Every awards season has its issues, but this year, being mired in celebrations of alleged sexual predators and white savior nonsense, seems especially bleak. Of course, there are bright spots, too. For example:
Pic is so powerful #BlackPanther #CrazyRichAsians pic.twitter.com/eN3baxMvrm
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) January 28, 2019
Personally, the brightest ray of sunshine I’m finding this awards season is in Richard E. Grant, who’s getting a lot of much-deserved love for his role in Can You Ever Forgive Me? Grant is a three-decade-plus veteran of the acting industry, and this is his first Oscar nomination. And I absolutely love that he is in no way trying to play it cool.
Am levitating at this astonishing news. Thank you to @TheAcademy for this nomination in such incredible company. I’m indebted to so many people but most of all @melissamccarthy & Marielle Heller @cyefm ❤️@SearchlightUK pic.twitter.com/CIdJSMLkj1
— Richard E. Grant (@RichardEGrant) January 22, 2019
Red-eyed with my daughter @ShmiviaGrant in a restaurant when we heard the news about the Oscar nomination for @cyefm today. pic.twitter.com/p42e58mbuA
— Richard E. Grant (@RichardEGrant) January 22, 2019
This is what it felt like for @melissamccarthy and our director Marielle Heller and I, to receive Oscar nominations for @cyefm which is released in the UK on 1st February by @SearchlightUK pic.twitter.com/6h0OYIoN88
— Richard E. Grant (@RichardEGrant) January 23, 2019
Since Grant isn’t one to play it cool in the face of fame, he also totally geeked out in front of Barbara Streisand’s house yesterday, sharing a picture and writing “Asked Security for permission & he replied ‘It’s a public road, but thanks for asking.’ Wrote her this letter when I was 14. My wife is very understanding!”
The letter he mentions was an invitation to Streisand from 14-year-old Grant to stay at their family’s estate in South Africa. Grant had “read in the paper you were feeling very tired and pressurized by your fame and failed romance with Mr. Ryan O’Neal” and wanted to offer her a secluded vacation. Like any good teenage theatre geek, he ends with a Shakespeare quote. It’s all just too adorable.
As a lifelong fan of someone you’ll understand what it meant for me to take this snap outside the home of @BarbraStreisand Asked Security for permission & he replied ‘It’s a public road, but thanks for asking’ Wrote her this letter when I was 14. My wife is very understanding! pic.twitter.com/3SohXKpgZT
— Richard E. Grant (@RichardEGrant) January 29, 2019
But then, amazingly, Barabara Streisand replied.
Dear Richard What a wonderful letter you wrote me when u were 14 ! and look at u now! You’re terrific in your latest movie with Melissa congratulations and love Barbra
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) January 29, 2019
And Grant’s reaction was beautiful.
My pal Nicole Wilcox took this photo as my daughter read me @BarbraStreisand ‘s tweet/response to a letter I sent her 47 yrs ago. Am completely crinkle faced & overcome with emotion. My ‘Message in a bottle’ miracle. 😭😍😇 pic.twitter.com/bJMko098we
— Richard E. Grant (@RichardEGrant) January 30, 2019
It took 48 years, but his reaction is worth the wait.
- Black Panther is coming back to theaters for free screenings in February, in honor of Black History Month. (via Polygon)
- Congresswomen are being encouraged to wear suffragette white to the State of the Union Address next week as “a respectful message of solidarity with women across the country, and a declaration that we will not go back on our hard-earned rights.” (via The Slot)
- This is a great article on “the unique harm we cause when we dissect a powerful woman’s love life,” in regard to the attacks on Kamala Harris’ past relationship with Willie Brown. (via Washington Post)
- Amazon’s Hanna series has a trailer and the first episode will air this weekend after the Super Bowl! (via Collider)
What did you all see out there on this unbelievably freezing day?
(via , image: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
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