It’s the morning after the Oscars, and Da’Vine Pleasure Randolph, who was celebrating her big win for best supporting actress until 5:45 a.m., looks like she would sleep the rest of the day if she closed the door. eyes for a second. And yet, despite her exhaustion, she is still radiant, full of joy at the way her life has changed since she landed her role as Mary Lamb, a grieving coffee shop manager, in Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.”
As she sits at the dining room table in a modern Beverly Hills condominium, soothing a hoarse voice with cough drops, Randolph sleepily declares, “Now I’ve got the keys to the castle!”
It’s a change for the Philadelphia-born actress, who says, “I used to learn how to make a lot out of little or nothing. It’s exciting to have access to resources and opportunities, especially as a woman of color.”
Randolph burst onto the scene with her breakout Broadway role as psychic Oda Mae Brown in 2012’s “Ghost: The Musical,” earning a Tony Award nomination and significant praise. That role paved the way for films like “Dolemite Is My Name” and “The Lost City,” in which she deftly stole scenes from veterans Eddie Murphy and Sandra Bullock, as well as the Hulu comedy series “Solely Murders in the Building.” ,” which found her sharing the screen with her acting idol, Meryl Streep.
Randolph has a method of magnetizing the viewer – you can’t look away. That’s definitely the case with “The Holdovers,” which gave the 37-year-old actress the most challenging and rewarding role of her career. The part required her to call on deep reserves of grief when portraying a mother dealing with the loss of her only son, who was killed in the Vietnam War.
For Payne, there is a pivotal scene in “The Holdovers” that fully demonstrates Randolph’s depth as an actress. When Mary, visiting her pregnant sister, considers giving her son’s children’s clothes as a gift, Payne remembers being surprised by “the look on her face.” Randolph wanted to show that her character refused to interrupt as she showed that early, hopeful moment in her life. “It conveys a deep, sad melancholy,” says Payne.
But as we sit together the day after Randolph’s elegant performance was recognized by her friends, the actress is looking forward to the other great roles she hopes to play.
How are you feeling this morning?
I really feel grateful. I really feel seen. I really feel wanted. I truly feel revered. I really feel like the time and work I put into the problems. I really feel excited about the long term. Growing up as someone who didn’t have much, always think that you get a lot: it’s exciting. Having access and being a black lady is very important.
You wore your grandmother’s glasses in “The Holdovers.” Why?
Every role I play, I always leave subliminal love letters to black women in the details. You can go back and check my resume – in every position, there’s a connection to someone I know personally, someone in history, a fellow actress. And I love that, because who knows, knows. Ultimately, what I’m doing is simply implementing moments of connection and honesty. And so her glasses were an artifact for me, so that if and after I got off track or derailed or lost the relationship, I would consider my grandmother and who she was and what she suffered, these glasses would set me back.
What was your grandmother like?
She was the matriarch of our house. She was the backbone. She came from the South and endured a lot. And when I think of someone who can stand up for others and be victorious regardless of their own pain, she is the first person I consider. I knew she would be a guiding person for me in telling this story. And that is a very unique feature: we as minorities can, in the midst of pain and loss and disparity, not only support other people, but also give and be kind and loving. In fact, that says one thing about someone’s character. We’ve been kicked in the ass so much and put in so much work that I’m moved to see how much empathy and love we can still have.
What would your grandmother consider your Oscar win?
She would be over the moon. Nobody in my house acts or sings – nothing. There is no feeling of leisure in my house. Sometimes I feel like a stranger, because I don’t even know where it comes from. But they were always supportive. They always saw the greatness within me and always nurtured it.
Can you tell me about the rise in Philadelphia?
It was one of the best. It was exactly what I wanted. There is something very distinct about the cities and communities of the Northeast, even in a film like “The Holdovers.” It’s a really different tradition, habits, angles, mannerisms… I like that. They don’t have that anywhere other than that pocket of the Northeast. And so, whether it’s Boston, New York, Philadelphia, I’m so grateful to have been born and raised and raised in a city that remembers that. I just love people. They make life fun and stand up for the oppressed, and I get a lot of satisfaction from that.
There were anti-war protests happening outside the Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are held, so the show ended up starting late. I heard you had visitors and your class was the first. What was going on in your mind?
I mean, listen, this is a serious undertaking. But that’s how I wanted to be: “Life is real.” While we have been in that traffic jam, we have seen homeless people looking for shelter. It was very interesting that I was in a very privileged situation, but the world still turns. It was chaotic, but it was good chaos. This really calmed me down.
To announce the winner for best supporting actress, the Academy presented all the legendary previous winners – Jamie Lee Curtis, Rita Moreno, Mary Steenburgen, Regina King and Lupita Nyong’o. How was that?
That knocked me out. I was in the front row, in the center. Do you know how someone can be very closed off at the movies? All the pieces are much grander. I used to be a big number.
You and Lupita went to Yale theater school together and started crying when she talked about you. What have you been feeling?
It felt like a really surreal full-circle moment, because I met her when I was becoming an actor. The emotion came because at that moment I had already received it for myself. I didn’t care whose identity they mentioned. I had already received it because it was there.
Over time, more than 3,300 Oscar statuettes have been awarded. But you’re only the nineteenth black woman to win one.
In some capacity?
Clear. Ten of them arrived here in his class. So that represents 0.005% of all Oscars. Can you discuss this legacy of Black women in this industry and how it applies to your grandmother or any of the women you’ve honored in your performances?
Maria is my grandmother. Maria is every lady. To be a lady of color, to be a lady with monetary limitations, there is a hustle, a drive, a diligence that is no different. And so I was very adamant about showing the world what it wants to be in our skin.
And at the same time, I wanted it to be something mainstream, because I didn’t want it to be something that only black women could understand, or that minorities could understand. I needed everyone to understand. I really need it for all my work. I don’t just have to make black films.
I will always pay homage, honor, uplift, and participate in the Black narrative, but I need to infiltrate and enter areas where we are not. I need to be in a Wes Anderson movie just ‘trigger’. I need to be in a David O. Russell film simply as a ‘trigger’. Coen brothers. I never saw us there. Because it’s later that I assume we can actually lead to education and creating real change. If we just carry on alone, nothing will change.
You were a pink carpet star this Oscar season. What is your strategy for being in fashion?
I like to have fun. And I just want people to know, “Don’t restrict yourself. Find out what you like. To play. Don’t get hung up on one factor.” Do you see why I like clothes so much? Because it is related at least to the person’s personality and sense of self. You don’t have to be as obsessive as I am, but I think that applies to self-love as well, like, “What colors do I feel good in? And, oh, these are my favorite jeans.” It’s taking a path of satisfaction with yourself. And I feel like that’s healthy and good for anyone.
You sat next to J. Lo at Style Week in Paris. What did you discuss?
Life, love, prosperity, success. She was starting to discuss her new venture that had just launched. It looks really cool. I have to test.
After receiving other awards this season, you introduced playing cards. You didn’t show up at the Oscars. Why?
In the last two weeks, people have said to me, “There are no Oscar letters.” They need to see my face. With these different speeches, half of those notes come from completely different notepads or hotel napkins.
After giving your speech, you talked about violating the Academy’s requests by thanking your publicist, Marla Farrell. Why did you try this?
Why wouldn’t you do that? Why? Why? That woman has been by my side since the beginning of my career. She has appeared to me countless times beyond what a publicist does, and I wouldn’t be here without her. She is past skill and has a heart of gold. So yeah, I don’t care. She deserved it.
You also thanked your Yale instructor, Ron Van Lieu. What did he do?
We used to evaluate scenes and textual content, and we would do, like, “A Doll’s Home”. Everyone got to play Nora, but I would be the only one in the class, what’s her name – Miss. Schmidt or something? And I’m like, “Why? Who is selecting this? Who will decide what stories I can tell? One time I got fed up and he said, “Well, who do you want to be?” And I realized that I don’t need to be anyone; I simply need to be myself. And he mentioned, “Cool. Do you realize who else they are? Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, De Niro. There was not one of them before them. So you will need to have persistence and resilience, as you are mainly building your personal path. There is no plan for you.” So he just understood me.
Not only did you appear in “The Holdovers” last year, but you also played Mahalia Jackson in “Rustin.” What was the desire to play these roles?
It was a full 12 months of adorable characters. And I’m very proud to have played fully realized, textured, challenging, multidimensional characters – women who have wants, needs, desires and motivations. Yes, I am immensely happy with what these 12 months have been like.
Can you tell me the difference between Da’Vine Joy Randolph on Saturday and the one who won the Oscar on Sunday?
There isn’t one. There’s a trophy in my house now, but I’m not completely different. You can’t come from Philadelphia and be changed; they won’t allow you to do that. This will be who I am. Roles will increase, money will increase, tensions will increase. I hope to leave a legacy and leave a mark with this profession. I hope my work matters and is something that people of all shapes, sizes, colors, creeds and genders can connect with. But me and my soul will not change.
Makeup: Sheika Daley/Dayone Studio/Lancome; Hair: Tai Simon/The Only Company/Joico; Location: Mandarin Oriental Residences, Beverly Hills; Style: Wayman + Micah/The Solely Company; Attire: custom Louis Vuitton; earrings: Moussaieff; Watch: Omega; Footwear: Alexander Birman