Da’Vine Joy Randolph believes it’s very important to help others, especially as a performer of color. She said backstage, after winning the supporting actress award for her role in “The Holdovers,” that she feels a responsibility to give back because the people who came before her paved the way for her success. She thinks her commitment to authenticity and quality in her work helps set a new standard where stories featuring Black and brown characters can be enjoyed by everyone, not just by people of color. She’s been winning a lot of awards this season for her role as cafeteria matron Mary Lamb in “The Holdovers.”
During the part of the Oscars where they announced the nominees for best supporting actress, Lupita Nyong’o introduced Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Lupita both praised Randolph and shared some interesting facts about her.
“Lupita Nyong’o said, ‘Da’Vine, my friend, your performance pays tribute to those who have helped others heal despite their own pain.’ She also mentioned that it’s a tribute to Randolph’s grandmother, whose glasses she wears in the film. She added, ‘What an honor to see the world through her eyes and yours.’
Afterwards, when asked about her grandmother’s glasses backstage, Randolph said they were very important for her award-winning performance.”
“I knew that playing this role would be tough and I’d have to be open and vulnerable,” Randolph explained. “I felt like my grandmother’s presence would help me find my way back when things got hard.”
Randolph also mentioned that she did other small things, like styling her hair and choosing accessories, to pay tribute to other women from that era. She said it felt like writing a love letter to Black women from the past.