What’s different is this little gold guy.”
A Heartfelt (and Hilarious) Tribute to Ed Harris
The highlight of the night came when Madigan turned her attention to her husband of over four decades, fellow actor and director Ed Harris. In a moment that felt both deeply personal and refreshingly human, she thanked him for his unwavering support throughout their life together.
The actress noted that Harris had been by her side for a “long-ass time,” a line that drew raucous laughter and applause from the audience. The couple, who married in 1983, has long been considered one of Hollywood’s most enduring pairs. Their connection to the Pacific Northwest is also strong; their daughter, Lily Harris, is a 2016 graduate of Reed College, the same year Madigan joined the school’s board of trustees.
The Road to "Weapons"
In Weapons, Madigan played Aunt Gladys, a character so central to the film's plot twists that she was famously excluded from much of the movie’s early marketing to avoid spoilers. Critics have hailed her performance as both "inspiring" and "terrifying," marking a significant "comeback" for an actress who has spent years advocating for better roles for women over 50.
Prior to her Oscar victory, Madigan also secured a SAG Award for the role, cementing her status as the frontrunner of the season despite a loss at the Golden Globes earlier this year.
A Win for the Reed College Community
Back in Portland, the news of Madigan’s win was met with excitement. As a trustee, she and Harris have been significant supporters of the arts at Reed, contributing to the construction of the Performing Arts Building and funding key staff positions within the theater department.
For a small liberal arts college in Oregon, having a sitting trustee take home Hollywood’s highest honor is a rare and "cool" feather in the cap.
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