Brie Larson is sharing her favorite-ever Oscars moment, and her heartwarming choice as to which moment she chose, and why, is the most wholesome thing you’ll hear this week.
When a creative artist commits to a project, they do more than create work that they hope resonates with audiences; they give their time, body, and circumstances to something bigger than themselves. Take Austin Butler sacrificing three years to become Elvis Presley, or Christian Bale losing 63 lbs for The Machinist; it’s about more than just booking a gig.
Friends, loved ones, and colleagues recognize that idea, and awards season is the time when it’s celebrated with the most public fanfare. When Larson talks about her favorite Oscars moment, it celebrates someone else’s talent and dedication: that of Spike Lee. The moment was even more special because she spent it with the man she calls her soulmate on Earth, Samuel L. Jackson. In a recent chat with Entertainment Weekly, she discussed presenting the Best Adapted Screenplay award in 2019.
“Sam is just my soulmate on this Earth, and so anytime I get to spend time with him and do anything with him is something I treasure deeply. He was like, ‘Okay, when we open up the envelope, if it says Spike’s name, I’m gonna say it.’ And I was like, ‘Of course. Absolutely!'”
The card did, in fact, read Spike Lee’s name, and it quickly became a favorite moment for entertainment fans everywhere. A thrilled Jackson read the card, and as Lee made it to the stage, he jumped into the arms of his friends. The moment brought tears to your eyes, and it was made even more moving because it was Lee’s fifth nomination and first win.
Larson describes that being there was moving, and she also points out the moment when Lee just leaped into the arms of his friend, celebrating the win and also the hard work he’s put in throughout his entire career.
“To be there in that moment of celebration that was so well-deserved and so well-earned was just super special. Those photos are incredible. I mean, it’s all happening so fast in the moment that it’s hard to take in. When you look back and see the photos of it, you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, he really jumped on top of him!’ That was incredible.”
She continued by explaining how important the entire experience is of being there to celebrate a friend, to honor the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication that begins years before the project is even greenlit. Being recognized is a gift of its own, but being there to cheer on someone else? That’s a different kind of joy; it’s the kind that touches your soul.
“The whole thing was very moving, and it’s part of why since then I’ve loved attending that ceremony and opening the envelope and being there and like doing a shot of tequila with somebody that I’ve just told has won. I feel like you get to be there for someone when they’ve just gone through this incredibly surreal experience. A whole lifetime of work has led up to that moment, and it’s very special.”
The 95th Academy Awards ceremony airs on March 12 on ABC, and a slew of new winners will feel the joy that Spike Lee, Brie Larson, and Samuel L. Jackson felt in that moment shared above — and what a memory that will undeniably become.