Amy Madigan Recalls Critics Saying 'Awful, Nasty Things About Me' in the Past
- - Amy Madigan Recalls Critics Saying 'Awful, Nasty Things About Me' in the Past
Jack Smart, Raven BrunnerJanuary 28, 2026 at 2:09 AM
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Amy Madigan at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards on Jan. 6
Marion Curtis/StarPix for NYFCCA/Shutterstock
Amy Madigan is earning industry awards for her performance in Weapons
At the 2026 New York Film Critics Circle Awards ceremony Jan. 6, she received the organization's supporting actress prize
“I had some critics say some awful, nasty things about me,” she shared frankly in her acceptance speech, highlighting that her father worked in the newspaper business
Amy Madigan had some choice words for the critics in her industry.
For her performance as Aunt Gladys in horror hit Weapons, the star, 75, took home the 2026 New York Film Critics Circle Award for supporting actress.
Accepting the honor from presenter Gaby Hoffmann at the Jan. 6 ceremony, Madigan reflected on her relationship with critics and journalists — including her father, whom she called a “valuable newspaper journalist.”
“What really impressed me was that his thoughts came from him,” said the star, who realized her own work onscreen “has to come from me” because of him.
“He had an opinion and it's what he fought for,” said Madigan in her speech. “Critiquing is a very personal experience, especially … if you're on the receiving end of it. As an actor — I think for all the actors in the room — you hope that people respond and you hope that people see what you saw when you got the script.”
Amy Madigan and Gaby Hoffmann at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards on Jan. 6
Cindy Ord/Getty
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Madigan then got frank: “You know what, I had some critics say some awful, nasty things about me.” Others, however, wrote “really good” reviews, she added. “I just encourage all of us to just keep your original thought, because finally, at the end of the day, that's all we have.”
Whether it’s actors reading scripts or journalists writing in newspapers, concluded Madigan, “all we have” are “the words that you write about an art form and how important it is. So I'm very overwhelmed by people's appreciation for Aunt Gladys. And I'm so happy to be honored here tonight.”
Writer-director Zach Cregger’s Weapons, released in August 2025, starred Madigan as mysterious villain Aunt Gladys opposite Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong and more.
The Twice in a Lifetime Oscar nominee has since earned recognition from various critics groups, as well as this year’s Golden Globe, Actor Awards, Critics Choice Awards and Oscars.
Amy Madigan in 'Weapons'
Quantrell Colbert/Warner Bros.
“Because of Weapons I've had a lot of recognition,” Madigan told PEOPLE at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards event. “More people are calling and things like that. But, you know, I'm very realistic, so we'll just see what happens down the road.”
As for the awards recognition for Weapons, “it’s a great honor,” she said. “You hope that people recognize your work, and most of the time that doesn't happen. So it's really nice.”
Madigan also starred in Rebuilding, released in November 2025. She includes among her next projects Sponsor, with writer-director James Ponsoldt and Jason Segel.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
