When the 96th Academy Awards nominations were announced in January of this year, it sent shockwaves throughout the film industry. As with each year, there were mixed online debates about the most and least deserving nominations, including actors and directors who had been snubbed. However, notably and uexpectedly missing from this year's Best Director category was Greta Gerwig, the director behind the magenta-pink fantasy-comedy Barbie, the highest-grossing film of 2023 solely directed by a woman.
With the absent nomination came a speech from Ryan Gosling the following day, who starred as Ken opposite Margot Robbie as Barbie in the film (and received an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor). Gosling stood in solidarity with Gerwig and expressed his 'disappointment' in the lack of the acknowledgement of both Gerwig and Robbie at this year's Oscars. But on Sunday night, rightly so, Billie Eilish paid the director her dues.
Following a goosebump-eliciting performance of 'What Was I Made For', Eilish took to the stage to pick up an Academy Award. Awash with emotion, Eilish, a second-time Oscar winner and the youngest ever, picked up the prestigious award for Best Song (for 'What Was I Made For') alongside her brother, Finneas O'Connell, and immediately made it a point to thank the director.
‘Greta, I love you. Thank you for this,’ Eilish said. ‘I'm grateful for this song, and this movie, and the way that it made me feel. This goes out to everyone who was affected by the movie and how incredible it is.’
The heartfelt tribute was a sweet moment for Eilish to bring Gerwig's efforts to the attention of the academy, Hollywood's finest and those watching at home. Some might even say it's a full-circle moment for Gerwig, whose live-action interpretation of the blockbuster movie was all about womanhood and supporting one another.
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