Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Da’Vine Joy Randolph won the first Oscar of her career for “The Holdovers,” a 1970s-set dramedy about a trio that’s stuck at a New England prep school over the holidays.
But in her acceptance speech, she revealed that she didn’t always see herself becoming an actor. That is, until her mother encouraged her to seek out the local theater department. “I didn’t think I was supposed to be doing this as a career,” Randolph said from the stage. “I thank my mother for doing that.
I thank all the people who have been there for me, ushered me and guided me. I prayed for so long… I always wanted to be different, but now I realize that I just need to be myself.
Thank you for you seeing me.” Randolph, who was escorted up the steps by her co-star Paul Giamatti, spoke emotionally about a particularly impactful teacher from earlier in her career. “When I was the only Black girl in class, you saw me and told me I was enough,” she said. “When I told you, ‘I don’t see myself,’ you said, ‘That’s fine.
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