Da’Vine Joy Randolph of “The Holdovers” fame has won her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her part as Mary Lamb in the Alexander Payne film.
The 37-year-old triumphed over well-known actors in the same category, including Jodie Foster from “Nyad,” America Ferrera from “Barbie,” Emily Blunt from “Oppenheimer,” and Danielle Brooks from “The Color Purple.”
In an emotional speech Sunday, Randolph recalled her journey in the industry, saying, “I didn’t think I was supposed to be doing this as a career,” per CNN.
She described how her mother saw her gifts and encouraged her to pursue a career in theatre. “My mother said to me, ‘Go across that street to that theater department. There’s something for you there,’ and I thank my mother for doing that. I thank you to all the people who have stepped in my path and ushered me and guided me. I’m so grateful to all you beautiful people out there,” she expressed, according to AP.
Before Randolph was named the winner, all of the past Best Supporting Actress Oscar winners—Jamie Lee Curtis, Lupita Nyong’o, Rita Moreno, Regina King, and Mary Steenburgen—ascended to the stage and gave profound speeches about each of the current nominees.
Oscar-winner Nyong’o complimented Randolph’s outstanding performance, remarking that she even donned her grandmother’s glasses for the movie The Holdovers. As Nyong’o stood on stage and praised her, Randolph started to cry.
Randolph portrays Mary Lamb in “The Holdovers” as a bereaved head cook at a New England boarding school. She co-stars with Paul Giamatti, who plays a stern prep school teacher who must spend the Christmas holiday on campus with a select group of pupils. The film evokes strong emotions as it explores the power of discovering friendship in unexpected places.
“For so long, I’ve always wanted to be different,” Randolph added. “And now I realize I just need to be myself and I thank you. I thank you for seeing me.”
Randolph had already received a Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award, BAFTA, and SAG Award for her role in the same film.
The actress was nominated for a Tony Award in 2012 for “Ghost the Musical.” She has acted in films such as “Dolemite Is My Name” and “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” and on television, she has appeared in “Empire” and “Only Murders in the Building.”
