Mikey Madison has won the best actress Oscar in Los Angeles for her role in Anora.

The actor, who will be 26 later this month, is the ninth youngest woman to take the prize, for her performance as the titular sex worker who falls for the immature son of a Russian billionaire in Sean Baker’s comedy-drama, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes last year.In his review, the Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw praised Madison as “terrific” in the role, adding that “she owns the screen”. Baker wrote the role for the young actor, whose highest-profile film roles before Anora were bit parts in a Scream film, and playing a member of Charles Manson’s cult in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

“This is very surreal,” said Madison on stage. “I grew up in LA but Hollywood always felt so far for me. To be standing in this room is really incredible.”

She thanked “my mom and my dad and sister and little brother and and twin brother, Miles, for being my best friend – not that you have a choice”, as well as the community of Brighton Beach.

Madison went on to echo her sentiments at the Baftas, saying that she wanted to “recognise and honour the sex worker community. I will continue to support you and be an ally.”

She explained further than meeting “all the incredible women” was one of the “highlights of the experience”.

“This is a dream come true,” she concluded. “Or am I going to wake up tomorrow?”

Madison beat frontrunner Demi Moore – nominated for body horror The Substance – to the Oscar, as well as fellow nominees Fernanda Torres, Cynthia Erivo and Karla Sofía Gascón. Moore’s run of awards in the lead-up to the Oscars was unbroken until Madison unexpectedly won the Bafta for best actress a fortnight ago.

She followed that with the Independent Spirit award for best actress. Anora’s gathering of momentum was also noticeable at the Writers Guild of America awards and the Producers Guild of America awards in the US, where it won best picture.

The 97th Academy Awards are taking place in Los Angeles.