If there is a breakout film character in 2025, it is unquestionably Gladys, the villain of Zach Cregger’s second function movie “Weapons” performed by the unbelievable — and, till now, wholly underutilized — Amy Madigan. Madigan, who’s in any other case identified for “Area of Goals” and a recurring position on “Gray’s Anatomy,” is now firmly within the highlight because of Gladys, who — spoiler alert! — is a few form of presumably historic witch who invades a city and makes use of its residents as human juice containers to revive her power. Due to her fully distinctive and garish look consisting of brilliant, smeared lipstick, a weird purple wig with child bangs, and mismatched garments, Gladys has change into one of many extra recognizable horror characters in latest reminiscence, however it’s Madigan’s unbelievable efficiency that brings the weird horror to life.
In line with a profile in The Hollywood Reporter, although, Madigan was on the verge of quitting performing fully earlier than Cregger, fortunately, noticed match to forged her in “Weapons.” As her husband and fellow trade veteran, Ed Harris, instructed interviewer David Canfield, “There was a protracted time period the place she actually did not work in any respect, or little or no. She was contemplating simply stopping and giving up on it.”
Madigan then chimed in, telling Canfield that typically individuals would confront her about her profession within the wild. “As an instance I might be within the airport and somebody acknowledged me — they’d go, ‘Oh, are you continue to performing?’ or ‘So what are you doing? Did you hand over performing?’ ” Madigan recalled. “These sorts of questions, simply straight out!”
Then, fortunately, “Weapons” got here alongside and altered the whole lot for Madigan nearly in a single day. “I used to be telling all people, ‘Hey, I’ll play this actually wild woman,'” Madigan shared. “Then it got here out, and it became one thing else.”
Weapons is without doubt one of the finest horror motion pictures of the 12 months — because of Aunt Gladys
All through the profile, Amy Madigan instructed David Canfield that she did perceive that, as a personality actor, she won’t be thought-about for comparatively understated or typical roles. “I perceive that I am not the main woman — I am a personality actor, and I like doing issues with my physique,” Madigan mused. “Possibly that was complicated to individuals, or what they had been in search of was not me.”
To that time, she apparently instructed Ed Harris, earlier than getting “Weapons,” that she felt like individuals had “retired” her, to which Harris stated, “Simply wait. One thing goes to come back your method that is going to get you the whole lot that you just want.” He was actually proper! Zach Cregger, who beforehand stated that “Weapons” would not work with out Madigan as Gladys, knew straight away that he needed to forged her. Not solely was he a longtime fan of her work, however he simply sensed that she was good for the position.
“Each time she was onscreen, I used to be form of dazzled — and I by no means actually received why she wasn’t in every single place,” Cregger says of Madigan’s physique of labor. “So when her title got here up, there was no draw back. I used to be like, ‘She will be able to do it. She’s wonderful. She simply matches proper in.'” The 2 of them mentioned the position over lunch, and he tried to play it cool earlier than principally providing her the position on the spot.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t a certain factor straight away, regardless of Cregger’s pleasure. “Zach wasn’t certain if the powers that be needed someone with a much bigger title,” Harris revealed to Canfield. “Amy was actually affected person. She actually needed to play this character.” The remainder, as they are saying, is historical past.
The position of Gladys has given Amy Madigan an astounding second act already
Not solely is Gladys a task that, in a simply world, would earn Amy Madigan an Oscar nomination, she’s additionally an Web sensation. Simply search “Gladys Weapons” on TikTok or Instagram Reels and watch totally different comedians in smeared lipstick and brilliant garments spoof the character. Madigan is not on-line, however Zach Cregger is: “I am going to name her each from time to time, and I will be like, ‘Amy, are you conscious of what is going on on?’ She’s like, ‘No! Inform me.'”
Madigan additionally spoke to the truth that the queer group has wholeheartedly embraced Gladys as a camp icon. “As you very effectively know, the homosexual group has actually taken to Gladys,” Madigan stated proudly. “That is actually nice — particularly on this framework of the demonization of anyone apart from a cis particular person — for the trans group. I feel they actually respect Gladys’ drag and make-up and the way assured she is. In order that’s a very nice cherry on prime of all this.”
Finally, Madigan is simply happy that folks just like the film — and that new alternatives are, apparently, coming her method. As Harris revealed to Canfield, “She’s been provided a few issues already that she’s stated no [to], that she simply did not wish to do. She has at all times been actually selective, not that she’s had that a lot to select from. I hope that she will get some nice alternatives sooner or later.”
Madigan confirmed that, saying, “Folks have already reached out, like, ‘Right here it’s, we wish you,’ in numerous kinds. That is totally different in a method that feels new.” That is well-deserved, and as an enormous fan of Madigan who cherished her in “Weapons,” I actually hope we see much more of this honored actress as quickly as potential.
