Daniel Kaluuya wins the 2021 Best Supporting Actor Oscar award
In the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Kaluuya won his first Academy Award for his portrayal of Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah.
British actor and director Daniel Kaluuua has won the award for Best Supporting Actor at the 93rd Academy Awards. Kaluuya’s nuanced portrayal of former Black Panthers leader Fred Hampton in “Judas and the Black Messiah” won the 32-year-old his first Oscar.
In accepting the award Kaluuya gave a toast to “chairman Fred Hampton”, saying: “What a man. How blessed we are that we live in a lifetime where he existed.”
“There’s so much work to do,” Kaluuya continued, speaking on the fight for racial justice that Hampton led. “That’s on everyone in this room.”
Earlier this month Kaluuya gave an interview to the New York Times in which he went into great detail about the effort it took to replicate the unique and idiosyncratic vocal style that made Hampton such a captivating speaking. He said of the process: “I gave it everything I had. I gave. I gave. I gave.”
Kaluuya beats co-star to win his first Oscar
“Judas and the Black Messiah” picked up several nomination at this year’s awards show and even manage two entries onto the Best Supporting Actor shortlist. LaKeith Stanfield, who played the role of the eponymous ‘Judas’, FBI informant William O’Neal, was also in the final five.
It is only the sixth time in the history of the Academy Awards that two cast members from the same film have been nominated for Best Support Actor. Stanfield seemed surprised by his inclusion on the shortlist, writing on Instagram after the nominees were announced: “I’m confused too.”
Kaluuya was the heavy favourite before Sunday’s ceremony and duly picked up the first Oscar of his young career. He earned his first nomination in 2017 when he was shortlisted for Best Actor for his leading role in the hugely successful “Get Out”.