Veteran Actress Youn Yuh Jung Makes History At Oscars
Veteran actress Youn Yuh Jung bags "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" in the recently concluded 93rd Academy Awards and makes history as the very first South Korean to snatch an acting award and the second Asian to do so.
Prior to her win, expectations for Youn Yuh Jung's historical Oscar win is high as the actress won the "Best Supporting Actress" awards for two Academy precursor award-giving bodies such as the US Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Aside from winning the SAG, BAFTA, and, of course, the Oscars, the 73-year-old actress also bagged over 30 trophies for her astounding performance in "Minari."
The 73-year-old actress plays the role of Soon Ja, the grandmother in a South Korean family who moved to 1980s Arkansas to start a new life. Youn Yuh Jung's Soon Ja is not your typical grandmother role who just cleans the house and takes care of everything. She is eccentric, and the fresh take on the role of a grandmother breaks stereotypes and boundaries.
Meanwhile, for the "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" award, Youn Yuh Jung emerged victorious against four other brilliant actresses, including Amanda Seyfried from "Mank," Olivia Colman from "The Father," Maria Bakalova from "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm," and Glenn Close from "Hillbilly Elegy."
In her speech during the Oscars, Youn Yuh Jung expressed her delight by being nominated in the prestigious award ceremony and shared that she can't believe that she's onstage to receive an Oscar.
"Never in my dreams did I ever think a Korean actress would be nominated for an Oscar, and I can't believe it's me! I am incredibly humbled by the honor. Thank you so much AMPAS, A24, Plan B, my Minari family, and our entire cast and crew. We made this film with love, and I thank you for loving us back. And thank you, Isaac. This is all because of you!" actress Youn Yuh Jung expressed.
The Oscar win is the icing on the cake for Youn as her acting career that spans over five decades, has made her an important pillar of South Korea's film industry.