Oscars 2021 winners: Best Actress Frances McDormand HOWLS as Nomadland wins at 93rd Academy Awards
Oscars 2021 winners: Frances McDormand HOWLS as Nomadland triumphs and she scores her THIRD best actress win… in most bizarre Academy Awards ever
- Nomadland earned top honor Best Picture as the Academy Awards broke tradition by not announcing the award last
- The movie only made $2.5 million at the box office and is the lowest-grossing Best Picture winner in Academy Award history
- Frances McDormand howled as she earned Best Actress in tribute to Michael Wolf Snyder who was the sound mixer for Nomadland and tragically died by suicide at the age or 35 last month
- It was the 63-year-old star’s third time winning the top honor for an actress
- Chloe Zhao became the first woman of color to win in the Best Director category
- The show ended with a bit of an upset after Anthony Hopkins beat Chadwick Boseman to win Best Actor leaving for a very awkward conclusion
- Youn Yuh-jung became the first ever Korean to win an acting award as she earned Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in Minari
- Daniel Kaluuya won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work on Judas And The Black Messiah
- Emerald Fennell took home first Oscar of the night in Best Original Screenplay for Promising Young Woman
- Soul won Best Animated Feature
Nomadland triumphed as the drama earned Best Picture in addition to a historic win for Frances McDormand as Best Actress at perhaps the most bizarre Academy Awards ever – which was virtually mask free amid the COVID-19 pandemic – in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
McDormand, 63, howled as the Chloe Zhao directed film won Best Picture and before she won the top honor for an actress for the third time at the event held at the iconic Union Station.
The cry – which mimicked a wolf – was meaningful as it was a tribute to Michael Wolf Snyder who was the sound mixer for Nomadland and tragically died by suicide at the age or 35 last month.
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What a moment: Nomadland triumphed as the drama earned Best Picture in addition to a historic win for Frances McDormand as Best Actress at the 93rd Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night
Sending a message: McDormand, 63, howled as the Chloe Zhao directed film won best picture and before she won the top honor for an actress for the third time
Dynamic duo: McDormand and director Zhao seen holding their shiny new Oscars in the press room after the gala event
The award show – which was celebrating its 93rd annual event – broke tradition as Best Picture was not announced last as McDormand explained in her brief speech before howling: ‘We give this one to our wolf.’
As the film was released on Hulu due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McDormand also urged film fans to go out of their way to watch it in theaters.
She said: ‘Please watch our movie on the largest screen possible and one day very, very soon take everyone you know into a theater shoulder-to-shoulder in that dark space and watch every film that is represented here tonight.’
The movie only made $2.5 million at the box office and is the lowest-grossing Best Picture winner in Academy Award history.
Interesting: The award show – which was celebrating its 93rd annual event – broke tradition as Best Picture was not announced last
Sweet: The cry – which mimicked a wolf – was meaningful as it was a tribute to Michael Wolf Snyder who was the sound mixer for Nomadland and tragically died by suicide at the age or 35 last month
Gone too soon: Michael Wolf Stewart is seen working on set
‘Please watch out movie on the largest screen possible’: As the film was released on Hulu due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McDormand also urged film fans to go out of their way to watch it in theaters
After that Frances tied Meryl Streep and Ingrid Bergman with three victories in the Best Actress category as they all trail behind the record-hold, Katharine Hepburn, who has four wins.
During her speech, McDormand joked that there should have been a karaoke bar at the ceremony before going on to quote classic William Shakespeare play Macbeth.
She said: ‘I have no words: my voice is in my sword. We know the sword is our work, and I like work. Thank you for knowing that, and thanks for this.’
McDormand scored the win over Viola Davis for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Andra Day for The United States vs Billie Holiday, Vanessa Kirby for Pieces of a Woman, and Carey Mulligan for Promising Young Woman.
Legend: After that Frances tied Meryl Streep and Ingrid Bergman with three victories in the Best Actress category as they all trail behind the record-hold, Katharine Hepburn, who has four wins
‘I have no words: my voice is in my sword’: During her speech, McDormand joked that there should have been a karaoke bar at the ceremony before going on to quote classic William Shakespeare play Macbeth
Quite the tale: Nomadland follows a woman (McDormand) in her sixties who, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad
Nomadland also faced heavy competition for Best Picture including: The Father, Judas and the Black Messiah, Mank, Minari, Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal, and The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Nomadland follows a woman (McDormand) in her sixties who, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.
Zhao also made history as she became the first woman of color to ever win Best Director.
If that wasn’t already enough trailblazing, the 39-year-old filmmaker also became the first Chinese woman and second woman to ever win an Oscar for directing.
Trailblazing: Chloe Zhao made history as she became the first woman of color to ever win Best Director at the 93rd Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night
Goals: If that wasn’t already enough trailblazing, the 39-year-old filmmaker also became the first Chinese woman and second woman to ever win an Oscar for directing
Shining moment: She beat out a field including: Thomas Vinterberg for Another Round, David Fincher for Mank, Lee Isaac Chung for Minari, and Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman
She beat out a field including: Thomas Vinterberg for Another Round, David Fincher for Mank, Lee Isaac Chung for Minari, and Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman.
She said as she was growing up in China she and her dad would play a game in which they would memorize classic Chinese poems and texts and recite them together including a phrase which means ‘people at birth were inherently good.’
Zhao explained: ‘And those six letters had such a great impact on me when I was a kid. And I still truly believe them today. Even though sometimes it may seem like the opposite is true. But I have always found goodness in the people I met.
‘Everywhere I went in the world. So this is for anyone who has the faith and the courage to hold on to the goodness in themselves. And to hold on to the goodness in each other. No matter how difficult it is to do that. And this is for you, you inspire me to keep going. Thank you.’
Sweet story: She said as she was growing up in China she and her dad would play a game in which they would memorize classic Chinese poems and texts and recite them together including a phrase which means ‘people at birth were inherently good’
Zhao explained: ‘And those six letters had such a great impact on me when I was a kid. And I still truly believe them today. Even though sometimes it may seem like the opposite is true. But I have always found goodness in the people I met’
Icon: Bong Joon-ho, who won the same award for Parasite last year, presented Best Director from South Korea with the help of a translator
As Best Picture was not announced last, it made for a very awkward moment as it ended with a bit of an upset after Anthony Hopkins beat Chadwick Boseman to win Best Actor leaving for a very awkward conclusion.
Hopkins, 83, won the coveted gong for his role in The Father, becoming the oldest person ever to win an acting Oscar.
It is the second Academy Award for the British icon, who first won 30 years ago for his role as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of The Lambs.
Hopkins has since been nominated a five further times, but he was not expected to take home this year’s award. Boseman – who died of colon cancer aged just 43 last August – was widely tipped to win a posthumous award for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Uh oh: As Best Picture was not announced last, it made for a very awkward moment as it ended with a bit of an upset after Anthony Hopkins beat Chadwick Boseman to win Best Actor leaving for a very awkward conclusion
Icon: Boseman – who died of colon cancer aged just 43 last August – was widely tipped to win a posthumous award for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
The Best Actor category was the last award of the night, and Hopkin’s win caused upset on social media. Boseman is pictured in four of his different film roles
He’s still here: To make matters worse, Hopkins skipped the awards ceremony and did not deliver an acceptance speech and presenter Joaquin Phoenix accepted the prize on his behalf
The Academy Awards usually ends with the Best Picture award being announced, but this year it was decided that Best Actor would be the last award of the night.
Many theorized that was because Boseman would be announced as the winner, and the awards show would end with a tribute to his illustrious career.
When that did not happen, Hopkin’s win caused upset on social media. Dozens blasted that it was ‘the worst TV ending since Game of Thrones’.
To make matters worse, Hopkins skipped the awards ceremony and did not deliver an acceptance speech and presenter Joaquin Phoenix accepted the prize on his behalf.
Before that Youn Yuh-jung became the first ever Korean to win an acting award as she earned Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in Minari.
The 73-year-old South Korean actress will surely be one of breakout stars as the event as she delighted with fun acceptance speech which began with her thanking Brad Pitt who presented her with the award.
She said: ‘Oh, Mr. Brad Pitt, it’s so nice to meet you. … Where were you while we were filming in Tulsa? It’s so nice to meet you.’
Historic: Youn Yuh-jung became the first ever Korean to win an acting award as she earned Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in Minari at the 93rd Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night
A24 financed the film with 57-year-old actor Pitt’s company Plan B also producing.
Yuh-jung beat out white the impressive field including: Maria Bakalova for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Glenn Close for Hillbilly Elegy, Olivia Colman for The Father, and Amanda Seyfried for Mank.
‘I cannot believe I’m here. Okay, let me pull myself together. Tremendous thanks to the academy members who voted for me,’ she continued. ‘Thank you to the wonderful Minari family.’
Sweet: The 73-year-old South Korean actress was overcome with emotion
Sweet: She will surely be one of breakout stars as the event as she delighted with fun acceptance speech which began with her thanking Brad Pitt who presented her with the award
She said: ‘Oh, Mr. Brad Pitt, it’s so nice to meet you. … Where were you while we were filming in Tulsa? It’s so nice to meet you’
Connection: A24 financed the film with 57-year-old actor Pitt’s company Plan B also producing
Cute: Yuh-jung not only got to meet Pitt but they also posed for a snap together in the press room
World famous: People are shown watching a TV screen showing South Korean actress Yuh-jung at the Seoul Railway Station live on Monday
A Korean actor had never been previously nominated for an Academy Award and only one Asian had previously won Best Supporting Actress as Japanese-American actress Miyoshi Umeki won for Sayonara in 1957.
Minari is centered around a Korean family who starts a farm in 1980s Arkansas with Yuh-jung [playing the loving, yet mischievous grandmother Soonja.
Earlier in the night, Daniel Kaluuya was ecstatic as he earned Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work on Judas And The Black Messiah.
The 32-year-old London native beat out an impressive field including castmate Lakeith Stanfield, Sacha Baron Cohen for The Trial of the Chicago 7, Leslie Odom, Jr. for One Night in Miami…, and Paul Raci for Sound Of Metal.
Kaluuya could not wait to start celebrating as he said: ‘And I’m going to get back to work Tuesday morning. Because tonight I’m going up. We’re going up, you know what I mean? We’re enjoying ourselves tonight. You got to celebrate life, man. We’re breathing, walking, it’s incredible.
What a moment: Daniel Kaluuya was ecstatic as he earned Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work on Judas And The Black Messiah
Impressive: The 32-year-old London native beat out an impressive field including castmate Lakeith Stanfield, Sacha Baron Cohen for The Trial of the Chicago 7, Leslie Odom, Jr. for One Night in Miami…, and Paul Raci for Sound Of Metal
Praise: Kaluuya could not wait to start celebrating as he said: ‘And I’m going to get back to work Tuesday morning. Because tonight I’m going up. We’re going up, you know what I mean? We’re enjoying ourselves tonight. You got to celebrate life, man. We’re breathing, walking, it’s incredible’
‘It’s incredible. My mom, my dad, they had sex. It’s amazing. You understand, I’m here. You know what I mean? I’m so happy to be alive. So I’m going to celebrate tonight. I appreciate everyone in the room, everyone watching at home. You know, peace, love, and onwards. We go again. Appreciate you.’
Daniel’s mother and sister were in attendance as they couldn’t help but react in disbelief as he made mention of his parents getting intimate.
They also covered their faces in shock as his name was announced before he thanked them during his acceptance speech as he said: ‘Thanks to my mum for pouring into me, you gave me everything, you gave me your factory settings so I can stand at my fullest height.
He joked: ‘It’s incredible. My mom, my dad, they had sex. It’s amazing. You understand, I’m here. You know what I mean? I’m so happy to be alive. So I’m going to celebrate tonight. I appreciate everyone in the room, everyone watching at home. You know, peace, love, and onwards. We go again. Appreciate you’
Oh no: Daniel’s mother and sister were in attendance as they couldn’t help but react in disbelief as he made mention of his parents getting intimate
Epic: Daniel had the crowd in stitches
Support system: Daniel’s mother and sister were in attendance as they covered their face in shock as his name was announced
Sweet: They also covered their faces in shock as his name was announced before he thanked them during his acceptance speech as he said: ‘Thanks to my mum for pouring into me, you gave me everything, you gave me your factory settings so I can stand at my fullest height’
Leading man: Daniel proudly posed with his trophy in the press room
‘My sister, my niece, my friends and family, everyone I love I’d like to thank my team for incredible support.’
Judas And The Black Messiah tells the story of the betrayal of Illinois Black Panthers chairman Fred Hampton (played by Kaluuya) who was murdered by the FBI.
He thanked the man he portrayed as he said: ‘To Fred Hampton, what a man. How blessed we are to live in a lifetime he existed. Thank you for your light. He was on this earth for 21 years and he found a way to feed kids breakfast, educate kids, give free medical care, against all odds.’
Incredible: Emerald Fennell took home the first Oscar of the night in the Best Original Screenplay category as the 93rd Academy Awards kicked off in Los Angeles on Sunday night
Honest: She began her acceptance speech by saying: ‘Oh, my gosh. Oh, they said write a speech’
She earned it: Fennell faced stiff competition including: Judas and the Black Messiah’s Shaka King and Will Berson, Minari’s Lee Isaac Chung, Sound of Metal’s Darius Marder and Abraham Marder, and The Trial of the Chicago 7’s Aaron Sorkin
Earlier in the night, Emerald Fennell took home the first Oscar of the night in the Best Original Screenplay category.
The 35-year-old actress, writer, and director was honored for her work in Promising Young Woman as she was also nominated for Best Director.
Fennell faced stiff competition including: Judas and the Black Messiah’s Shaka King and Will Berson, Minari’s Lee Isaac Chung, Sound of Metal’s Darius Marder and Abraham Marder, and The Trial of the Chicago 7’s Aaron Sorkin.
She began her acceptance speech by saying: ‘Oh, my gosh. Oh, they said write a speech.
‘And I didn’t, because I just didn’t think this would ever happen. I’m going to be in trouble with Steven Soderbergh. I’m so sorry. I don’t want him to be cross with me. Oh, my god, he’s so heavy and so cold.’
Kicking it off: Regina King opened up the show with an epic introduction which found her strolling into the iconic Union Station
Making it clear: She addressed the fact that there were no protective face masks that could be seen in the audience as she explained ‘think of this like a movie set’
Beautiful in blue: Regina stunned in a light blue gown
Regina King opened up the show with an epic introduction which found her strolling into the iconic Union Station.
She addressed the fact that there were no protective face masks that could be seen in the audience as she explained ‘think of this like a movie set.’
The event marks the first time Tinseltown’s finest have assembled in over a year, for a three-hour show that co-producer Steven Soderbergh has described as being ‘like a movie.’
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosted the delayed ceremony at the historic Union Station in Los Angeles, California where socially distanced movie stars went mask-free while on-camera or seated in the main show room.
Golden: Thomas Vinterberg accepted the International Feature Film award for Another Round
Touching: He dedicated the win to his late daughter
Squad: Jamika Wilson, Sergio Lopez-River, and Mia Neal won The Oscar for Hair And Make-up for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Amazing: Neal and Wilson became the first Black women to win the award
Built in 1939, the national historic landmark and its main terminal is 161,000 square feet, creating plenty of room for theatrics on Hollywood’s biggest night.
During normal times, when COVID restrictions haven’t crimped travel, more than 100,000 people a day walk through its halls.
Comparatively the Dolby Theatre, where the glitzy event is usually held, can only seat around 3,300 people which would have created difficulties in putting on an award show amid the pandemic.
But in the spacious station, believed to be large enough to accommodate social distancing requirements with its soaring main hall featuring windows that are 40-feet high, stars have more room to mingle and maneuver.
Monochrome madness: Laura Dern looked incredible while presenting
What a moment: The 54-year-old actress had the honor of revealing the winner of International Feature Film
Sticking to a ‘No Zoom’ policy unlike other shows that have taken place this awards season, Academy organizers also hosted a ‘British hub’ for UK actors who are unable to make it in person.
An official spokesperson had previously called this year’s event ‘an Oscars like none other, while prioritizing the public health and safety of all those who will participate.’
The Academy and ABC will certainly be hoping that their ambitious plans will have drummed up more excitement than they have elsewhere during a dismal award seasons, after the virtual Golden Globes plunged to 6.9 million viewers this year – a 64 percent drop from 2020.