If there’s one movie character that will be a sensation in 2025, it’s undoubtedly Gladys, the villainess of Zach Cregger’s sophomore feature, “Weapons,” played by the incredible – and, so far, totally underused – Amy Madigan. Madigan, who is otherwise known for “Field of Dreams” and a recurring role on “Grey’s Anatomy,” is now firmly in the spotlight thanks to Gladys, who — spoiler alert! – is some sort of possibly ancient witch who invades a town and uses its inhabitants as human juice boxes to restore its energy. Thanks to her completely unique and garish look consisting of bright, smeared lipstick, a bizarre red wig with baby bangs, and mismatched clothing, Gladys has become one of the most recognizable horror characters in recent memory, but it’s Madigan’s incredible performance that brings the bizarre horror to life.
However, according to an article in the Hollywood Reporter, Madigan was on the verge of quitting acting altogether before Cregger, fortunately, saw fit to cast her in “Weapons.” As her husband and fellow industry veteran, Ed Harris, told interviewer David Canfield, “For a long time, she didn’t really work at all, or very little.” She was considering just quitting and giving up. »
Madigan then intervened, telling Canfield that sometimes people confronted her about her career in the wilderness. “Let’s say I’d be at the airport and someone would recognize me – they’d say, ‘Oh, are you still playing?’ or ‘So what are you doing? Have you given up playing? ” Madigan remembers. “These kinds of questions, right away!”
Then, thankfully, “Weapons” came along and changed everything for Madigan almost overnight. “I was telling everyone, ‘Hey, I’m going to play this really wild lady,'” Madigan explained. “Then it came out, and it turned into something else.”
Weapons is one of the best horror films of the year — thanks to Aunt Gladys
Throughout the profile, Amy Madigan told David Canfield that she understood that as a character actress, she might not be considered for relatively low-key or typical roles. “I understand that I’m not the leading lady, I’m a character actor and I like to do things with my body,” Madigan mused. “Maybe it was confusing to people, or maybe what they were looking for wasn’t me.”
At this point, she apparently told Ed Harris, before receiving “Arms,” that she felt like people had “taken her away,” to which Harris responded, “Wait. Something is going to happen to you that will get you everything you need.” He was certainly right! Zach Cregger, who previously said “Weapons” wouldn’t work without Madigan as Gladys, knew right away he had to cast her. Not only was he a long-time fan of her work, he simply felt she was perfect for the role.
“Every time she was on screen, I was a little starstruck — and I never really understood why she wasn’t everywhere,” Cregger says of Madigan’s body of work. “So when her name came up, there was no downside. I was like, ‘She can do it. She’s amazing. She fits right in.'” They discussed the role over lunch, and he tried to play it cool before offering her the role on the spot.
Still, it wasn’t sure right away, despite Cregger’s enthusiasm. “Zach wasn’t sure the powers that be wanted someone with a bigger name,” Harris revealed to Canfield. “Amy was really patient. She really wanted to play this character.” The rest, as they say, is history.
The role of Gladys has already given Amy Madigan a stunning second act
Not only is Gladys a role that, in a just world, would earn Amy Madigan an Oscar nomination, but she Also an internet sensation. Simply search for “Gladys Weapons” on TikTok or Instagram Reels and watch different comedians wearing smeared lipstick and light clothing impersonate the character. Madigan isn’t online, but Zach Cregger is: “I’ll call him every once in a while, and I’ll say, ‘Amy, do you know what’s going on?’ She said, “No! Tell me.’”
Madigan also discussed how the queer community has wholeheartedly embraced Gladys as a camp icon. “As you very well know, the gay community really appreciated Gladys,” Madigan said proudly. “It’s really great – especially in this context of demonizing anyone other than a cis person – for the trans community. I think they really appreciate Gladys’s look and makeup and her confidence. So it’s a really nice cherry on top of that.”
Ultimately, Madigan is just happy that people like the film — and that new opportunities are apparently coming her way. As Harris revealed to Canfield: “She’s been offered several things already and she said no. [to]that she just didn’t want to do. She was always very selective, even if she didn’t have much choice. I hope she gets great opportunities in the future.”
Madigan confirmed this, saying, “People have already reached out, like, ‘Here we want you,’ in various forms. It’s different in a way that feels new.” It’s well deserved, and as a huge Madigan fan who love in “Weapons,” I certainly hope we see a lot more of this revered actress as soon as possible.
