While audiences watched a host of stars collect their coveted prizes and put on memorable performances at the 93rd Academy Awards, there was also plenty of action going on away from the glare of TV cameras.
Backstage at the show, which this year was held at Downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a host of celebrities were seen letting their hair down in candid fashion as they stepped offstage.
Reese Witherspoon was seen beaming broadly as she posed for a series of selfies before a large cabinet of shiny golden Oscar statuettes, after presenting one of the awards on the night.
Snap decision: Reese Witherspoon posed for a series of candid selfies backstage at the Academy Awards, held at Downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station on Sunday evening
While she wasn’t up for an award on the night (she’s had a Best Actress Oscar since 2005, darling!), the star got into the spirit of things as she celebrated the winners and nominees.
Meanwhile, The Crown star Emerald Fennell appeared to be recovering from the shock of her Best Original Screenplay win for Promising Young Woman as she stood backstage clutching her statuette.
Looking resplendent in a patterned green gown, the 35-year-old actress smiled as she stared off into the distance with her Oscar in hand, moments after delighting the audience with her off-the-cuff speech.
Fellow British screen star Daniel Kaluuya – fresh from leaving his mother in visible shock as he praised his parents for having ‘had sex’ – showed off the Oscar envelope which showed him as a winner.
Winners: (L-R) Daniel Kaluuya was seen showing off his prize-winning envelope, while Emerald Fennell clutched her statuette
Snapshot: Fresh of his win, British actor Daniel was seen posing up a storm with (L-R) Yuh-Jung Youn and Frances McDormand
Celebratory: The trio of Oscar winners were clearly in a celebratory mood as they chatted and Frances and Daniel hugged
Dressed to impress: Frances was resplendent in a black gown while Yuh-Jung wowed in a flattering midnight blue number
The 32-year-old actor, who scooped the Best Actor in a Supporting Role prize for his widely lauded efforts in Judas and the Black Messiah, donned a black double-breasted suit as he held the envelope aloft.
Elsewhere, Angela Bassett was seen laughing raucously during a catch-up with friends, while Yuh-Jung Youn embraced Steven Yeun backstage after winning the Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role for Minari.
All of the activity backstage stood in stark contrast to the broadcast, which showed the celebrities in attendance (mostly) on their best behaviour as they vied for top prizes on a notably unusual night.
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 Oscars ever, which was virtually mask free amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chat: (L-R) Vanessa Kirby and Amanda Seyfried were seen deep in conversation as they crossed paths during the ceremony
Legendary: Daniel was congratulated by legendary screen star Rita Moreno, who holds the distinction of holding EGOT status, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award
Big moment: After posing with his Oscar for photographers, Daniel watched keenly as his coveted statuette was engraved
Esteemed: The words of encouragement came rolling in, with esteemed actress Angela Bassett also greeting the Londoner
Social butterfly: Doing the social rounds as she attended the prestigious event, Angela also chatted with actress Viola Davis
McDormand, 63, howled as the Chloe Zhao directed film won Best Picture and before she won the top honour 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.
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 honoured 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.’
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.
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 manoeuvre
Sticking to a ‘No Zoom’ policy unlike other shows that have taken place this awards season, Academy organisers 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 prioritising the public health and safety of all those who will participate.’
93RD ACADEMY AWARDS WINNERS
Best Picture
The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Nomadland – WINNER
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Golden: Frances McDormand, Chloe Zhao, Mollye Asher and Dan Janvey (seen left to right) as Nomadland won Best Picture
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day – The United States vs Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand – Nomadland – WINNER
Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman – The Father
Amanda Seyfried – Mank
Youn Yuh-jung – Minari – WINNER
Sweet: Youn Yuh-jung won Best Supporting Actress for Minari
Best Music (Original Score)
Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Soul – WINNER
Best Animated Short Film
Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You – WINNER
Opera
Yes-People
Best Live Action Short Film
Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers – WINNER
White Eye
Best International Feature Film
Another Round – WINNER
Better Days
Collective
The Man Who Sold His Skin
Quo Vadis, Aida?
Talented: Thomas Vinterberg accepted Best International Film for Another Round
Best Sound
Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Soul
Sound of Metal – WINNER
Best Cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank – WINNER
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Music (Original Song)
H.E.R. – Fight for You – Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER
Hear My Voice – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Husavik – Eurovision Song Contest
Io Si (Seen) – The Life Ahead
Speak Now – One Night in Miami…
H.E.R. won Best Original Song for Judas and the Black Messiah’s Fight for You
Best Director
Thomas Vinterberg – Another Round
David Fincher – Mank
Lee Isaac Chung – Minari
Chloé Zhao – Nomadland – WINNER
Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman
Trailblazer: Chloe Zhao is the first woman of color to win Best Director
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal
Anthony Hopkins – The Father – WINNER
Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Gary Oldman – Mank
Steven Yeun – Minari
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER
Leslie Odom, Jr. – One Night in Miami…
Paul Raci – Sound of Metal
Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Animated Feature Film
Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul – WINNER
Wolfwalkers
Dynamic: Dana Murray (L) and Pete Docter won Best Animated Feature for Soul
Best Costume Design
Emma
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER
Mank
Mulan
Pinnochio
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
The Father – WINNER
Nomadland
One Night in Miami…
The White Tiger
Best Writing (Original Screenplay)
Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman – WINNER
Shaka King and Will Berson – Judas and the Black Messiah
Lee Isaac Chung – Minari
Darius Marder and Abraham Marder – Sound of Metal
Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Blooming lovely: Emerald Fennell won Best Original Screenplay for Promising Young Woman
Best Documentary Feature
Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher – WINNER
Time
Best Documentary Short Subject
Colette – WINNER
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha
Best Film Editing
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal – WINNER
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Production Design
The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank – WINNER
News of the World
Tenet
Best Visual Effects
Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet – WINNER
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER
Mank
Pinocchio