Stereotypes abound of lazy millennials and Gen Zs who are too scared to make a phone call, when they’re not busy being triggered by full stops. At the other end of the age spectrum, “OK, boomer” has become a widespread response to anything anyone over 70 says. Especially if it involves the alleged good old days. In the middle, Gen X is probably, I dunno, thinking ‘meh, whevs’ and listening to Absolute Radio 90s… But none of this beefing across the decades is particularly edifying or constructive – or even accurate in many cases. Which brings me nicely to my Red Pitch review, about a wonderful coming-of-age play.

The play centres on three 16-year-old black aspiring footballers, Bilal, Joey, and Omz. They live on the same inner London estate. And they are all hoping to impress the scouts at try-outs for QPR.

That might not sound like the premise for a relatable night at the theatre for anyone older than about 21. Or anyone who doesn’t care about or can’t play football. But it is definitely worth the pleasingly affordable ticket price. For all three, the chance to play for QPR represents a chance to be successful, help their families and overcome unfairly low expectations.

Emeka Sesay as Joey, Kedar Williams-Stirling as Bilal, and Francis Lovehall as Omz, photo by Helen Murray

The play doesn’t descend into tired stereotypes about gangs, drugs, or knife crime

Instead, it is a powerful state-of-the-nation wake-up call in a country. Where people are still judged by the colour of their skin, and their age.

As the surface is scratched, it soon becomes clear that Red Pitch is not just about three lads kicking a ball around and arguing over Twix bars, chips, and chicken wings.

Omz is a young carer for his 81-year-old grandfather. Bilal is living in the shadow of a tough father with impossible standards. Joey is the most privileged of the three friends, but he is full of righteous anger about those who are being left behind by the gentrification of their estate.

For anyone who was 16 many moons ago, there is a lot to learn from the fast-talking, wisecracking trio. When we – and our parents and grandparents – get older, caring responsibilities cast shadows over our lives.

The characters are hugely relatable

As much as anyone might want to be stoic and dutiful when it comes to caring for ageing relatives, it was easy to relate to Omz’s constant worrying about his grandfather. It is an act of love that will always be tempered by stress, heartache and glimpses of our collective mortality. It was tempting to rush onstage and give outwardly brazen but inwardly fragile Omz a hug. Especially as Soho Place’s in-the-round setting means you can almost touch the actors from the stalls.

Read more: behind the scenes of a small theatre company

With Bilal’s story, the pressure placed on him by his unseen but exacting father must have revived memories for many of the adults in the teen-heavy audience. Parental pressure to succeed – but only in certain fields – and dealing with teenage disappointment that lingers into adulthood, are themes that don’t stop being relatable as we age.

Then there’s Joey, who aspires to be a lawyer and a footballer. It might sound incongruous for a 16-year-old to be full of rage about the changes coming to their rundown but beloved estate. But the deft script means he doesn’t sound like London’s youngest pub bore. It is clearly a reflection of the displacement of social housing tenants that has happened at Elephant and Castle.

The neighbourhood has become shinier at the expense of soul and of the security of longstanding communities.  This is a big message for a play about three teenagers, but it is important and thought-provoking. It can be easy to forget how young people need that sense of belonging that is imparted by strong communities. Even if the buildings are unpretty.

Delving into nostalgia

For me, the play was enhanced by the fact I was surrounded by teenagers and young adults. The smell of Skittles, Doritos and teenage deodorants reminded me of high school in Australia. That era’s aromas were tuckshop food, Rexona Sport and Body Shop White Musk. I’m sure the scents have changed, but it is a universal and constant truth that rooms populated mostly by teenagers tend to smell like junk food and cheap fragrances.

When the initial feelings of nasal assault were replaced by nostalgia, it provided a sense of comfort. This amid a play that is designed to make people feel uncomfortable. As I left the theatre, I overheard an elderly gentleman confess that he only understood about 50 percent of the dialogue. But I hope that even if he was confounded by the fam-laden script, he was able to see that young people are facing challenges that are simultaneously unique to their generation, while being common to us all. We can and should do better to understand each other, rather than resorting to cheap stereotypes that reduce us all.

• Red Pitch runs until 4 May 2024 at Soho Place theatre, London

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post Red Pitch review: exploring cross-generational challenges appeared first on Silver Magazine.

There are a number of films it was inevitable we were going to see listed in several categories, such as Barbie, Oppenheimer, Poor Things, and Killers of the Flower Moon. Here’s the full list of Oscars nominations for 2024, it all its glory.

A huge congratulations to all the nominees. We’ll be excited to watch this event unfold, as always. The 96th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday, 10th March 2024.

Read our interview with Michelle Yeoh, Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Ke Huy Kuan from backstage at the 2023 Oscars

Best picture

• American Fiction
• Anatomy of a Fall
• Barbie
• The Holdovers
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Maestro
• Oppenheimer
• Past Lives
• Poor Things
• The Zone of Interest

Best actress

• Annette Bening – Nyad
• Lily Gladstone – Killers of the Flower Moon
• Sandra Huller – Anatomy of a Fall
• Carey Mulligan – Maestro
• Emma Stone – Poor Things

Best supporting actress

• Emily Blunt – Oppenheimer
• Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple
• America Ferrera – Barbie
• Jodie Foster – Nyad
• Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers

Best actor

• Bradley Cooper – Maestro
• Colman Domingo – Rustin
• Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers
• Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
• Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction

Best supporting actor

• Sterling K Brown – American Fiction
• Robert De Niro – Killers of the Flower Moon
• Robert Downey Jr – Oppenheimer
• Ryan Gosling – Barbie
• Mark Ruffalo – Poor Things

Best director

• Anatomy of a Fall – Justine Triet
• Killers of the Flower Moon – Martin Scorsese
• Oppenheimer – Christopher Nolan
• Poor Things – Yorgos Lanthimos
• The Zone of Interest – Jonathan Glazer

Best adapted screenplay

• American Fiction
• Barbie
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things
• The Zone of Interest

Best original screenplay

• Anatomy of a Fall
• The Holdovers
• Maestro
• May December
• Past Lives

Best original song

• The Fire Inside – Flamin’ Hot (Diane Warren)
• I’m Just Ken – Barbie (Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt)
• It Never Went Away – American Symphony (Jon Batiste, Dan Wilson)
• Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People) – Killers of the Flower Moon (Scott George)
• What Was I Made For? – Barbie (Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell)

Best original score

• American Fiction
• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things

Best international feature

• Io Capitano
• Perfect Days
• Society of the Snow
• The Teachers’ Lounge
• The Zone of Interest

Best animated feature

• The Boy and the Heron
• Elemental
• Nimona
• Robot Dreams
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Best documentary feature

• Bobi Wine: The People’s President
• The Eternal Memory
• Four Daughters
• To Kill a Tiger
• 20 Days in Mariupol

Best costume design

• Barbie
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Napoleon
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things

Best make-up and hairstyling

• Golda
• Maestro
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things
• Society of the Snow

Best production design

• Barbie
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Napoleon
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things

Best sound

• The Creator
• Maestro
• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
• Oppenheimer
• The Zone of Interest

Best film editing

• Anatomy of a Fall
• The Holdovers
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things

Best cinematography

• El Conde
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Maestro
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things

Best visual effects

• The Creator
• Godzilla Minus One
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
• Napoleon

Best live action short

• The After
• Invincible
• Knight of Fortune
• Red, White and Blue
• The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

Best animated short

• Letter to a Pig
• Ninety-Five Senses
• Our Uniform
• Pachyderme
• War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko

Best documentary short

• The ABCs of Book Banning
• The Barber of Little Rock
• Island In Between
• The Last Repair Shop
• Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó

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The post The full list of Oscars nominations for 2024 appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Nobody said doing what you love is easy. Life gets in the way; children, jobs, bills. And before you know it, you can feel like your dreams of fame and fortune are lost. But perhaps not. If theatre is your dream, and you’ve ever wondered what it’s like doing am dram, we’re going to take you backstage to find out.

Meet some of the Southwick Players. The Players is a long-standing theatrical group based in Sussex presenting community theatre since 1935. Producing multiple shows a year, there’s everything from a mix of musicals, comedies, contemporary plays, to the classics.

And many of the Players directing, set-building, writing, making costumes, and acting are over 50. They’re busy proving that it’s never too late to engage that passion you might have put on the back burner.

Meet some of the Players

Ron Common

I do find it challenging to accept that I can’t be in every play

I’m a retired railwayman whose journey has been shaped by family, golf, painting, and an unexpected venture into theatre. 

Ron Common

Getting into Southwick Players is a bit of a long story. My sister-in-law and her husband were members of Shoreham British Legion and someone came up with the idea of doing a panto, using a script written by a member during the war. I commuted to the panto rehearsals with a chap who was a member at Southwick. I turned up to learn more, and felt it was time to stretch myself. That was 31 years ago now.

Joining Southwick Players gave me the opportunity to direct my own first full-length play, Whose Life is it Anyway. I was fortunate in having an exceptional cast to work with for this very moving play. I’m often seen as always being ready for a laugh, and although I am, this showed my serious side.

Balancing rehearsals and performances has been made easier by my wonderful wife and previously patient and tolerant bosses. Now I’m retired, everything is much easier to fit around rehearsals.

Ron in A Christmas Cracker, 1997

I do find it challenging to accept that I can’t be in every play. Getting older means you can’t sing or dance as well as you used to, and learning lines becomes harder. I have to conquer my ego that says I should play lead in every production. But, that’s not to say you shouldn’t audition for the parts that feel right for you. Of course, the director has the final say when casting, but there are other ways to get involved in productions. I’m currently our props co-ordinator and archivist, and I’m soon to direct A Tale of Two Cities.

For anyone contemplating amateur dramatics, I’d say go for it. You’re never too old to try. Ok, there may not always be parts for someone your age but there may be in the next one. If you don’t fancy acting, there are plenty of other areas vital to production. 

Read more: My first time taking a holiday alone over 50

Chrissie Blount

Being a member has comforted me through many personal ups and downs

I enjoy a full life working part time, singing in choirs, volunteering, and of course being in Southwick Players. All despite being in my seventies. I had always enjoyed singing in school choirs and so on,

Chrissy Blount (Credit: Tom Faulkner)

but I didn’t really venture into theatre until about 30 years later, when I was chivvied by neighbours to help organise a panto to raise funds for the local village church hall roof. I ended up being the heroine (very badly cast!) and organising the songs. I was terrified, but it re-ignited my love for the theatre – watching, performing, singing and being part of a group.

I then got into Southwick Players through a golfing pal, Ron, who I’d watched in various productions. He convinced me to play a green elf in the play Lord and Ladies, by Terry Pratchett, in about 2000. 

Being a member has comforted me through many personal ups and downs. Even when I’ve had a break from productions, the social events and friendships have provided stability. I’m surprised at how many friends I have made. Even through Covid, we banded together to perform some murder mystery productions over zoom to raise money for various charities. When everyone was feeling cut off from family and friends, we got to bring a little entertainment to people; we even had some audience members joining from America.

Chrissy Blount as The Duchess in Murder on the Simpleton-Orient Express (Credit: Tom Faulkner)

Before Southwick Players, I don’t think I realised the satisfaction I’d get from audiences appreciating the shows. Especially after I’ve had a hard time learning a new accent for the role.

Being in amateur dramatics later in life does have its challenges. I have to make sure my phone diary is always up to date, so I can plan my time. I like to be busy, so it’s just a question of being sure of what I can commit to. I feel lucky that I have the opportunity to get involved with Southwick Players, when for others it’s not as easy to do so.

It has totally helped me build my self-confidence over the years. Just being able to prove to myself that I can learn something new. But, also when I’ve had personal issues or health concerns, the support of the group has been a huge benefit. Any drop in confidence is quickly boosted again. 

Tim Ingram 

You don’t have to be a stage performer from day one to get involved with amateur dramatics

Tim Ingram. Photo: Miles Davies

I was heavily involved in local theatre during my younger years, until work and family commitments took precedent. It wasn’t until taking early retirement in 2015 that I was invited to join my old theatre group for a production of West Side Story. My love for musical theatre was rekindled. I’ve been with the Southwick Players since a friend encouraged me to audition for a play her was directing, in 2019. It was immediately a very warm and welcoming community of people, and has become something of a second family.

In my older age I do find learning lines much harder when doing a play. Actually, recalling lines is much easier with music (a little tip for those of you who also struggle)! But, my maturity brings an element of enhanced skill in performing. Although less so physical performing. I suspect my stage dancing days are pretty much done.

I do think theatre means a lot to people. Being involved with theatre at a young age helped develop my confidence and communication. Additionally, we wouldn’t have shows with the audiences and the support they provide. There’s also a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to deliver a show. Our workshop teams that provide the sets, the props people, the costumiers, the front of house teams. They all bring such skill and are often the unsung heroes.

You don’t have to be a stage performer from day one to get involved with amateur dramatics. There are lots of roles behind scenes if you’re nervous to tread the boards straight away. 

Elizabeth Gibson

Acting now does have its challenges that weren’t there when I did youth theatre

I’m an ex-Londoner now living in West Sussex. I’m not in paid employment any more, but I volunteer for a couple of charities. I’m a member of several amateur dramatics companies, as parts for ‘women of a certain age’ are sometimes few and far between.

Elizabeth Gibson

After being involved in a big choir, we sung a lot of choral masses in Bulgarian, I was persuaded to try amateur dramatics. I hadn’t trodden the boards since my days in youth theatre in South London, so went to see a play by my local group. After a few shows with that group, I looked for another good group with parts for me and found Southwick Players. 

I’ve met some great and talented people through the group. Being in a show usually means turning up for rehearsals two or three times a week. You do, of course, have to spend time learning lines. I usually call upon my husband’s support and understanding, and his ability and willingness to prepare his own meals.

I will never forget the first play I did with the Players, See How They Run. It’s a farce, with lots of vicars, and people pretending to be vicars. Rehearsals were all great fun with lots of laughter amid the seriousness involved in putting on a comedy. And the show was a great success with audiences.

Elizabeth Gibson in pantomime costume

At one point I had to ‘pass out’ and lie on the floor, while other characters ran in and out, jumping over me. One of these accidentally trod on my hand and reminded me of it every time I saw him afterwards. It hadn’t particularly hurt, but as the young man has since passed away I think of him every time I think of the play – he was a particularly brilliant actor and much missed.

Acting now does have its challenges that weren’t there when I did youth theatre. When I was young, I could learn my lines on Sunday for a play we were starting rehearsals for on the Monday. Nowadays, it takes a lot longer to get them into my head. Movement is a bit more restricted too. Recently I was called on to do a backwards roll, and I did try. But we ended up having to adapt my exit to crawling off, which I was just able to do. 

Roy Stevens

I live on my own and it’s a great way to be involved with a group of friendly likeminded people

I’ve been a retired bank manager for about ten years, although I have now retrained to work part time teaching English to foreign students in Worthing. I’ve been involved with amateur dramatics for many years, and a part of Southwick Players since lockdown. So, my first interactions with the company were over zoom meetings to read plays.

Roy Stevens

Southwick Players has had a big impact on my life. I live on my own and it’s a great way to be involved with a group of friendly likeminded people. It gets me out of the house regularly, and there’s a good social side to it. 

You do have to be quite organised and disciplined with your time. Learning lines takes a lot of effort, and I normally allocate some time each day to go over lines. You have to attend two rehearsals a week, and show week is a big commitment, so normal life gets put on hold that week.

From my experience, I think the biggest challenges of being an older perform are that you have to work harder to learn lines, and perhaps stamina for the role you’re playing. Or, if the show is physically demanding, pantomime for example, can be quite draining in a way that wouldn’t have been twenty years ago.

If you are considering joining an amateur dramatics group later in life my advice is, “don’t just sit there do it !” It’s great fun, get’s you out and good for your mental simulation. Even if you don’t want to act there are always plenty of jobs to do back-stage and they are generally a very friendly bunch of people. Expect a warm welcome, but be prepared for a commitment of time and effort, you won’t regret it.

Sally Diver

Theatre holds a mirror in front of society and reminds us how lucky we are that we’re free to be creative and express ourselves

For most of my working life I was a secretary, alongside raising two wonderful children who have blessed me with five adorable grandchildren. I retired early and took a part time job as a view guide for an estate agent. Being paid to show people around new houses and chat all day, what’s not to like?

Sally Diver

I wanted to go to a children’s theatre school as a young girl but my mother put a stop to that. Then after school I considered getting into acting; but I started a job, met a boy, and before I knew it I was a wife and mother. I saw an ad for Southwick Players in our local newspaper and went to an open evening. That was thirty years ago now!

Southwick Players has made me friends for life. I met my best friend through Players. We go away on holiday all over the world, fortunately my hubby doesn’t mind. I also do voluntary work, through Players, for the Southwick Community Centre. I carry out the training of the front of house staff, and organise cover for many visit acts.

Being part of this group has filled my life with many benefits. I’ve grown from a shy actor to a director, and even temporarily the acting president of the Players. Plus, found I’ve got a knack for advertising and won Best Publicity at the Brighton and Hove Arts Council Drama Awards six years on the trot.

Sally Diver on stage (Credit: Miles Davis Photography)

Performing arts plays such a key role in encouraging us to expand our imaginations and explore our emotions. Theatre holds a mirror in front of society and reminds us how lucky we are that we’re free to be creative and express ourselves. It’s certainly a tool for education as well as entertainment.

I don’t think you ever stop learning in theatre. I’m sure my style has changed, but only because I’ve got more experience. I try to play it as naturally as possible. If you don’t believe, then neither will the audience. Although directing is much more my thing now.

Frank Horsley

Acting with the Players has boosted my self-esteem and made the outside world easier to negotiate

Now retired after 40 years as a journalist and two years as a drummer in an Elvis tribute band, I fill my days with walking, reading, attending concerts, and reunions with old journalist friends. I reviewed many of the Southwick Player’s shows in the 1970s as a young journalist. However, I didn’t go on stage until 1996 with Adur Theatre Company for a behind the scene panto feature in the Worthing Herald paper. This led to me joining the players in 2005, first appearing in Scrooge the Musical.

Frank Horsely in the Government Inspector poster

Being with the Players has made me lots of new friends. It’s also a brilliant place to regularly venture outside your comfort zone, either in taking on weightier roles or performing to a larger audience. 

Being retired and living alone makes it a lot easier to devote myself to the months of preparation needed for any production. When I was still working, I always took show weeks off, because it’s almost impossible to focus on anything else when you have the next performance buzzing round your brain.

Acting with the Players has boosted my self-esteem and made the outside world easier to negotiate for someone who was desperately shy as a youngster, but there’s never any room for complacency or cockiness. You’re only as good as your next performance. 

If you’re considering amateur drama, just do it. You’re a long time retired in that great green room in the sky. And although I’m far from impartial, expect and embrace a warm welcome from the Southwick Players.

Feeling inspired?

You can find more about the Southwick Players and their upcoming performances on their website.

To find an amateur drama group local to you, visit Drama Groups.

Lana Hall

Lana can usually be found spinning her collection of records, or writing odd poems in her phone notes. Her mixer of choice is a ginger beer, and you’ll never find her away from the sea for more than a few weeks.

The post Behind the scenes: what it’s like doing am dram appeared first on Silver Magazine.

In case you hadn’t noticed, the 95th Academy Awards has caused quite the stir. Not Will Smith level, obviously. But this year was not without drama; one suspects that with actors, this comes with the territory.

It’s a shame to see Angela Bassett miss out again, but we’re thrilled for Jamie Lee Curtis, 64. Brendan Fraser, 54, is having the season of HIS ACTUAL LIFE. And Ke Huy Quan, 51, was probably the most excited winner we’ve ever seen. 

I don’t normally add ages to an article like this unless it’s relevant, but I feel it’s relevant. Because this year’s awards has seen a definitive rise in older winners. Michelle Yeoh, 60, summed it all up when she said, “…don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up!”

You don’t need us to run down the full list of who won what by now. If you’re a fan, if you love the glam, you’ve already watched it, checked out the coverage, drooled over the fashion images.

What I’d like to do here is shine a light on the four winners above. We managed to bag backstage chats with them all. And if you’re a Silver regular, you’ll know what’s coming next. Yeah – these are not youngsters. This is not their first time at the rodeo, to coin a phrase.

Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh: we broke that glass ceiling

13th Mar, 2023. Michelle Yeoh arriving at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party 2023, Los Angeles. Credit: Doug Peters/Alamy Live News

Michelle Yeoh has been celebrating winning the Actress in a Leading Role award at the Oscars. The Malaysian actress received the golden statuette at the 95th Academy Awards for her performance in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’.

Michelle beat Cate Blanchett [‘Tár’], Ana de Armas [‘Blonde’], Michelle Williams [‘The Fabelmans’] and Andrea Riseborough [‘To Leslie’].

On collecting her award, Michelle said: “Thank you. Thank you. For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight—this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that—dream big, and dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up!”

There’s more to the speech, but we wanted to pin down Michelle for a chat…

Backstage at the event…

Lucy: Congratulations Michelle. What does this win mean to you in terms of Asian representation within the entertainment industry?

“…tonight we freaking broke that glass ceiling. I Kung Fu’d it out and shattered it.”

MICHELLE YEOH: This is actually a historical moment, and I have to thank the Academy for acknowledging, embracing diversity and true representation. I think this is something that we have been working so hard towards for a very long time, and tonight we freaking broke that glass ceiling. I Kung Fu’d it out and shattered it, and we need this because there are so many who felt unseen, unheard. It’s not just the Asian community. This is for the Asian community and for anyone who has been identified as a minority. 

L: Have you ever felt like taking a step back from acting? And because you stayed, what advice would you give to people who are afraid to take up space?

MICHELLE YEOH: You should never be afraid. If this is your passion, this is your love, you have to stand up for yourself and for what you believe in and for what you want to do. I think that is what it is. I’m still here today. Finally, after 40 years, I get this. 

It just goes to show, we will  we will win the battle. And that’s what we’re doing. So don’t give up. Never give up. Because once you give up, then it’s a loss. It’s a total loss, right? So, yes, don’t let anybody put you in a box. 

“So don’t give up. Never give up. Because once you give up, then it’s a loss.”

Dare to dream. Because if you don’t dream, then it’s impossible. But nothing is impossible. Look at me, I’m here.

L: So, yesterday was exactly a year ago when ‘Everything Everywhere all at Once’ premiered. Can you take us back to that day last year and refer to that day to how you are feeling today, with all this success today?

MICHELLE YEOH: It’s been quite a marathon, hasn’t it? For the cinema that we want a collective experience where we want to enjoy, share that laughter, crying, or whatever it is together. That is what the magic of being at the movies at South by Southwest, it was the first actual – not streaming, not virtual – festival. And we were so blessed that everyone came, and we were blown away. Because you know, you give your heart and soul to a movie, but there is never any guarantee… when you put it up in the sky, please don’t fall flat on your face, right? 

I swear to God, it’s you [viewers], all of you, because you made it interesting. They had to come to the cinemas to watch this crazy wacky movie. Because you didn’t want to be left out of the conversation. So in that way, thank you to all of you. You propelled our little gem of a film. Yes, we had a huge beating heart.

This movie has helped in communication. This movie has helped to open hearts between families, whether it’s husband and wife, daughters and mothers, daughters and fathers, but just simply family. And we never give up on each other. 

L: Mothers are a big feature for you. What is something that your mother told you or gave you that you’ve carried with you through this journey?

MICHELLE YEOH: I think mothers are very important to all of us because without them, none of us would be sitting in this room, to start off with. The most important thing is my mother has always instilled in me confidence. Taught me about love. Taught me about kindness and compassion. 

I’m not very, very good at that at times. Actually, the recent thing that she asked me to do is ‘Don’t wear pants to the Oscars.’ I think what mothers do is they’re constantly reminding you to be better. And they do it with love and they do it because they really want you to be better so you have more opportunities, and you will have a better life. And that for them, is their ultimate goal.

L: Thank you so much

MICHELLE YEOH: Thank you.

Brendan Fraser: I hope I can live up to this

12th Mar, 2023. Brendan Fraser walking on the red carpet at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party (Photo by Anthony Behar/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News

Brendan Fraser has won the Actor in a Leading Role award at the Oscars. The US actor received the golden statuette at the 95th Academy Awards for his performance in ‘The Whale’.

Brendan beat Austin Butler [‘Elvis’], Colin Farrell [‘The Banshees of Inisherin’], Paul Mescal [‘Aftersun’] and Bill Nighy [‘Living’].

On collecting his award, Brendan said: “So this is what the multiverse looks like! Oh my goodness!

“I thank the Academy for this honour and for our studio, A24, for making such a bold film. I am grateful to Darren Aronofsky for throwing me a creative lifeline and hauling me aboard the good ship, ‘The Whale’. It was written by Samuel D. Hunter who is our lighthouse. Gentlemen, you laid your whale hearts bare so that we could see into your souls like no one else could do. It is my honour to be named alongside you in this category.”

Backstage at the event, Brendan said:

L: Huge congratulations. This is such an amazing moment for you. How do you feel right in this moment? What does winning this award mean to you?

BRENDAN FRASER: I feel a bit light in the head. This is actually kind of heavy [referring to the statuette]. One arm might be longer than the other by the end of the evening. 

I guess it means that I’m going to have to find a job. I’m grateful for this because of the number of people who worked during a time of COVID that we all lived under, and we had to be very careful with one another to stay safe. And I think of all the films we’ve seen this year, there’s a secret ingredient, and my guess is that it’s that concern that we showed for one another and for the work that we do, because we all lived under an existential threat. 

We didn’t know if there would be a tomorrow. So going to make a film with this gravity just reinforced how important it is to perform as if it’s the first and last time you ever will. That’s all I’ve got.

L: What drew you to the role and how fulfilling this win is for you?

BRENDAN FRASER: Darren Aronofsky was going to make a film. Any actor is like a moth to the flame for that. And he told me that it was a story about a man who has been overeating and it’s harming him, and he’s very lonely, and he wants to reconcile with his child if he can. And that’s about all I knew. And, of course, he showed me the script. 

I was intensely moved by it, much in the same way, I learned, that Darren was when he first saw the stage play in New York ten years earlier that Sam D Hunter had written. Darren was quite forthright that this would be a challenging part just in terms of what it would take to create Charlie and his body, and luckily, he had now-Oscar winner Adrien Morot to do my makeup.

But it was my job to play Charlie from the inside out, and theirs to create him from the outside in.

L: Queer storytelling has come a long way since you starred in Gods and Monsters, which was also an Oscar-winning film. So how rewarding was it to bring a voice to a complicated queer character like Charlie? You have a lot of gay fans, the the gays love you! So…?

BRENDAN FRASER: I love you right back. Charlie is so much more than just a gay man. He’s a father, he’s an educator, he’s a truth seeker, and that he fell hopelessly, inconveniently in love with whomever is immaterial. He’s someone who found love, lost it, and then found it again. 

“Charlie is so much more than just a gay man. He’s a father, he’s an educator, he’s a truth seeker.”

I think that’s something that we can all take a page from. And know that with perseverance, if you put one foot in front of the other, like Charlie did, go to the light, believe me. If I can do it, you can too. Good things will happen.

L: What a year you’ve had. What was the first thought in your head when you heard your name called?

BRENDAN FRASER: This has been incredibly rewarding and affirming, and it’s given me a lesson in humility and gratitude. What did I hear when I first heard my name? I heard my name but I thought, ‘that can’t be right.’ But it was, so I guess I should get up there and say something quick!

Jamie Lee Curtis: Please don’t cancel me!

12th March, 2023. Jamie Lee Curtis posing for photos in the press room at the The 95th Academy Awards. (Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News

Jamie Lee Curtis won Best Actress in a Supporting Role award at the Oscars. The US actress received the golden statuette at the 95th Academy Awards for her performance in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’.

Jamie Lee beat Angela Bassett [‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’], Kerry Condon [‘The Banshees of Inisherin’], Hong Chau [‘The Whale’] and Stephanie Hsu [‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’].

On collecting her award, Jamie Lee said: “Stop. I have 45 seconds, and I promised Janet Yang I would do it well because I’m a good girl.”

She proceeded to thank her entire crew, her family, agents, team members and everyone who supports movies. It was quite the 45 seconds!

Read More: Getting candid: Interview with Jamie Lee Curtis

Backstage at the event, with Jamie Lee

L: Congratulations on this win, Jamie Lee

JAMIE LEE CURTIS: Thank you so much.

L: There are 65 women this year nominated for academy awards across various disciplines. How does it feel for you to be amongst that number?

JAMIE LEE CURTIS: Surreal and proud, and obviously I would like to see a lot more women being nominated so there’s gender parity in all the areas, in all the branches, and I think we’re getting there. We’re not anywhere near there. 

And of course, the inclusivity then that involves the bigger question, which is, how do you include everyone when there are binary choices, which is very difficult. And, as the mother of a trans daughter, I completely understand that and yet, to de-gender the category also I’m concerned will diminish the opportunities for more women, which is something I have also been working hard to try to promote. So it’s a complicated question, but I think the most important thing is inclusivity and more women. Basically, just fucking more women anywhere, anytime, all at once.

“I don’t believe in a world where there are a bunch of people up there looking down on us. I think we are them in our actions, and in our deeds, and in our ideas.”

L: You are everyone’s favourite nepo baby, as you said. Do you think your mum and dad are looking down on you tonight and smiling?

JAMIE LEE CURTIS: Well, let me just be honest. I don’t believe in a world where there are a bunch of people up there looking down on us. I think we are them in our actions, and in our deeds, and in our ideas, and then we build our own and then we give them to our children and that’s how the world goes on. So I am a product of them and I am a proud product of them. And I know they would be incredibly proud of me, of course. Thank you.

NEXT UP, THERE IS A VIRTUAL QUESTION…

JAMIE LEE CURTIS [completely misunderstanding the question!]: The virtual people don’t get shit. They don’t get food. They don’t get water. They’re at home. Their kids are screaming. Their husband’s cheating on them. They’re so bummed out. They want to be here with you people so bad.

[IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THE QUESTION IS FROM AN ONLINE JOURNALIST]

JAMIE LEE CURTIS: Oh, excellent. Good. Good. Oh, you’re actually, I thought it was just sort of like a tweet. I didn’t realize there were people…. guys, don’t cancel me. Please do not cancel me because I assumed that your husband is cheating on you [laughs]. I literally thought when they said digital it was, like, a virtual that I thought it was a tweet question. Seriously. Do not ruin this moment for me. I cannot handle it if you cancel me now. Cancel me tomorrow. Just not tonight. Give me a break. I’m so sorry if I was insulting.

Q: How much Hungarian are you?

JAMIE LEE CURTIS: I can’t really show you on national television. How much am I? That’s very personal. I can sing that little song, (singing in Hungarian). I won’t sing to you people because Stephanie Hsu just sang, and she can sing; I can’t. Anyway, I love my Hungarian heritage.

Q: Can we consider this at least a semi-Hungarian Oscar?

JAMIE LEE CURTIS: Oh, yeah. The lower half. [Looks at statuette] Definitely the lower half.

L: Thank you so much.

JAMIE LEE CURTIS: Oh my goodness me. Now you people are going to hate me because I cracked wise. I’m so sorry. But I’m taking this really seriously. And this is the thrill of my life. And please don’t cancel me. Please. Thank you.

Ke Huy Quan: never forget where you came from

13th Mar, 2023. Ke Huy Quan walking on the red carpet at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party (Photo by Anthony Behar/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News

Ke Huy Quan has been celebrating winning the Actor in a Supporting Role award at the Oscars. The Vietnamese/American actor received the golden statuette at the 95th Academy Awards for his performance in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’.

Ke Huy Quan beat Barry Keoghan [‘The Banshees of Inisherin’], Brendan Gleeson [‘The Banshees of Inisherin’], Judd Hirsch [‘The Fabelmans’] and Brian Tyree Henry [‘Causeway’].

On collecting his award, Ke Huy Quan said: “Thank you. My mom is 84 years old. She is at home watching. Mom, I just won an Oscar.

“My journey started on a boat. I spent year in a refugee camp. And somehow, I ended up here on Hollywood’s biggest stage.

“They say, ‘Stories like this only happen in the movies.’ I cannot believe it’s happening to me.”

Backstage at the event, we caught up with Ke for a chat.

L: Congratulations!

KE HUY QUAN: “Thank you. Can you believe I’m holding one of these? This is so surreal. Wow.”

L: When you starred in ‘Goonies’ and ‘Indiana Jones’, you were credited as Jonathan Ke Quan. What does it mean to win an Oscar with your real name on it?

KE HUY QUAN: “When I started as a kid, I was you know, it was my birth name, Ke Huy Quan. And I remembered when it got really tough, my manager told me that maybe, you know, it would be easier if you were to have an American sounding name, and I was so desperate for a job that I would do anything. 

“And it’s insane that I at one point that I would, you know, try a different name, not the name that was given to me. But it can only show you how desperate I was to try to try to make things different. So when I decided to get back into acting, which was three years ago, the very first thing that I wanted to do was to go back to my birth given name, and to and tonight to see Ariana open that envelope and say ‘Ke Huy Quan,’ that was a really, really special moment for me. And then immediately I was so emotional. 

“But the first image that I had in my mind was my mom, was my mom, who is the reason why I am in America, who is the reason why I have a better life, I have all these opportunities. 

“Like I said in my acceptance speech, she sacrificed so much. She had a great life where we came from, and she gave all that up so that all her children, there’s nine of us, there’s nine of us, and every single one of them are so grateful to my parents. So yeah. And Dad [looks to the sky tearful] I hope you’re proud of me. So…”

L: How does it feel to call yourself an Oscar winner tonight and be here?

KE HUY QUAN: “Tonight, my family, a portion of them, I have a big family, flew in from Houston to be with me tonight. So that was really special. 

“And, during one of the commercial breaks, I ran up to Steven Spielberg, and he gave he a big hug. He put his arms around me and he said, ‘Ke, you are now an Oscar-winning actor.’ And hearing him say that meant the world to me, and I still cannot believe it. Yeah, I mean. Wow. Wow.”

“… my younger self would not know all the struggles that I went through to be here, because he was just having the time of his life being a kid, being on a set.”

L: if your younger self could be here now at the age of data and your younger Goonie brothers were here, what would they say to you right now?

KE HUY QUAN: “Well, my younger self would not know all the struggles that I went through to be here, because he was just having the time of his life being a kid, being on a set with, you know, on a pirate ship going down a water slide. 

“And, you know, right before this night started, Corey Feldman one of my Goonies brothers called. I was talking to Kerri Green and of course tonight, Jeff Cohen, who is my entertainment lawyer, is here tonight with me. He was in the audience. And that’s why I wanted to thank him because I love all of them so much, and every single one of them is so happy. Sean reached out, Josh, Martha, and, you know, we are always bonded you know, we’re family together. Goonies never say die.”

L: A lot of people think of you as a very positive person, relate to you in numerous ways. How do you just stay humble and true to yourself?

KE HUY QUAN: “It’s how I was brought up. It’s how I was taught and, also, that’s why I always say: Never forget where you came from, because if you forget that, then all humility goes out the window. I remember how difficult it was for me, so that’s why every time I walk on a movie set, I’m so grateful. This tonight was certainly wasn’t, you know, I didn’t think this was possible. But yeah, I don’t ever want to forget that, and I always want to I think it’s important to appreciate where you are. 

“Never forget where you came from, because if you forget that, then all humility goes out the window.”

“And I’m just so grateful. I’ve said this maybe some of you have heard it, you know, I didn’t think any of this would be possible. And God, it has been so crazy. All of a sudden my mind is drifting back to the days when I lost my health insurance during the pandemic when I couldn’t get a job. And you know, somebody asked me this earlier: Do I have anything planned? What am I doing next? I don’t know what I’m doing next. 

“All I know is, first thing tomorrow morning I’m going to call my agent because I remember when I was struggling, I would call my agent. I try not to bother him too much. But I would call him, you know, once every three months, once every six months, and I would say, ‘Hey, is there anything out there for me?’ And the answer would always be the same: ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. There’s nothing out there, but I’ll continue to look.’ So hopefully when I call my agent tomorrow, he will give me a different answer!”

L: Thank you

KE HUY QUAN: “Thank you so much. Thank you so much. I love you all. I love you all. I love you, love you, love you, love you.”

Read the Academy digital magazine

Edited for clarity. As told to Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

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