The stars were all aligned last night for the 96th annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. One star shined extremely bright. Congratulations are in order to Philadelphia’s own Da’Vine Joy Randolph. The actress was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “The Holdovers”. Last night, she won her first Oscar.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph Wins First Oscar
Temple alum, Mt. Airy native, and Philadelphia’s own Da’Vine Joy Randolph has been on a winning streak. Earlier this year, the actress won her first Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress and now, she can add Oscar winner to the list.
After her portrayal of Mary in “The Holdovers”, the Oscar buzz was abound. Earlier this year, it was announced Randolph was nominated for an Academy Award with many critics betting her to be the winner.
Last night at the 96th Academy Awards, Randolph did just that. She won.
Looking elegant and beautiful in a pale blue Louis Vuitton gown with oversize, fringed sleeves and blonde tresses, Randolph gracefully accepted her award. Through a tearful yet meaningful speech, Randolph reflects on how her mother’s inspiration helped her find her place in theater:
“God is so good. I didn’t think I was supposed to be doing this as a career. I started off as a singer and my mother said to me, “Go across that street to that theater department, there’s something for you there.”
About The Holdovers
Set in the 1970s, in “The Holdovers”, Da’Vine Joy Randolph portrays Mary, a cafeteria worker at a boarding school joins a group of faculty and students who are spending the Christmas break huddled at school versus home with loved ones. The group of holdovers individually have reasons why they are deciding to stay stuck at the boarding school for Christmas. Specifically, Mary is grieving the lost of her son who was killed in the Vietnam war.
The film shows how through the myriad of human emotion and experience, we have much more in common than is evident on the surface.
From Mt. Airy to the Academy Awards, congratulations Da’Vine Joy Randolph on winning your first Oscar.