Oscars 2021 – live: Winners, acceptance speeches and highlights from the Academy Awards
Chloé Zhao wins Best Director while Frances McDormand earns Best Actress prize
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Road movie Nomadland won the top prize at the 93rd Academy Awards, which fulfilled many expectations but threw in a couple of surprise wins in an unusual ceremony.
The film’s director Chloe Zhao also made history, becoming the first woman of colour to win the award for directing, and the second woman in history — and the film scooped the Best Actress prize for its star Frances McDormand.
Sir Anthony Hopkins won the Best Actor Oscar — his first since The Silence of the Lambs in 1992 — for his performance in The Father, about a man slipping into dementia, defeating presumptive favourite Chadwick Boseman, who died last year aged 43 following a private four-year battle with colon cancer.
Daniel Kaluuya, who was born in London to Ugandan parents, is the first black British winner of the best Supporting Actor prize for his turn as community organiser and member of the Black Panther Party Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah.
There were a number of surprise wins. David Fincher’s Mank led the pack with 10 nominations, but ultimately won two.
Due to coronavirus, the Oscars moved out of their usual venue, the Dolby Theatre, and were based out of Los Angeles’s Union Station instead. The ceremony’s format was overhauled too, with attendees observing social distancing and some joining via video link from other parts of the world.
Nomadland had been a favourite to win Best Picture; it fulfilled that expectation, beating The Father, Judas and the Black Messiah, Mank, Minari, Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal, and The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Minari actor Youn Yuh-jung also won over the crowd in her acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress, which was presented to her by Brad Pitt. “Mr Brad Pitt, finally, nice to meet you!” she told him after making her way onto the stage. She then proceeded to acknowledge the ways in which her name has been mispronounced throughout the awards season, telling the crowd: “Tonight, you are all forgiven.”
With her win, Youn became the first Korean actor to take home an Academy Award.
Follow our liveblog for highlights from the ceremony and the buzz-worthy aftermath.
Marvel fans are very excited about Chloé Zhao’s Best Directing win tonight – the filmmaker is also at the helm of the upcoming Eternals, coming to Marvel Studios in November.
Marvel fans react as Chloe Zhao wins an Oscar ahead of the release of Eternals later this year
Filmmaker took home the prize for her independent drama Nomadland
Youn Yuh-jung’s Oscars acceptance speech was a delight well worth revisiting.
After Brad Pitt presented her with the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, she told him: “Mr Brad Pitt, finally, nice to meet you!”
She then lightheartedly acknowledged the common mispronunciation of her name throughout this past awards season, declaring: “Tonight, you are all forgiven.”
Youn Yuh-jung calls out Hollywood for mispronouncing her name while accepting Oscar
Brad Pitt had said it incorrectly moments earlier
It’s time for the in memoriam segment, which pays tribute to figures in the entertainment industry who have died in the past year.
The sequence, introduced by Angela Bassett, ends with an homage to Chadwick Boseman, who died of cancer aged 43 in August 2020.
And just like that, it’s time for the Academy Award for Best Picture!
The nominees are: The Father, Judas and the Black Messiah, Mank, Minari, Nomadland, Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal, and The Trial of the Chicago 7.
And the winner is... Nomadland by Chloé Zhao! The film was a favourite in the category.
Zhao opens the acceptance speech, followed by Frances McDormand, the movie’s lead. She urges viewers to watch this film on the biggest screen possible and to return to cinemas when they can safely do so to see all the movies in competition tonight.
Renée Zellweger is now presenting the Oscar for Best Actress. The nominees are Viola Davis for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Andra Day for The United States vs Billie Holiday, Vanessa Kirby for Pieces of a Woman, Frances McDormand for Nomadland, and Carey Mulligan for Promising Young Woman.
And the Oscar goes to... Frances McDormand!
Joaquin Phoenix is now presenting the Academy Award for Best Actor. The nominees are Riz Ahmed for Sound of Metal, Chadwick Boseman for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Anthony Hopkins for The Father, Gary Oldman for Mank, and Steven Yeun for Minari.
And the Oscar goes to...
Anthony Hopkins for The Father!
Hokins is not present at the ceremony, meaning no acceptance speech.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments