Oscars 2021: Minari star Youn Yuh-jung flirts with Brad Pitt after Best Supporting Actress win
Minari grandmother Youn Yuh-jung flirts with the film’s producer Brad Pitt after surprise win over Glenn Close (but inadvertently calls him out for being absent from the set)
- Youn Yuh-jung became the first ever Korean to win an Oscar acting award on Sunday at the 93rd Academy Awards in Los Angeles
- The 73-year-old South Korean actress was presented the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress by Pitt, 57, for her role in Minari
- ‘Oh, Mr. Pitt, finally it’s nice to meet you. …Where were you while we were filming in Tulsa?’ Youn said at the start of her acceptance speech as Pitt stood offstage
- Some interpreted it as a small dig at the actor, who was an executive producer
- A24 financed Minari with Pitt’s production company Plan B also producing
- Youn beat out an impressive field that included: Maria Bakalova for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Glenn Close for Hillbilly Elegy, Olivia Colman for The Father, and Amanda Seyfried for Mank
- ‘How can I win over Glenn Close? I’ve been watching her for so many performances,’ said Youn
- Pitt clapped offstage showing off his ponytail and then escorted Youn backstage where he handed her the envelope naming her the winner
Youn Yuh-jung flirted with presenter Brad Pitt after becoming the first ever Korean to win an Oscar acting award on Sunday at the 93rd Academy Awards in Los Angeles.
The 73-year-old South Korean actress was presented the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress by Pitt, 57, for her role in Minari.
She started her speech poking fun at Brad, the executive producer of the film, saying: ‘Oh, Mr. Pitt, finally it’s nice to meet you. Where were you while we were filming in Tulsa?’
Fun speech: Youn Yuh-jung flirted with presenter Brad Pitt after becoming the first ever Korean to win an Oscar acting award on Sunday at the 93rd Academy Awards in Los Angeles
Some took it as a sly dig at the heartthrob for not being hands-on with the film’s making.
But Youn was charmed either way, adding: ‘Still nice to meet you,’ while Pitt smiled at her from the sideline.
A24 financed Minari with Pitt’s production company Plan B also producing.
Youn beat out an impressive field that included: Maria Bakalova for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Glenn Close for Hillbilly Elegy, Olivia Colman for The Father, and Amanda Seyfried for Mank.
She told her fellow nominees during her acceptance speech that they were all winners.
Backstage moment: Youn posed with Pitt in the press room after winning her Oscar
Oscar presenter: The 73-year-old South Korean actress was presented the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress by Pitt, 57, for her role in Minari
Nice meeting: She started her speech poking fun at Brad, the executive producer of the film, saying: ‘Oh, Mr. Pitt, finally it’s nice to meet you. Where were you while we were filming in Tulsa?’
Socially distanced: ‘Still nice to meet you,’ Youn added while Pitt smiled at her from the sideline during the awards ceremony at Union Station held during the coronavirus pandemic
Production partner: A24 financed Minari with Pitt’s production company Plan B also producing
‘How can I win over Glenn Close? I’ve been watching her for so many performances,’ said Youn, who added they played different roles and could not compete with each other.
‘Tonight I’m here, it’s just I have just a little bit of luck maybe. I am luckier than you,’ Youn said drawing laughter from the audience.
She also thanked her two boys ‘who make me go out and work’ and dedicated her award to her late first director Kim Ki-young who died in 1998 at age 78.
Impressive field: Youn beat out an impressive field that included: Maria Bakalova for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Glenn Close for Hillbilly Elegy, Olivia Colman for The Father, and Amanda Seyfried for Mank
All winners: ‘How can I win over Glenn Close? I’ve been watching her for so many performances,’ said Youn, who added they played different roles and could not compete with each other
Fellow nominee: Maria Bakalova was nominated for her stellar work in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Pitt clapped offstage showing off his ponytail and then escorted Youn backstage where he handed her the envelope naming her the winner.
A Korean actor had never been previously nominated for an Academy Award and only one Asian had previously won Best Supporting Actress as Japanese-American actress Miyoshi Umeki won for Sayonara in 1957
Minari follows a family of South Korean immigrants who try to make it in the rural United States during the 1980s.
Little luck: ‘Tonight I’m here, it’s just I have just a little bit of luck maybe. I am luckier than you,’ Youn said drawing laughter from the audience
Cool ponytail: Pitt showed off his ponytail while escorting Youn backstage
The envelope: Youn was given the envelope naming her the winner by Pitt