{"id":6766,"date":"2024-05-14T22:29:06","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T05:29:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/?p=6766"},"modified":"2026-08-30T20:42:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T03:42:25","slug":"highlights-onstage-and-backstage-at-the-oscars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/highlights-onstage-and-backstage-at-the-oscars\/","title":{"rendered":"Highlights Onstage and Backstage at the Oscars\u00ae"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chic<\/span><\/div>
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This article was printed in<\/em>
\nChic Compass Magazine - Issue 18<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"Ryan<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Ryan Gosling performs onstage during the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars\u00ae at the Dolby\u00ae Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Photo by Trae Patton.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Highlights Onstage and Backstage at the Oscars\u00ae<\/h1>\n

By Janet Susan R. Nepales<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\u201cBarbie\u201d may have been shut out of the Oscars, but Barbie\u2019s Ken, Ryan Gosling, saved the show.<\/p>\n

Dressed in glittery pink pants and suit ensemble, Gosling sang \u201cI\u2019m Just Ken\u201d and performed with 62 other Kens onstage, including some of his cast mates - Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Scott Evans. Surprise guests at the performance were the producer and co-writer of the song, Mark Ronson, who played a pink guitar, Guns \u2018N\u2019 Roses guitar legend Slash, and Wolfgang Van Halen of Mammoth WVH, who played rhythm guitar.<\/p>\n

Another memorable appearance was a naked John Cena, who presented the Best Costume Design ironically. The \u201cSuicide Squad\u201d actor was wearing a nude-colored \u201cmodesty garment,\u201d a piece of clothing used in film, TV, and theater productions to cover an actor\u2019s private parts when he is supposed to appear naked.<\/p>\n

Making the evening more interesting was the presence of Messi, the seven-year-old border collie who appeared as the guide dog Snoop in the Oscar-nominated film, \u201cAnatomy of a Fall.\u201d At first, there were reports that Messi would be unable to attend the awards show after he had done most of the pre-Oscar events. But lo and behold, Messi came, wearing a black bowtie, and was seated, attending with his owner, Laura Martin. When not filming, Messi enjoys life in Paris, where he and his owner live.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Ryan<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Ryan Gosling performs onstage during the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars\u00ae at the Dolby\u00ae Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Photo by Richard Harbaugh \/ Phul McCarten.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Jimmy<\/span><\/div>
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\"Jimmy<\/span><\/div>
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Jimmy Kimmel and John Cena present the Oscar\u00ae for Costume Design during the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars\u00ae at the Dolby\u00ae Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Photos by Trae Patton.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Filipinos were also there to represent!<\/p>\n

Fil-Am Vanessa Hudgens, who co-hosted again the Oscars red carpet pre-show with \u201cDancing with the Stars\u201d host Julianne Hough, arrived in a black body-con turtleneck Vera Wang Couture gown that displayed her baby bump. In December, the former \u201cHigh School Musical\u201d star married baseball player Cole Tucker in an intimate ceremony in Mexico. Hudgens and Tucker are expecting their first child.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Vanessa<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Vanessa Hudgens arrives on the red carpet for the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars\u00ae at the Dolby\u00ae Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Fil-Am actress Hailee Steinfeld, 27, was a fashion goddess at the Oscars red carpet with her pastel blue ethereal Ellie Saab Couture gown, featuring a scarf and butterfly sleeves.<\/p>\n

Steinfeld, whose film \u201cSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse\u201d was nominated for Best Animated Feature, arrived at the Oscars without her boyfriend, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.<\/p>\n

Tia Carrere and Lou Diamond Phillips were also at the Oscars. Carrere, who will be appearing in the live feature of the animation \u201cLilo & Stitch,\u201d hit the red carpet in a body-hugging, cleavage-showing nude gown with silver accents. Phillips, who arrived with his wife, Yvonne, also hit the red carpet and reunited with Carrere in the theater.<\/p>\n

Nominated for his work as a cinematographer for the Bradley Cooper-helmed film \u201cMaestro,\u201d Director of Photography Matthew \u201cMatty\u201d Libatique arrived at the Oscars wearing Filipino fashion designer Oliver Tolentino\u2019s black brocade tuxedo. Tolentino has dressed Libatique in all of his three Oscar nominations for Best Cinematography (\u201cBlack Swan,\u201d \u201cA Star is Born,\u201d \u201cMaestro\u201d).<\/p>\n

Most of the Golden Globe winners \u2013 Christopher Nolan (Best Director), \u201cOppenheimer\u201d (Best Film), Cillian Murphy (Best Actor), Emma Stone (Best Actress), Robert Downey Jr. (Best Supporting Actor), Da\u2019Vine Joy Randolph (Best Supporting Actress), Billie Eilish and Finneas O\u2019Connell (Best Original Song), Ludwig Gorranson (Best Original Score), The Boy and The Heron (Best Animated Feature), Justine Triet and Arthur Harari for \u201cAnatomy of a Fall\u201d (Best Screenplay) \u2013 all won again for the Oscars!<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Hailee<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Hailee Steinfeld arrives on the red carpet for the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars\u00ae at the Dolby\u00ae Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Matthew<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Matthew and Mary-Ellen Libatique at the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars\u00ae at the Dolby\u00ae Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Robert<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Robert Downey Jr., winner of Best Supporting Actor award for 'Oppenheimer' pose in the press room at the The 96th Academy Awards held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador\/Sipa USA<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Emma Stone, who won Best Actress for her portrayal of Bella Baxter in \u201cPoor Things,\u201d complained onstage about her broken zipper in her silk jacquard custom mint-colored Louis Vuitton gown and blamed it on the \u201cI\u2019m Just Ken\u201d dancing.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, boy. My dress has broken. I think it happened during \u201cI\u2019m Just Ken.\u201d I\u2019m pretty sure,\u201d she pointed out. We were reminded that Stone is now a mother when she thanked her daughter and said, \u201cAnd most importantly, my daughter, who is going to be three in three days, has turned our lives technicolor. I love you bigger than the whole sky, my girl. So, thank you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Backstage, Stone admitted that she was shocked by her win since she expected Lily Gladstone of \u201cKillers of the Flower Moon\u201d to win. Onstage, she announced, \u201cI am sharing this award with you, Lily!\u201d<\/p>\n

Stone confessed to the media, \u201cOh, God. I think I blacked out. Yes, I was very shocked. I still feel like I\u2019m spinning a little bit. So, yes, it\u2019s a huge honor, and I\u2019m very surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for her dress, which malfunctioned, she assured us that everything was fixed. \u201cYes, they sewed me back in. Right when I came back, they sewed me back in, which was wonderful. I generally think I busted it during, \u2018I\u2019m Just Ken.\u2019 I was so amazed by Ryan (Gosling) and what he was doing, and that number just blew my mind. And I was right there, and I just was going for it, and, you know, things happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

By portraying Bella Baxter in \u201cPoor Things,\u201d Stone revealed that she had learned a lot. \u201cShe is a character that is so, so important to me. I think the chance to play a person starting from scratch, but in a total metaphorical, can\u2019t-really-happen-in-real-life way, who\u2019s gaining language and skills at a rapid pace every day and getting to chart that course and realize that she was just full of joy and curiosity and true love, of not just the good, but the challenges in life and was fascinated by all of it, that was an amazing lesson to take with me and to try to get to live in the shoes of every day. So, I miss playing her ever since we wrapped filming a long time ago. It was like two and a half years ago. I miss Bella. And I\u2019m grateful that we got to celebrate the film tonight and over these past few months. And, yeah, I just love her.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Emma<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Emma Stone, winner of the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for \u201cPoor Things\u201d posing in the press room at the The 96th Academy Awards held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, March 10, 2024. (Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador\/Sipa USA)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Cillian Murphy, who portrayed J. Robert Oppenheimer, the \u201cFather of the Atomic Bomb\u201d in Christopher Nolan\u2019s award-winning film \u201cOppenheimer,\u201d attended the Oscars with his wife, Yvonne McGuinness, and his two sons, Malachy, 17, and Aran, 16.<\/p>\n

What he said in his acceptance speech was touching. \u201cSo, you know, we made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb. And for better or worse, we all live in Oppenheimer\u2019s world. So, I would really like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murphy, the first Irish-born winner of the Best Actor award, told us backstage of his win, \u201cI\u2019m in a little bit of a daze. I\u2019m very overwhelmed. I\u2019m very humbled. I\u2019m very grateful. I\u2019m very proud to be Irish standing here today.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cI think in Ireland, we\u2019re great at supporting artists, and we need to continue supporting artists and the next generation of actors and directors. I think that is vitally important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked if he will be content being defined by \u201cOppenheimer,\u201d the actor said, \u201cVery content. You\u2019ve got to move forward, but this has been a huge moment for me. The movie is so special to me. Chris Nolan and I have such a special relationship that I feel privileged to continue to work with him, and I\u2019m very proud of it. This film is provocative, asks questions, and is challenging, but many people want to see it. So, I\u2019m really proud of that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Christopher<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, and Charles Roven pose backstage with the Oscar\u00ae for Best Picture during the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars\u00ae at Dolby\u00ae Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Photo by Michael Baker.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Murphy, who has also collaborated with Nolan on such films as \u201cThe Dark Knight\u201d trilogy (2005-2012), \u201cInception\u201d (2010), and \u201cDunkirk\u201d (2017), admitted that reaching this point in his career with Nolan is very special. \u201cIt is very, very special. We have been working together for 20 years. I think he is the perfect director. He is an extraordinary writer and producer, and extraordinarily visually and as the director of actors, he presents this film as no one else does in the world. And I can\u2019t just believe my luck.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did a screen test for him as a kid, and I thought that would be it. It would be just enough to be in a room with Chris for a couple of hours, and here we are. So, I\u2019m just so humbled and thankful.\u201d<\/p>\n

We were very touched when Christopher Nolan, who won Best Director for \u201cOppenheimer,\u201d said in his acceptance speech, \u201cAnd to the Academy. Just to be able to say that movies are just a little bit over 100 years old. Imagine being there after 100 years of painting or theatre; we don\u2019t know where this incredible journey is going. But to know that you think I had a meaningful part of it means the world to me. Thank you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked backstage what he thinks is the message of his film to the young people, Nolan replied, \u201cI don\u2019t like to speak too specific about messages of films I make because I feel that if cinema is didactic, it tends not to work dramatically so well. But it was very striking after finishing the film and seeing audiences respond to it. When I first embarked on the project, I told one of my teenage sons what I was working on, and he actually said to me young people aren\u2019t that concerned about nuclear weapons. It\u2019s not really in the forefront of their fears. And it seemed to me that this film could, to some extent, help its success, with many people seeing it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Christopher<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Christopher Nolan, winner of the Best Directing award and the Best Picture award for \u201cOppenheimer.\u201d Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador\/Sipa USA.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

\u201cAnd as far as any kind of broader message, I would like to point out that the film ends on what I consider a dramatically necessary moment of despair, but in reality, I don\u2019t think despair is the answer to the nuclear question. If you look at the work on non-proliferation being done by individuals and organizations since 1945, there\u2019s been a reduction in the number of nuclear weapons on the planet since 1967 by almost 90 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the last few years, it\u2019s gone the wrong way, and it\u2019s very important that rather than despair, in reality, people are looking at advocacy; they\u2019re looking at organizations who are working to pressure politicians and leaders to reduce the number of nuclear weapons on our planet and make the world safer.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for his most memorable moment in making the film, he shared, \u201cI think for me, it was the first hair and makeup tests. There was something about seeing Cillian put that hat on, Robert Downey Jr. with his head shaved back, and Emily Blunt in old-age makeup. We did all that on the first test. We shot it on the first black-and-white IMAX film ever made, and we projected it on an IMAX screen over at the City Walk at Universal. That was a very special moment\u2014to realize what the actors would do, and that the thing would work, and to see the technical side of things that cinematographer Hoyte (van Hoyteman) was bringing to the table with photography. It was remarkable, and that will always stay with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Da'Vine<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Da'Vine Joy Randolph, winner of the Best Supporting Actress award for \u201cThe Holdovers\u201d pose in the press room at the The 96th Academy Awards held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador\/Sipa USA.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Da\u2019Vine Joy Randolph, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role as the Barton Academy cafeteria manager Mary Lamb in \u201cThe Holdovers,\u201d said in her acceptance speech, \u201cFor so long, I\u2019ve always wanted to be different, and now I realize I just need to be myself. And I thank you for seeing me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Backstage with the press, Randolph emphasized that acting should not be about awards. \u201cI think you\u2019d be selling yourself short if you make it about the awards. It\u2019s too hard of a career. The beautiful and hard thing about being an actor is that it requires you to have resilience, self-confidence, and belief in yourself when no one else does when you constantly get \u2018nos\u2019 and say, \u2018Nope, I\u2019m going to keep going.\u2019 So, actually, in many ways, while it can challenge your mental health, it also can strengthen it because you have to fortify yourself in a way that some people never have to do. So, for that, I\u2019m grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would also say keep yourself grounded, surrounded by people who care and love you, and stay close to what\u2019s real. And, again, I\u2019m just very adamant that it would not be in your heart if you weren\u2019t meant to do it. And I know it can be challenging to wait that wait, but when it happens, it\u2019s a full circle moment, and you know it was worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Finneas O'Connell and Billie Eilish, winners of the Best Original Song award for 'What Was I Made For?' from \"Barbie\", pose in the press room at the The 96th Academy Awards held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador\/Sipa USA<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Billie Eilish, 22, and her brother Finneas O\u2019Connell, 26, won Best Original Song for their composition of the \u201cBarbie\u201d song, \u201cWhat Was I Made For?\u201d They also made history by being the youngest and second youngest to win a second Oscar.<\/p>\n

Eilish, who thanked her teachers in music and even one teacher who didn\u2019t like her \u201cbut you were good at what you did,\u201d was asked backstage by the press what she would say right now to a young person dreaming of a life in music.<\/p>\n

She answered, \u201cI would say, \u2018Don\u2019t do it for other people. Don\u2019t do it for numbers. Or fame. I want everyone to be doing something they feel passionate about and proud of, making them feel like the best version of themselves. I remember being 12, believe it or not, and seeing this musical and sobbing my eyes out because I was like, damn, I\u2019m a failure, and I\u2019m not going to have a career. I was watching \u2018Matilda\u2019 on Broadway, which was amazing. I bawled in the back nosebleeds and said, \u2018I\u2019m never going to amount to anything because I\u2019m not in \u2018Matilda.\u2019 I would say give yourself some time and do what you love. And I know that\u2019s easier said than done because some of us don\u2019t even know what we love. But you will figure it out. You will find it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Jimmy<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Jimmy Kimmel hosts the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars\u00ae. Photo by Trae Patton.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\u201cBarbie\u201d may have been shut out of the Oscars, but Barbie\u2019s Ken, Ryan Gosling, saved the show. Dressed in glittery pink pants and suit ensemble, Gosling sang \u201cI\u2019m Just Ken\u201d and performed with 62 other Kens onstage, including some of his cast mates - Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Scott Evans. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6772,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4520,4138],"tags":[4153,4161,4162,4158,4160,3316,3948,4155,4156,4154,3957,4159,4152,4157],"class_list":["post-6766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","category-issue-18","tag-barbie","tag-christopher-nolan","tag-davine-joy-randolph","tag-emma-stone","tag-hailey-steinfeld","tag-hollywood","tag-janet-susan-r-nepales","tag-jimmy-kimmel","tag-john-cena","tag-ken","tag-oscars","tag-robert-downey-jr","tag-ryan-gosling","tag-vanessa-hudgens"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6766"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6766\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6782,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6766\/revisions\/6782"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}