If there’s been a theme to Stephanie Hsu’s awards season experience thus far, it’s been this: “Getting texts at random hours that mean news that might be breaking,” she told TheWrap, laughing.
The morning the Oscar nominations were announced was no exception. Hsu had just landed in Los Angeles from Sydney, half awake, when her phone began to ring. and she was flooded with congratulations on her Best Supporting Actress nomination for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
He had barely left the airport when he called us from a car, so he hadn’t yet processed the fact that this year marks the first time four actors of Asian descent have been nominated in acting categories. “Wow,” she said. “I just remember that I was a kid and Halle Berry won (Best Actress, in 2022). … And I think about how, in that moment, a seed of what is possible was planted in me. I feel so excited that this season, that these winks are planting seeds so that people know that more space is opening up for them ”.
Hsu had a lot more to say about the performance, besides crying while watching “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and, of course, what time is the right time to start drinking champagne.
Were you still on the plane when the nominations were announced so you didn’t get to see them? No. I probably wouldn’t have, you know? She knew the announcements were going to happen today. And I was flying back from Sydney. I woke up just before it happened. I put my phone on the little tray next to my coffee and then it started ringing. zoing zoing.(laughs)
Four actors of Asian descent have been nominated in the acting categories, which is a record.
Wow.
Does that make the nomination feel even more significant?
I mean: yes. It is an uphill battle. I feel like Cate Blanchett and Todd Field have been very open about how we need to find different systems to validate art and not measure it on a better or worse scale. But in the meantime, there are so many people who have been overlooked for so long. I only remember when I was a kid and Halle Berry won (Best Actress, in 2022). And I didn’t even realize that in the 94 years of Academy Awards, only one woman of color has won (Best Actress), and that was Halle Berry. But that’s a big problem. And I think about how, in that moment, a seed of what is possible was planted in me. And I feel really excited that this season, that these nods are planting seeds for younger people who are watching or even older people who are watching that maybe they let this race pass and now they know that more space is opening up for them.
But beyond the identity, what makes me most proud is that our film, which is completely a labor of love and rudimentary, that so many people didn’t think would be possible, so that we can be held by our community, love and nod with head, that’s huge. We work very hard. I watched the movie on the first part of my flight on the way back to the United States because I wanted to do a little ritual for myself of: whatever happens, I just wanted to witness that little moment in time where this is so intimate. . The thing was done, before it all got so bright. I immediately felt like a super fan of our own movie. I was only crying in the first two minutes. (laughs)
Have you talked to the Daniels (directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) or your co-stars?
We are all in a text thread, sending a lot of text messages. The Daniels and our producer Jonathan (Wang), were FaceTiming and watching it together this morning. So there’s definitely a lot of love. I texted Shirley (Kurata, the costume designer, who was also nominated) the moment I found out about it. Everybody is beside themselves because every person… Each person – is a first-time nominee.
How are you going to celebrate?
I think I’m going for a long walk. My phone is basically shaking. It has stopped vibrating, is in a constant state of agitation, even as we speak. So I think I want a moment to really receive and just drop and sit in gratitude, or walk in gratitude Because we worked so hard and I gave a lot of myself to this movie, so it really means a lot.
Well, I don’t want to take you away from your ride. It’s still too early for you, so I hope the champagne arrives later. Or maybe during the walk.
Yes, it’s a good idea. Maybe it will arrive at 9 am Who knows?
