Last night, Daniel Kaluuya won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah. The 32 year-old actor was previously nominated in the Lead Actor category in 2018 for Get Out. Kaluuya has quickly become one of the most recognizable actors after his roles in Black Mirror, Queen & Slim, and Widows, among other films. His rise over the last decade is quite remarkable, and the Oscar win will only help him in the future.
Kaluuya’s speech is also incredibly real and funny. He discusses the importance of Fred Hampton’s 21 years of life, unity, and the incredible nature of simply being alive(he mentions his parents meeting and conceiving him). The full speech is below.
Through all of this though, the important part is that Kaluuya is a new generation of actor. He is young, charming, and ever-talented. He is not the traditional old Hollywood stars, but stars like him, LaKieth Stanfield, Carey Mulligan, Steven Yeun, and many others are leading the charge for a new identity of Hollywood.
One that is more thoughtful and welcoming.
Kaluuya will next appear in an Untitled Jordan Peele Project, which will reunite him and his Get Out director Jordan Peele as well as fellow 2021 Nominee Steven Yeun.
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