Gwyneth Paltrow took to Instagram to post her reaction, visibly thrilled as Robert Downey Jr. bagged the best supporting actor Oscar for his performance in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer,’ watching the big moment unfold on her laptop.
The duo’s friendship dates back to their roles as Tony Stark and Pepper Potts in the 2008 film ‘Iron Man,’ which set the stage for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Their collaboration extended through the ‘Iron Man’ series and included appearances in other Marvel movies like ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ and ‘Avengers: Infinity War.’
gwyneth paltrow watching robert downey jr winning his oscar ❤️ pic.twitter.com/RaXIuVHu5N
— bee (@PEPPERP0TTS) March 11, 2024
Downey’s Light-Hearted Speech
‘Oppenheimer’ was a landmark in Downey Jr.’s career, marking his third Oscar nomination. His previous nominations were for ‘Chaplin’ and ‘Tropic Thunder.’
This year’s win followed a successful run in the awards season, where he also clinched best supporting actor at the Golden Globes, Critic’s Choice Awards, SAG Awards, and BAFTA Film Awards.
Downey Jr.’s acceptance speech at the Oscars mixed humor with thanks, jokingly starting with:
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy — in that order. I’d like to thank my veterinarian — I meant wife, Susan Downey, over there. She found me a snarling rescue pet and you loved me back to life. That’s why I’m here.”
He’s Thankful For The ‘Oppenheimer’ Part
Further into his speech, the actor expressed how meaningful the role of Admiral Lewis Strauss was to him:
“Here’s my little secret. I needed this job more than it needed me. Chris knew it. Emma made sure that she surrounded me with one of the great casts and crews of all time — Emily [Blunt], Cillian [Murphy]. It was fantastic. And I stand here before you a better man because of it. What we do is meaningful, and the stuff that we decide to make is important.”
In addition to best supporting actor, ‘Oppenheimer’ won six more awards at the ceremony, including best lead actor, best cinematography, and best director.
Next for Downey Jr. is a team-up with director Park Chan-wook for the HBO limited series ‘The Sympathizer,’ set to premiere on April 14.
