March 11, 2024
Jack Gruber/USA TODAY NETWORK
Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who won the Oscar for best supporting actress at the Academy Awards on Sunday, grew up in Mount Airy and graduated with a bachelor's from Temple University, where she first discovered her love for acting.
Da'Vine Joy Randolph thought back to a critical moment in her career after winning best supporting actress at the Academy Awards on Sunday night.
The Philadelphia native, who won for her role in "The Holdovers," hadn't always planned on a future in acting. She had grown interested in performing classical music as a high school student in Hershey, Pennsylvania. But her focus shifted while she was attending Temple University.
"I didn't think I was supposed to be doing this as a career," Randoph said through tears in her acceptance speech. "I started off as a singer, and my mother said 'Go across that street to that theater department, there's something for you there.' And I thank my mother for doing that."
"For so long I've always wanted to be different, but now I realize I just need to be myself and I thank you for seeing me," she continued.
In "The Holdovers," Randolph played Mary Lamb, a cafeteria manager mourning the loss of her son. The 37-year-old beat out Emily Blunt, Danielle Brooks, America Ferrara and Jodie Foster to win her first Oscar. The Philadelphia native was favored to win, having also won at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Critics Choice Movie Awards.
"The Holdovers" also received nominations for best picture, best director, best actor, best original screenplay and best film editing. Randolph was the only winner, though. Oppenheimer took home all but one of those categories – it was not nominated for best original screenplay – on its way to seven wins.
Colman Domingo and Bradley Cooper, who also have Philly-area roots, came home empty-handed. Domingo was nominated for best actor for his role in "Rustin," which also featured Randolph. Cooper was up for best actor and best original screenplay for his roles in "Maestro." He also helped produce the film, which was nominated for best picture.
The complete list of winners can be found on the Academy Awards website.
