From first-time winners to cocaine bears, here are HUNGER’s top moments from the Oscars
All eyes were on the 2023 Oscars following last year’s slap scandal with Will Smith and Chris Rock. This year’s ceremony, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, had a crisis team in place ready for any potential scuffles, but luckily (or not if you live for the drama), they didn’t have to be called into action. It was a stacked year for Best Picture, with the likes of Everything Everywhere All at Once, Women Talking, The Banshees of Inisherin, Tár, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Fabelmans and Elvis facing off – as well as blockbusters including Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water. The ceremony was pretty straightforward in comparison to last year’s and saw Everything Everywhere All at Once sweep the awards, as expected (including a Best Picture win). However, there were still some surprises in store. Here are all the best moments from last night’s ceremony.
Ke Huy Quan’s win
Ke Huy Quan took home the Best Supporting Actor trophy for his role in Everything Everywhere All at Once. He’s had a moving Hollywood comeback story since the former Indiana Jones star was previously out of work for years before this. “My mom is 84 years old and she’s at home watching – mom, I just won an Oscar!” he exclaimed.
Jenny the Donkey cameo
The Banshees of Inisherin star Jenny the Donkey didn’t get an Oscar nomination (somehow). But she still got to come to the ceremony. Jimmy Kimmel brought her out onstage, and Colin Farrell blew her a kiss from the audience, and that quickly became a meme. It was reportedly not the real Jenny, but it was still a sweet moment.
Brendan Fraser completes his comeback
It was a night of Hollywood comebacks, between Fraser and Ke Huy Quan. Fraser has had quite the comeback story too, starting as an action star in the ‘90s, then vanishing for a while – in part because he alleged that he was sexually assaulted by the head of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in 2003. And after all those years, Fraser took home his first-ever Oscar for Best Actor. “I started in this business 30 years ago, and things didn’t come easily to me. But there was a facility that I didn’t appreciate at the time until it stopped. Thank you for this acknowledgement,” Fraser said in his acceptance speech.
Michelle Yeoh Makes History
Michelle Yeoh took home the Best Actress award for her starring role in Everything Everywhere All at Once. It was a first-time win for Yeoh, and it makes Oscars history since she’s the first Asian-identifying woman to win the Best Actress Academy Award. She’s also the second woman of colour to win the category after Halle Berry took it home for Monster’s Ball in 2002. “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is the beacon of hope and possibilities,” she said in her acceptance speech. “Dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime!”
Cocaine Bear appearance
Elizabeth Banks presented the award for visual effects, and her co-presenter was a person in a bear suit — which is what the bear in her movie Cocaine Bear would have looked like without visual effects, she joked. As the bear next to her started acting antsy, Banks said, “Are you trying to score right now? Wait until the after-party like everybody else!”
