Following her remarkable Awards Season sweep culminating with a win for Best Supporting Actress in The Holdovers at the Oscars, Da’Vine Joy Randolph shared candid insights into her journey and offered words of encouragement for creatives from underserved communities.
Greeting the audience warmly, Randolph fielded questions that delved into the emotional and professional impact of her achievement.
Asked about the affirmation she received in the industry and its effect on her well-being, Randolph emphasized the importance of resilience. She acknowledged the challenges of the industry but expressed gratitude for the journey and the support of loved ones, highlighting the strength gained from staying true to oneself.
“What it does for my mental health. I mean, I think you’d be selling yourself short if you make it about the awards. It’s too hard of a career. The beautiful thing and the hard thing about being an actor is that it requires you to have resilience and self-confidence and belief in yourself when no one else does, when you are constantly getting “nos” and you’re saying, “Nope, I’m going to keep going.” So, actually, in many ways, while it can challenge your mental health, it also can strengthen it because you have to fortify yourself in a way that some people never ever have to do. So, for that, I’m grateful,” she shared.
Reflecting on her speech where she spoke about feeling different and the journey to self-acceptance, Randolph shared her struggle with conforming to societal norms. She emphasized the liberating realization that success can be achieved while embracing one’s uniqueness.
Amidst a whirlwind awards season, Randolph cherished the camaraderie and support she received from her peers. She celebrated the friendships forged during this journey, underscoring the importance of community in navigating the industry’s challenges, “I think the biggest thing is the camaraderie. I didn’t know what to expect. You know, I didn’t know if it was going to be a dog-eat-dog thing, if it would be, like, you know, really aggressive. And what’s been so beautiful is having this relationship with people that are going through the same thing with you, a support system that you can rely on and the friends that I’ve made because of it.”
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Addressing her commitment to paying it forward, Randolph encouraged creatives from underserved communities to persevere despite limited resources. She celebrated the resilience and creativity inherent in such communities, urging aspiring artists to harness their innate gifts.
“Due to being undeserved and underserved communities, the beautiful thing that erupts is your imagination and your creativity because you don’t have much. And so you have this innate ability to create. That’s a gift, and that’s something that will serve you that when you do have the resources it’s easy. Something I think we as black people are very good at is making a lot out of very little, and I think that’s a super power and something that we should applaud ourselves for and uplift ourselves so there’s nothing that’s never too little. It’s always just enough,” Randolph shared.
Reflecting on the significance of her grandmother’s glasses, which she carried with her during the filming of The Holdovers, Randolph spoke of the emotional connection they provided. “It was crucial. I knew that this was going to be a difficult role for me to take on, and that it was going to require a lot of vulnerability from me. And I knew that she was just someone in my life that would allow me to get right back to the center. And there was many women — I did a lot of research and did little subliminal messages, if you will, with hair-dos and details and accessories beyond the glasses, giving homage to women from the Jeffersons, Phyllis Hyman, stuff like that. So that I included all of these women who impressionized me, and so that people that knew-knew, and that meant a lot because it felt like a love letter back to black women.”
Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s reflections offer a compelling narrative of resilience, authenticity, and community. Her journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring artists, underscoring the transformative power of embracing individuality and uplifting others in the pursuit of creative excellence.
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