One of the most touching moments of the Academy Awards last night came when Youn Yuh-jung won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in Minari. As she took the stage to give her speech, the Hollywood A-list star Brad Pitt could be seen tearing up.
Pitt had been tasked with presenting this award, and he stood off to the side while Yuh-jung gave her speech. When the camera cut to Pitt for a second, he appeared to be holding back tears, as he was visibly moved by the moment.
“Mr. Brad Pitt, nice to meet you finally,” Yuh-jung said with a laugh. “Where were you when we were filming?”
Pitt wasn’t the only star she referenced in her speech.
“How can I win over Glenn Close? I’ve been watching her so many performances,” Yuh-jung said of her fellow supporting actress nominee. “So this is just, all the nominees, five nominees, we are the winners for the different movies. We play the different roles, so we cannot compete each other. I think I have just a little bit of luck, I think. Maybe I’m luckier than you, and also maybe it’s American hospitality for the Korean actor? I’m not sure.”
Yuh-jung later thanked her two sons “who made me go out and work.”
“This is the result,” she said, “because mommy worked so hard.”
Yuh-jung was later asked backstage by a reporter what Pitt smelled like, according to Yahoo News.
“I didn’t smell him,” she cracked. “I’m not a dog.”
Yuh-jung was also asked if she’d ever make a film with Pitt.
“No, that would never happen with my English and age — I don’t think so,” she said. “It’s an impossible dream.”
CNN reported that Yuh-jung has become a beloved figure during this awards season, including when she recently talked about her love of leisure time.
“Staying in my bed the whole day is my pleasure and my hobby,” she said. “I like to watch TV or just doze, not thinking about anything — it’s whatever I want to do. I’m sorry to say that I’m really enjoying quarantine, because I can rest. I don’t have to see anybody. I can just stay home 24 hours a day and stay in bed, my favorite place.
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