Breaking the long-standing tradition of celebrities downplaying the importance of awards, renowned actress Carey Mulligan challenges the popular notion that accolades don’t matter in the entertainment industry. Having received her third Oscar nomination for her role as Felicia Montealegre in the Netflix biopic Maestro, Mulligan voices her genuine excitement about the nomination and admits that awards truly do hold significance. In an interview with The Times of London, she declared, “It is just the coolest thing. Because it’s from your peers. It’s wicked. And of all the actors who say that awards don’t matter and that it’s the work that counts? They are 100 per cent lying.”
Mulligan doesn’t stop at celebrating her own recognition; she also raises her voice in support of another talented filmmaker, Greta Gerwig. Expressing disappointment over Gerwig’s exclusion from the Best Director category for her movie Barbie, Mulligan states, “I’m gutted for Greta because I don’t know what else you can do as a director to get nominated. You make a critically acclaimed film that’s also an incredible global success, and yet you don’t get nominated?” Mulligan’s empathetic stance sheds light on the frustrations faced by deserving artists who may not receive the acknowledgement they deserve from the industry.
Maestro, the film that led to Mulligan’s nomination, delves into the intricacies of Leonard Bernstein’s marriage and the challenges it faced. Although the movie secured a spot in the Best Picture category, both Mulligan and director Bradley Cooper were overlooked for their respective roles. This oversight by the Academy further highlights the flaws within the nomination process and the subjective nature of recognizing artistic talent.
Reflecting on her past award show experiences, Mulligan recalls the most significant mishap during last year’s Bafta Awards. Mistakenly declared as the winner of the Best Actress award for her role in the #MeToo drama She Said, Mulligan soon realized that the true winner was Kerry Condon for her performance in The Banshees of Inisherin. The mistake, reminiscent of the infamous 2017 La La Land/Moonlight mix-up, was swiftly corrected backstage and didn’t make it to television screens. However, the memory remains vivid for Mulligan, who found herself frozen in an awkward position while her friend, actor Jamie Dornan, burst into hysterical laughter nearby. This amusing anecdote portrays the often unpredictable and humorous moments that occur amidst the tension and excitement of awards nights.
Regardless of the outcome at this year’s Academy Awards on March 10, Carey Mulligan remains hopeful for an evening that runs smoothly. As an artist who acknowledges the significance of awards, she understands the emotional weight that nominations and victories carry. Mulligan’s willingness to confront the industry norms and publicly express her appreciation for recognition sets an example for her peers and encourages a more genuine discourse around the value of awards in Hollywood.
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