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 recognized for “Subject of Goals” and a recurring function on “Gray’s Anatomy,” is now firmly within the highlight due to Gladys, who — spoiler alert! — is a few type of probably historical witch who invades a city and makes use of its residents as human juice containers to revive her power. Due to her completely distinctive and garish look consisting of shiny, smeared lipstick, a weird purple wig with child bangs, and mismatched garments, Gladys has turn out to be one of many extra recognizable horror characters in latest reminiscence, nevertheless it’s Madigan’s unbelievable efficiency that brings the weird horror to life.
Based on a profile in The Hollywood Reporter, although, Madigan was on the verge of quitting performing completely earlier than Cregger, fortunately, noticed match to forged her in “Weapons.” As her husband and fellow business 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 generally individuals would confront her about her profession within the wild. “As an instance I would 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 surrender performing?’ ” Madigan recalled. “These sorts of questions, simply straight out!”
Then, fortunately, “Weapons” got here alongside and altered the whole lot for Madigan virtually in a single day. “I used to be telling everyone, ‘Hey, I’ll play this actually wild girl,'” Madigan shared. “Then it got here out, and it become one thing else.”
Weapons is among the greatest horror motion pictures of the 12 months — due to 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 of for comparatively understated or typical roles. “I perceive that I am not the main girl — I am a personality actor, and I like doing issues with my physique,” Madigan mused. “Perhaps that was complicated to individuals, or what they have been searching for 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 means 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 excellent for the function.
“At any time when she was onscreen, I used to be form of dazzled — and I by no means actually bought why she wasn’t in all places,” 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 superb. She simply matches proper in.'” The 2 of them mentioned the function over lunch, and he tried to play it cool earlier than mainly providing her the function 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 wished anyone with a much bigger title,” Harris revealed to Canfield. “Amy was actually affected person. She actually wished to play this character.” The remaining, as they are saying, is historical past.
The function 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 shiny garments spoof the character. Madigan is not on-line, however Zach Cregger is: “I am going to name her each every now and then, 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 properly 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 believe they actually respect Gladys’ drag and make-up and the way assured she is. In order that’s a very nice cherry on high of all this.”
In the end, Madigan is simply happy that individuals just like the film — and that new alternatives are, apparently, coming her means. 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, “Individuals have already reached out, like, ‘Right here it’s, we wish you,’ in varied kinds. That is totally different in a means that feels new.” That is well-merited, and as an enormous fan of Madigan who beloved her in “Weapons,” I actually hope we see much more of this commemorated actress as quickly as attainable.
