Actress Octavia Spencer is the 13th African American to win an acting related Oscar.
Credit: Matt Brown / ©A.M.P.A.S.
Spencer, 39, who completed her sweep through awards season by winning the Best Supporting Actress award at last month’s Academy Awards, is one of just a half-dozen black actors to have won an Oscar in the awards’ 84-year history.
The actress joins Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Oscar in 1940, Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Morgan Freeman, Louis Gossett Jr, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jennifer Hudson and Mo’Nique, who won in 2010 for the movie “Precious.”
Clearly overwhelmed and emotional, Spencer, who won the accolade for her scene-stealing turn as the sassy Southern maid, Minny Jackson, in the box office hit “The Help,” clutched her trophy and euphorically stumbled her way through her acceptance speech.
“Thank you, academy, for putting me with the hottest guy in the room,” a tearful Spencer said, referring to last year’s supporting-actor winner Christian Bale, who presented her Oscar. Spencer also expressed gratitude to her family, her colleagues from the movie and her native “state of Alabama.”
“I’m actually going to have a quarter of a glass of champagne and hang out with friends,” Spencer told AQT backstage on how she would celebrate her win.
Meryl Streep beat out favorite to win, Viola Davis, for the Best actress Oscar for her uncanny portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady” and received a standing ovation once her name was called.
“I thought I was so old and jaded, but they call your name, and you just go into sort of a — I don’t know, a white light,” Streep told reporters backstage. “It was just thrilling. It was like I was a kid again. I was a kid when I won this, like, 30 years ago. Two of the nominees were not even conceived. So, you know, it was great,” said the actress who previously won Oscars for “Kramer vs Kramer” and “Sophie’s Choice.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also bestowed the most Oscars on two films that pay homage to the early days of cinema. “The Artist,” the silent movie that offers a glimpse of Hollywood during its transition to the “talkies” won for best picture, best director, best original score and best costume design. “Hugo,” Martin Scorsese’s heartfelt love letter to filmmaking, earned five awards including best art direction, visual effects as well as several technical Oscars.
Jean Dujardin was awarded the best actor Oscar and said he had fun making “The Artist.”
“I watched a lot of movies. Douglas Fairbanks movies, Gene Kelly movies. I had fun pretending to be a movie star in 1920s,” said the actor.
Christopher Plummer made history by becoming the oldest actor at 82 to win an award. Plummer received the supporting actor Oscar for “The Beginners,” but told reporters backstage Charlie Chaplin was indeed the oldest actor to receive an Oscar.”
Honorary Oscars were given to James Earl Jones and Oprah Winfrey, who was recognized for her philanthropic efforts. Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz were presenters at the Academy Awards, which was hosted by Billy Crystal and marked his ninth time hosting the show.
