March 10 (UPI) — Robert Downey Jr. and Da’Vine Joy Randolph won the Best Supporting Actor and Actress Oscars for their performances in Oppenheimer and The Holdovers respectively at the Academy Awards gala in Beverly Hills on Sunday.
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and that Academy in that order,” Downey Jr. said as he collected his Oscar and basked in a standing ovation from his peers.
The actor, who has been candid about his battles with drug addiction years ago, went on to thank his wife, Susan, who he said “found me a snarling rescue pet and loved me back to life. That’s why I’m here.”
Paul Giamatti escorted his co-star Randolph to the stage so she could accept her award with tears streaming down her cheeks.
“God is so good,” she said, struggling to regain her composure.
In a heartfelt speech, she thanked all of the people — particularly her mother — who encouraged her to act when she thought singing was the path for her.
“I am so grateful to all of you beautiful people out there,” she added. “I’ve always wanted to be different and now I realize I just need to be myself. I thank you for seeing me.”
Moments later, The Boy and the Heron won the award for Best Animated Feature, while Anatomy of a Fall earned the honor for Best Original Screenplay and American Fiction scored the prize for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Poor Things picked up the Oscars for Best Hair & Makeup, Costume Design and Production Design.
The Zone of Interest was named Best International Feature Film.
Jimmy Kimmel is hosting the gala, which honors excellence in film.
He opened the show by thanking the crowd of “beautiful human actors” — a dig at Hollywood’s recent battle to limit the use of artificial intelligence in cinema and TV — for the “partial standing ovation” they gave him.
The show is airing live on ABC.
Oppenheimer went into the competition with 13 nominations, followed by Poor Things with 11 nominations and Killers of the Flower Moon with 10 nominations.
