Da'Vine Joy Randolph's Oscar Win Reduces Audience to Tears: 'I Thank You for Seeing Me'

Mar. 15, 2025

Da’Vine Joy Randolphcompletedher award season sweep with a triumph!

“God is so good,” Randolph, already in tears, began her speech.

“I didn’t think I was supposed to be doing this as a career,” she said. “I started off as a singer. And my mother said to me, ‘Go across that street to that theatre department. There’s something for you there.’ And I thank my mother for doing that.”

She continued, “I thank you to all the people who have stepped in my path and been there for me, who have ushered me and guided me. I am so grateful to all you beautiful people out here. For so long, I’ve always wanted to be different, and now I realize I just need to be myself.”

TheOnly Murders in the Buildingstar, 37, continued, “I thank you for seeing me.”

Da’Vine Joy Randolph.Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

She concluded, “I pray to God that I get to do this more than once. I thank you for seeing me. Have a blessed night. Thank you.”

The other nominees this year wereOppenheimer’sEmily Blunt,The Color Purple’sDanielle Brooks,Barbie’sAmerica FerreraandNyad’sJodie Foster.

WithGolden Globe,Critics Choice,BAFTAandSAG Awardwins, Randolph swept awards season for her work as Mary Lamb inThe Holdovers. She plays a cook and grieving mother working at the Barton Academy who stays at the boarding school during the holiday season.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph in “The Holdovers”.Seacia Pavao/FOCUS FEATURES

Seacia Pavao/FOCUS FEATURES

Randolph recently told PEOPLE how she’s staying grounded leading up to Oscars night, calling it “unknown territory” for her. “Everyone is just saying pace yourself, try to stay as present as possible,stay hydrated and take good care of yourself becauseit’s a marathon,” she said of award season.

The star added of the nomination, “I haven’t fully processed it, but it was overwhelming in the best way possible. And to feel all of the love and the support has been so tremendous.”

“I think it’s just a beautiful reminder. It’s bigger than us. What we do actually really matters, it helps people and it makes people happy or feel seen or heard,” Randolph added. “That’s why I do what I do.”

Universal Pictures

In addition to Blunt’s nod,Oppenheimernotched the most nominations of any film at this year’s ceremony with 13. Her costarsCillian MurphyandRobert Downey Jr.were recognized for their performances too.

Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

Brooks also played the character in a Broadway revival beginning in 2015, which earned her aTony Awardnomination.

TheOrange Is the New Blackstar’s performance also received acknowledgment at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards.

Warner Bros

Ferrera, 39, delivered one of the year’smost viral movie momentswith an impassioned speech toMargot Robbie’s Barbie on the paradoxes of womanhood. TheUgly Bettyalum notched her first Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Gloria.

In addition to her Best Supporting Actress nod,Barbiehas eight total nominations at this year’s ceremony, includingRyan Goslingfor Best Supporting Actor. The summer blockbuster became the highest-grossing film of 2023.

Kimberley French/Netflix

This is Foster’s first Oscar nomination in 29 years. A two-time winner of the Best Actress title (for 1988’sThe Accusedand 1991’sThe Silence of the Lambs), she is one of two people to win multiple Oscars before the age of 30.

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source: people.com