2023 Oscars
Who presented the Best Actress award instead of Will Smith?
With Will Smith banned from attending the Oscars, who presented the Best Actress award in his place?
It’s an Academy tradition that the winner of the Best Actor award from the previous year present the Best Actress award the following year, and vice versa.
However, that wasn’t the case this year as the Academy’s decision to ban Will Smith from attending the ceremony for 10 years changed all that.
The actor was banned after slapping presenter Chris Rock onstage during last year’s show, and he later went on to win Best Actor for his work in ‘King Richard’. If it wasn’t for the ban, Smith would have likely been invited to present the award for lead actress this year.
Who presented the Best Actress award in Will Smith’s place?
Halle Berry, a best actress Oscar winner herself for ‘Monster’s Ball’, took Smith’s place at the Academy Awards. Berry and Jessica Chastain jointly presented the best actor and best actress categories.
This isn’t the first time the practice of having the previous year’s winner present at the following ceremony has been changed.
Back in 2018, Casey Affleck, who won Best Actor for ‘Manchester By the Sea’ the previous year, declined to attend the ceremony after two women sued him for sexual assault.
Two former lead actress winners - Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster - presented in his place, with Frances McDormand winning for ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’.
Alternative arrangements were also made after Heath Ledger passed away due an accidental overdose in January 2008, and later won Best Supporting Actor for his work in ‘The Dark Knight’ in February 2009.
Former supporting actor winner Robin Williams presented in his place, with the award going to Mo’Nique for her work in ‘Precious’.