Yuh-Jung Youn won best supporting actress at the Oscars on Sunday for "Minari ."- She's the first South Korean actress to win an acting category in the award show's 93-year history.
- Youn delivered a delightful speech, poking fun at the presenter
Brad Pitt and her two sons.
Yuh-Jung Youn made history Sunday by winning best supporting actress for "Minari" at the 93rd annual Academy Awards, becoming the first South Korean actress to take home an Oscar in an acting category.
When the 73-year-old star ascended to the Union Station stage to deliver her acceptance speech, she turned the attention to Brad Pitt, who presented the category moments earlier.
"Mr. Brad Pitt, finally," Youn began. "Nice to meet you. Where were you when we were filming in person?"
Pitt's company, Plan B
Youn chuckled at her comment and remarked that she was "very honored" to meet Pitt.
The actress, who played the grandmother in "Minari," went on to explain that most award-show attendees mispronounced her name. "Tonight, you are all forgiven," she said.
Youn thanked her "'Minari' family" and called Chung her "captain." She also paid tribute to her fellow best supporting actress nominees: Glenn Close ("Hillbilly Elegy"), Amanda Seyfried ("Mank"), Olivia Colman ("The Father"), and Maria Bakalova ("Borat Subsequent Moviefilm").
"I don't believe in competition. How can I win over Glenn Close?" Youn asked, reasoning that each of the nominees played "different roles" and "cannot compete" with one another.
She went on to attribute her victory at least partially to "luck."
"I'm luckier than you," she told the nominees in the audience. "And also maybe, it's American hospitality for the Korean actor."
Before ending her speech, Youn dedicated the award to Kim Ki-young, the first director she worked with, saying he would be "very happy" to see her win. She also thanked her two sons.
"I'd like to thank my two boys who made me go out and work," she joked, holding up the statuette. "This is the result because mommy worked so hard."
After wrapping up her acceptance speech, Youn exited to greet Pitt backstage.
-ABC News (@ABC) April 26, 2021
Youn, who has made a splash this season with victories at the BAFTA Awards and the Screen Actor Guild Awards, previously described the pressure that accompanied her Oscars nomination.
"I was just very happy being nominated," she said, per Indiewire. "I never even dreamed about being nominated for an Oscar. People will be very happy for me if I get the win, but it's very stressful."
Because a South Korean actress had never been nominated in an acting category at the Academy Awards before, Youn said the recognition felt as if it had wider significance.
"It's not like I'm representing the country by going to the Olympics, but I feel like I'm competing for my country," she said.