As soon as “If Beale Street Could Talk” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, Barry Jenkins‘ follow-up to his Best Picture-winning “Moonlight” was heralded as yet another masterpiece. Much of the film’s power comes directly from this year’s just-announced Best Supporting Actress Oscar-winner, Regina King.
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King ends this awards cycle in the best way possible, with her first Oscar win. ‘Beale Street’ also marks the first time the actress has been nominated for an Academy Award. For the past few months, King has earned numerous critics circle awards, a Golden Globe, and the Critics’ Choice Award for her performance. The two trophies King did not walk away with this past year were the BAFTA, which went to fellow nominee and previous Oscar-winner for Best Supporting Actress, Rachel Weisz for “The Favourite” and the Screen Actors Guild award which, surprisingly, went to Emily Blunt for “A Quiet Place.”
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The Oscar win is a deserved crowning achievement for King whose work in film and television continues to resonate with awards voters. Only a few months ago, King earned the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Netflix‘s “Seven Seconds.” King had previously earned Emmys for her role on the TV series “American Crime” in 2015 and 2016.
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Regina King will next appear in the HBO series “Watchmen,” based on the graphic novel of the same name. King will play Angela Abar, a new character created specifically for the show, not originating from the source material. There’s a lot of interest and excitement about the series, especially after the 2009 film adaptation didn’t fare so well among audiences and critics. Returning to TV, we wouldn’t be surprised if King is once again among the potential nominees to consider for the Emmys following the first season of “Watchmen.”
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Until then, King can bask in the glow of her latest statuette. A well earned Oscar for a performance anchored in love and resilience.
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