Backstage at the Oscars: Dazed Winners and Sweet Reunions
Here are a few moments that the cameras didn’t catch at the 92nd Academy Awards
By Lindsey Bahr ••
A whole other show happens just a few feet to the right of the main Oscars stage in the wings where presenters gather, ecstatic winners get a moment to process what just happened and the production staff stays busy making sure everything is going to plan.
Here are a few moments that the cameras didn’t catch at the 92nd Academy Awards.
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Bong Joon Ho and the cast of “Parasite” reacts as they receive the “Best Picture” Academy Award from presenter Jane Fonda on Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. “Parasite” made Oscars history on Sunday when it became the first foreign language film to win the Oscars’ biggest category.
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South Korean film director Bong Joon-ho poses with his engraved awards as he attends the 92nd Oscars Governors Ball at the Hollywood Highland Center in Hollywood, Feb. 9, 2020. “Parasite,” Bong’s latest work, made Oscar history when it became the first foreign language film to win the “Best Picture” award on Sunday.
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Scarlett Johansson, left, congratulates Laura Dern for winning best supporting actress for “Marriage Story” at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Tom Hanks, right, turned heads when he dropped on the red carpet at the Academy Awards and did a few push-ups alongside an army sergeant on Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.
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Janelle Monae performs onstage during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on Feb. 9, 2020.
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Cynthia Erivo performs onstage during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Janelle Monae, left, and Billy Porter perform onstage at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Steve Martin and Chris Rock (R) speak onstage during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on Feb. 9, 2020.
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Regina King, left, presents Brad Pitt with the award for best performance by an actor in a supporting role for “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Idina Menzel and Elsa voice actresses perform onstage during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on Feb. 9, 2020.
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(L-R) Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig speak onstage during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell speak onstage during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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James Corden, left, and Rebel Wilson present the award for best visual effects at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Elton John performs onstage during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Billie Eilish performs onstage during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on Feb. 9, 2020.
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Joaquin Phoenix accepts the Actor In A Leading Role award for ‘Joker’ onstage during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Renée Zellweger accepts the Actress in a Leading Role award for ‘Judy’ onstage during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
Best actor winner Joaquin Phoenix walked offstage in a bit of a daze, with tears still in his eyes from his emotional acceptance speech. Jane Fonda, waiting to present the best picture award, was among the few familiar faces in the wings for the "Joker" star who stopped to give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Phoenix looked down at the golden statuette in his hand and said, "Whose is this?"
The woman escorting him to his next stop said gently, "It’s yours."
Take a look back at the night ‘Parasite’ had at the 2020 Academy Awards.
STEVE MARTIN GETS READY
Steve Martin made sure to get to the wings extra early for his and Chris Rock’s show opener Sunday but his promptness also meant he had a little time to kill. Martin paced back and forth in the wings and stopped a few times to check his lapel and bow tie in the mirror.
He offered some words of support to Janelle Monae’s background performers.
"You’ll do a good job," Martin said with a thumbs up. "But you’re supposed to say break a leg."
And he even took a moment to allow himself to enjoy the performance, watching on the monitors with a big smile. But he quickly turned back to thinking about his imminent moment on stage.
"As long as I have my opening line, I’m fine," he said, continuing to pace.
When James Corden ran into Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig early in the show, the two women were eager to know just what Corden had in store. He wouldn’t reveal exactly what was to come but told Rudolph that he’s "putting on a costume" and to "lower your expectations." Rudolph promised she’d be screaming for him nonetheless.
Later Corden ran into Rudolph and Wiig again, this time in his full "Cats" regalia alongside Rebel Wilson.
"This is ridiculous," he said. "This is it. This is...showbiz."
The show’s producers asked to get a photo with the two "cats." Corden obliged but warned them that they’re going to "need a lint roller" if they get too close.
MAKING PLANS
You never know who you’re going to run into backstage at the Oscars, or who you’re going to see making plans, Iike Chris Rock and Timothée Chalamet or Rami Malek and Oscar Isaac.
"My man, my man," Rock said to Chalamet, greeting him with a bro hug. "Where you going after? Let’s get dinner."
Take a look at four of the outfits that people were talking about during Sunday’s Academy Awards.
SOME DAUGHTERLY ADVICE
"Pace yourself," Charlize Theron advised her mother as they waited in line for the bathroom. "It’s a long night."
The two waited patiently for the two stalls to become unoccupied. When one opened up Theron insisted that her mother take it first.
RENÉE CAN’T STOP SHAKING
Best actress winner Renée Zellweger looked as poised as could be as she glided offstage and into the wings, Oscar in hand, but it may have been just an act. Amid a slew of "thank yous" to all the well-wishers, the "Judy" star admitted that she was having trouble keeping it together.
"If only I could stand up straight," Zellweger said. "I am shaking so much."
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Scarlett Johansson arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Billy Porter arrives t the 92nd Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020, in Hollywood, California.
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Blac Chyna arrives at the 92nd Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020, in Hollywood, California.
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Roman Griffin Davis, left, and Archie Yates of “Jojo Rabbit” arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Charlize Theron attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Saoirse Ronan attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Leonardo DiCaprio attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Brie Larson attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Cynthia Erivo attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Brad Pitt attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson attend the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Margot Robbie attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Adam Driver and Joanne Tucker attend the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Joaquin Phoenix attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Natalie Portman attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Gal Gadot attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Renee Zellweger attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Penélope Cruz attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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(L-R) Robert De Niro and Al Pacino attend the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Sandra Oh attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Director Spike Lee attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb.9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Regina King arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Antonio Banderas attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Laura Dern attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Chrissy Metz attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb.9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Billie Eilish attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Welsh actor Jonathan Pryce and his wife Kate Fahy arrive for the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on Feb. 9, 2020.
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Writer-director Greta Gerwig attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Bong Joon Ho attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Janelle Monáe attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Kelly Marie Tran attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Caitriona Balfe attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb.9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
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Kristen Wiig attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on Feb. 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
KEANU AND DIANE TOGETHER AGAIN
It’s been 17 years since Keanu Reeves and Diane Keaton starred in Nancy Meyers’ "Something’s Gotta Give," but it didn’t seem like a day had passed backstage at the Oscars. The two reunited to present the best original screenplay award Sunday night. In the wings they shared a sweet moment: Reeves offered Keaton his arm and the two walked into position linked.
