Oscars 2021 recap: 'Nomadland' wins best picture on night of historic firsts
Its director, Chloé Zhao, became first woman of color to win best director.
Hollywood's biggest night -- the Academy Awards -- has come to a close.
"Nomadland" took home the coveted best picture award while Anthony Hopkins and Frances McDormand won best actor and actress in a leading role.
Hopkins' victory was an upset over Chadwick Boseman, who died in August after a private four-year battle with colon cancer. Boseman was nominated for best actor for his role in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."
This year brought barrier-breaking wins, including the first woman of color to win best director and the first Black women to win best makeup and hairstyling.
The nominees for best picture included: "Judas and the Black Messiah," "Mank," "Minari," "Nomadland," "Promising Young Woman," "Sound of Metal," "The Father" and "The Trial of the Chicago 7."
Anthony Hopkins wins best actor
Anthony Hopkins won the best actor award for his performance in Florian Zeller's “The Father."
Many expected late actor Chadwick Boseman to win a posthumous best actor Oscar for his performance in “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." He had racked up multiple awards for his performance prior to the Oscars.
Frances McDormand wins best actress
Frances McDormand won the best actress Academy Award at the 2021 Oscars Sunday night.
The actress was nominated for her performance in Chloé Zhao’s "Nomadland."
She competed in the category alongside Viola Davis ("Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"), Vanessa Kirby ("Pieces of a Woman"), Andra Day (“The United States Vs. Billie Holiday") and Carey Mulligan ("Promising Young Woman").
Frances McDormand wins Best Actress for her work in Oscars Best Picture ‘Nomadland’
This was McDormand’s third Oscar win: she previously won the best actress award for "Fargo" in 1997 and the best actress award for "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" in 2018.
‘Nomadland’ wins best picture
"Nomadland" claimed the Oscar for best picture. "Nomadland" director Chloé Zhao also took home the best directing statue.
Chloé Zhao accepts the Best Picture Academy Award for her film ‘Nomadland’
"Nomadland," based on a 2017 book, follows a woman named Fern (Frances McDormand), who leaves her home after her husband dies to live out of her van, traveling the U.S. and taking on odd jobs. The movie features real-life nomads in the supporting cast. McDormand won best actress for the role.
Tyler Perry accepts humanitarian award
Tyler Perry honored at the Academy Awards with Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
The Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award was presented Sunday to Tyler Perry in recognition of his charity efforts.
As Perry stood on stage, he recalled a story of when he offered money to a homeless woman. She, however, asked for a pair of shoes.
The woman, staring down, said, "Thank you, Jesus, my feet are off the ground," Perry recalled.
The woman said to Perry that she thought he’d hate her. Perry said he responded: "How can I hate you when I used to be you?"
Perry said he dedicates his award "to anyone who wants to stand in the middle no matter what’s around the walls" because "that’s where healing happens" and where "change happens."
"So anyone who wants to meet me in the middle to refuse hate … to help lift someone’s feet off the ground, this one is for you, too," he said.
Chloé Zhao becomes 1st woman of color to win best director
Chloé Zhao won best director for "Nomadland," becoming the first Asian woman -- and woman of color -- to win the award.
Zhao also is only the second woman ever to win best director.
Chloé Zhao accepts Best Director Academy Award for ‘Nomadland’
Makeup, hairstyling winners break 'glass ceiling'
As Mia Neal, one of the makeup and hairstyling winners for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," accepted her Oscar, she used her moment to share the spotlight with other minority women.
Neal and Jamika Wilson, who won alongside Sergio Lopez-Rivera, were the first Black women nominated in the category.
"As Jamika and I break this glass ceiling," she said, she was filled with "so much excitement for the future."
"I can picture Black trans women standing up here, and Asian sisters. And our Latina sisters, and indigenous women. And I know that one day it won't be unusual or groundbreaking -- it will just be normal," she said.
Daniel Kaluuya thanks late Black Panther leader Fred Hampton in acceptance speech
Daniel Kaluuya, who won the best supporting actor Oscar for his portrayal of Fred Hampton in "Judas and the Black Messiah," thanked the slain Black Panther leader in his speech.
Daniel Kaluuya gave this speech as he accepted the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor
"What a man. What a man. How blessed we are that we lived in a lifetime where he existed," Kaluuya said.
"Thank you for your light," he said, noting that Hampton was alive for just 21 years. "He found a way to feed kids breakfast, educate kids, give free medical care -- against all the odds," Kaluuya said.
"There’s so much work to do, guys -- and that’s on everyone in this room," Kaluuya said.
Regina King opens show by mentioning the Derek Chauvin verdict
Regina King, director of "One Night in Miami," opened the show by touching on the Derek Chauvin verdict.
"If things had gone differently this past week in Minneapolis," King said, she would’ve "traded in her heals for marching boots."
"As a mother of a Black son I know the fear that so many live with -- and no amount of fame or fortune chases that," King said.
Chauvin was convicted Tuesday on all three counts in the death of George Floyd: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
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