Da’Vine Joy Randolph owned 2024, clinching the first award of the night at the 96th annual Academy Awards. She won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mary Lamb in Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers.
Randolph’s win wasn’t entirely unexpected, given her clean sweep throughout awards season. She had already secured the Best Supporting Actress accolade at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and Critic’s Choice Award earlier this year.
During her speech after receiving an Oscar, the actress became candid about her challenges. She also made a revelation, stating that acting was never part of her plan, but here she is.
Oscar Winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph Reveals Acting Was Never Her Plan
After tearfully receiving her first Academy Award, Da’Vine Joy Randolph delivered an emotional speech about her career and winning role in The Holdovers.
The 37-year-old started her heartfelt speech by saying she didn’t always see herself becoming an actor. But it’s her mother, who supported her decision to pursue acting from a young age. She then went on to add:
“I didn’t think I was supposed to be doing this as a career. I started off as a singer. And my mother said to me, ‘Go across that street to that theater department. There’s something for you there.’ And I thank my mother for doing that.”
Da’Vine Joy Randolph wins Best Supporting Actress at the #Oscars for 'The Holdovers.' pic.twitter.com/Z39V4J1EiV
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) March 10, 2024
Randolph’s parents were emotional when she won an Oscar. Michael and Joyce Randolph cried and laughed as their daughter went on stage. The speech made her Holdovers co-star, Paul Giamatti, cry, too.
What Da’Vine Joy Randolph Think of Her Oscar-Winning Role?
Da’Vine Joy Randolph beat Emily Blunt, America Ferrera, Penélope Cruz, and Danielle Brooks at Oscars with her strong portrayal of Mary Lamb.
In the 1970s New England campus, Mary stands out as one of the few Black people. She’s grieving for her son, who was one of the school’s few Black graduates and died in the Vietnam War, and she is stuck on campus for Christmas. The Mount Airy native told Variety on Oscar nominations morning:
“It’s important, especially for women of color, because those women rarely get credit. Though she is a Black woman, people from all walks of life have come up to me and said ‘I see myself in Mary.’”
Randolph stressed how important it is for women of color who often don’t get enough credit. Even though Mary is black, the star noticed that people from different backgrounds connected with her character.
Watch The Holdovers on Peacock.
