Viola Davis says the late Chadwick Boseman was ‘authenticity on steroids.’
The star of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom spoke about her co-star on the red carpet of the 93rd Academy Awards, telling E! News’ Giuliana Rancic ‘it feels right’ to see the outpouring of love for Boseman, who passed away last August after a secret battle against cancer.
Viola, who dazzled in a white cut-out Alexander McQueen number, said the star was the real deal, calling Chadwick a true ‘artist’ who she was honored to work with.
The real deal: Viola Davis called the late Chadwick Boseman ‘authenticity on steroids’ while talking about him ahead of the 2021 Academy Awards on Sunday
‘He was authenticity on steroids,’ she said, with husband Julius Tennon at her side.
‘Sometimes people honor people who actually were not really nice or really the persona did not match the real person. This [love] it matches a person.’
‘I’m telling you, this person, this human being, this artist did not mistake his presence for the event,’ Viola went on. ‘He absolutely honored the work.’
Davis celebrated Boseman’s dedication to the craft, telling Rancic: ‘A lot of people enter this business because they want to be famous actors. They don’t want to be actors they want to be famous actors.’
‘He entered it because he just wanted to be an artist.’
True artist: Chadwick, who passed away last August, was posthumously nominated for Best Actor and is a favorite to win
The craft: Davis celebrated Boseman’s dedication to the craft, saying ‘A lot of people enter this business because they want to be famous actors… He entered it because he just wanted to be an artist.’ She’s seen with hubby Julius Tennon above
Chadwick earned a posthumous Oscar nomination for his role in Ma Rainey.
He’s a favorite for the category, already taking home the Golden Globe and Screen Actors’ Guild honor for Best Actor.
The Black Panther hero is competing against Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal), Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Gary Oldman (Mank) and Steven Yeun (Minari.)
Viola is also nominated for a top gong, competing against Andra Day (The United States vs Billie Holiday), Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman), Frances McDormand ( Nomadland), and Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman) for Best Actress.
The 2021 Oscars are a far more intimate affair than years past.
This year COVID restrictions have whittled the VIP guest list down to only 170 people, from the usual 3,000.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is hosting the delayed ceremony at the historic Union Station in Los Angeles, California where socially distanced movie stars can go mask-free while on-camera or seated in the main show room.
Glowing: Viola, who is nominated for Best Actress, wowed in white Alexander McQueen
Artist: She’s competing against Andra Day (The United States vs Billie Holiday), Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman), Frances McDormand ( Nomadland), and Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman)
Sticking to a ‘No Zoom’ policy unlike other shows that have taken place this awards season, Academy organizers have teased a ‘British hub’ for UK actors who are unable to make it in person, as well as another rumored ‘surprise location.’
During a year that saw movie theatres closed due to the pandemic, there were eight new films that did manage to impress Academy voters enough to be in contention for Hollywood’s biggest award, the Oscar for Best Picture (last year there were nine nominees in the category.)
While blockbusters may be absent this year, there have been a wide range of movies that have caught the attention of Academy voters, including the lavish Mank, Netflix’s ode to the Golden Age of Hollywood, starring Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried.
And there was also plenty of glamour on the red carpet, with Viola putting on an incredibly chic show in her cut-out white dress, while her hair was swept into a fun updo by stylist Jamika Wilson.
According to Jamika, Viola wore the same style during a recent photoshoot, and loved it so much that the duo decided to recreate it using products from Matrix, including the Total Results Miracle Creator Multi-Benefit Treatment Spray which ‘nourishes, boots shine, adds moisture and protects against heat’.
The look was locked in place with the Matrix Style Link Super Fixing Strong Hold Gel and the Total Results Amplify Flexible Hold Hairspray.
93RD ACADEMY AWARDS WINNERS
Best Picture
The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Nomadland – WINNER
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Golden: Frances McDormand, Chloe Zhao, Mollye Asher and Dan Janvey (seen left to right) as Nomadland won Best Picture
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day – The United States vs Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand – Nomadland – WINNER
Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman – The Father
Amanda Seyfried – Mank
Youn Yuh-jung – Minari – WINNER
Sweet: Youn Yuh-jung won Best Supporting Actress for Minari
Best Music (Original Score)
Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Soul – WINNER
Best Animated Short Film
Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You – WINNER
Opera
Yes-People
Best Live Action Short Film
Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers – WINNER
White Eye
Best International Feature Film
Another Round – WINNER
Better Days
Collective
The Man Who Sold His Skin
Quo Vadis, Aida?
Talented: Thomas Vinterberg accepted Best International Film for Another Round
Best Sound
Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Soul
Sound of Metal – WINNER
Best Cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank – WINNER
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Music (Original Song)
H.E.R. – Fight for You – Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER
Hear My Voice – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Husavik – Eurovision Song Contest
Io Si (Seen) – The Life Ahead
Speak Now – One Night in Miami…
H.E.R. won Best Original Song for Judas and the Black Messiah’s Fight for You
Best Director
Thomas Vinterberg – Another Round
David Fincher – Mank
Lee Isaac Chung – Minari
Chloé Zhao – Nomadland – WINNER
Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman
Trailblazer: Chloe Zhao is the first woman of color to win Best Director
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal
Anthony Hopkins – The Father – WINNER
Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Gary Oldman – Mank
Steven Yeun – Minari
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER
Leslie Odom, Jr. – One Night in Miami…
Paul Raci – Sound of Metal
Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Animated Feature Film
Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul – WINNER
Wolfwalkers
Dynamic: Dana Murray (L) and Pete Docter won Best Animated Feature for Soul
Best Costume Design
Emma
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER
Mank
Mulan
Pinnochio
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
The Father – WINNER
Nomadland
One Night in Miami…
The White Tiger
Best Writing (Original Screenplay)
Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman – WINNER
Shaka King and Will Berson – Judas and the Black Messiah
Lee Isaac Chung – Minari
Darius Marder and Abraham Marder – Sound of Metal
Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Blooming lovely: Emerald Fennell won Best Original Screenplay for Promising Young Woman
Best Documentary Feature
Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher – WINNER
Time
Best Documentary Short Subject
Colette – WINNER
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha
Best Film Editing
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal – WINNER
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Production Design
The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank – WINNER
News of the World
Tenet
Best Visual Effects
Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet – WINNER
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER
Mank
Pinocchio