Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s remarkable awards season culminated in a triumphant Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress on Sunday night. This victory caps off a dominant awards run where she secured the same honor at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Critics’ Choice Awards.
Randolph’s emotional acceptance speech at the Dolby Theatre resonated deeply with the audience. She delivered a message of self-acceptance, stating: “Now I realize I just need to be myself. For so long, I’ve always wanted to be different and now I realize I just need to be myself.”
This win marks a significant achievement for Randolph, solidifying her place as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents. Her performance in “The Holdovers” had garnered widespread praise. Throughout awards season, she was considered the frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Prior to the Oscars, she had already secured the Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice Award, and prestigious honors from both the New York and Los Angeles Film Critics Circles.
Beyond the awards, Randolph’s journey highlights the importance of mentorship and self-belief. In her speech, she expressed gratitude to “all the women who have been by my side,” and singled out a particularly influential figure, Ron Van Lieu. She credited him with recognizing her potential and fostering her self-confidence during a formative period in her career. Randolph shared, “When I was the only Black girl in that class, when you saw me and you told me I was enough. And when I told you, I don’t see myself, he said, ‘That’s fine. We’re going to forge our own path. You’re going to lay a trail for yourself.'”
