Entertainment

Adrien Brody is a two-time Oscar winner.

Brody nabbed his second best actor award, this time for his role in The Brutalist, beating out Timothée Chalamet, Colman Domingo, Ralph Fiennes and Sebastian Stan for the honor. He previously won in 2003 for The Pianist.

“Acting is a very fragile profession. It looks very glamorous and in certain moments it is, but the one thing that I’ve gained, having the privilege to come back here, is to have some perspective,” he said in his speech. “No matter where you are in your career, not matter what you’ve accomplished, it can all go away. And I think what makes this night most special is the awareness of that and the gratitude that I have to still do the work that I love.”

Referring to the themes of both The Brutalist and The Pianist, Brody shared, “I’m here once again to represent the lingering traumas and the repercussions of war, and systematic oppression and of antisemitism, and of racism and of othering. I pray for a healthier and a happier and a more inclusive world. And I believe, if the past can teach us anything, it’s a reminder to not let hate go unchecked.”

Finally he noted, “Let’s fight for what’s right. Keep smiling, keep loving one another. Let’s rebuild together.”

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Morgan Freeman made an appearance at the 97th Academy Awards Sunday, where he paid tribute to his “dear friend” Gene Hackman.

“This week, our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman,” Freeman began, noting the two worked on Unforgiven and Under Suspicion. “Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work,” he said.

“Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work,’” Freeman said. “I think I speak for us all when I say, Gene, you will be remembered for that, and so much more. Rest in peace, my friend.”

Morgan’s speech kicked off the in memoriam, which honored those in Hollywood who passed away in the last year. Actors Bob Newhart, Kris Kristofferson, Teri Garr, John Amos, Bill Cobbs, Joan Plowright, Donald Sutherland, Louis Gossett Jr., Jean Earl Jones and more were included in the segment.

Hackman, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and his dog were found dead Wednesday in their Santa Fe home. He was 95 years old.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Emilia Pérez track “El Mal,” written by Clément Ducol, Camille and Jacques Audiard, nabbed the Oscar for best original song Sunday, beating out songs by Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Bernie Taupin and Andrew Watt, Diane Warren and others.

“We wrote ‘El Mal’ as a song to denounce corruption,” Camille shared during her acceptance speech, “and we hope it speaks to the role music and art can play and continue to play as a force of the good and progress in the world.”

The award was handed out by The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, who joked that he wasn’t the first choice to present: “The producers really wanted Bob Dylan to do this.”

He added that Dylan didn’t want to do it because he thought the best songs in a film this year were in A Complete Unknown, referring to his music in the Dylan biopic.

Jagger joked that the 83-year-old Bob said, “You should find somebody younger,” with Jagger, who is 81, noting, “I said OK I’m younger. I’m younger than Bob, I’ll do it.”

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Zoe Saldaña won best supporting actress at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday night.

This was her first Oscar nomination and win. Saldaña was awarded the prize for her performance in Emilia Pérez. She was nominated alongside Monica Barbaro, Ariana Grande, Felicity Jones and Isabella Rossellini.

Last year’s winner, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, took to the stage to announce this year’s best supporting actress nominees. Randolph won the award in 2024 for her performance in The Holdovers.

Saldaña got emotional while accepting her award, first shouting out her mother, who was in attendance, before bringing attention to the significance of her win.

“I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award and I know I will not be the last,” Saldaña said. “The fact that I’m getting an award for a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish — my grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted. This is for my grandmother.”

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Together they’ve recorded the hit song “Born Again,” but at the 97th Academy Awards Sunday night, LISA, Doja Cat and RAYE individually took to the stage to salute Bond … James Bond.

As part of a tribute to the British super spy, The Substance star and nominee Margaret Qualley performed a dance number to the James Bond theme. Then, LISA appeared to sing and dance to “Live and Let Die,” originally co-written by Wings — aka the band Paul McCartney started after The Beatles broke up — for the 1973 Bond film of the same name.

Next up was Doja Cat, in a dress that looked like it was dripping with diamonds, to fittingly belt out “Diamonds Are Forever,” originally recorded by Shirley Bassey for the 1971 Bond film of the same name.  

RAYE finished the segment by appearing in a black-and-white dress to sing “Skyfall,” originally recorded by Adele for the 2012 Bond film of the same name. Coincidentally, Adele and RAYE attended the same performing arts academy, the BRIT School, in London.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Kieran Culkin won best supporting actor at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday night for his role in A Real Pain.

This was Culkin’s first-ever Oscar nomination and win. He was nominated alongside Yura Borisov, Edward Norton, Guy Pearce and Jeremy Strong.

Last year’s winner, Robert Downey Jr., took to the stage to announce this year’s best supporting actor nominees. Downey won the award in 2024 for his performance in Oppenheimer. He gave accolades to all the nominees, and when Culkin accepted his award, he added on to the praise Downey gave to Strong.

“He’s right by the way, Jeremy, you’re amazing in The Apprentice,” Culkin said.

Strong and Culkin starred as brothers Kendall and Roman Roy in all four seasons of HBO’s drama series Succession.

Culkin also sent love to his wife, Jazz Charton. He told a story about a promise she made to him after he won an Emmy in 2024. While accepting his award onstage, he famously proclaimed he wanted a third child.

While walking to their car after the Emmys ceremony, Culkin told Charton he actually wanted to have four kids.

“She said, ‘I will give you four when you win an Oscar,'” Culkin said, to much applause. “You remember that, honey?” The camera cut to Charton, who nodded and mouthed, “I do!”

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The stars were out in Hollywood Sunday for the 97th Academy Awards.

The show opened with a musical tribute to cinematic versions of The Wizard of Oz, featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, then cut to a The Substance-inspired video with host Conan O’Brien appearing from Demi Moore’s body.

Conan was then finally introduced as a “four-time Oscar viewer” and cracked jokes about all the Oscar-nominated films.

Regarding the length of The Brutalist, he noted, “I love The Brutalist, I didn’t want it to end. And luckily it didn’t.”

He also poked fun at the controversy surrounding Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón’s past tweets, joking about how many times fellow nominee Anora uses the F-word, then adding, “That’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón’s publicist.”

Conan also warned winners about their speeches being too long, and threatened to show early headshots of the actors if they were, including Timothée Chalamet‘s, whose picture was a sonogram. There was even a cameo from a dressed-down Adam Sandler.

Conan also got serious and talked about having the Oscars in the wake of recent Los Angeles wildfires.

“At moments like this, any award show can seem self-indulgent and superfluous,” he said, but then noted how the show “shines a light on a community of people you never see,” including those behind the camera.

He added, “So yes, even in the face of terrible wildfires and divisive politics, the work, which is what this is about, the work continues. And next year and through years to come, in trauma and joy, this seemingly absurd ritual is gonna be here,” before joking, “I will not.”

Finally, Conan ended the monologue with a musical number about how he won’t waste time during the show, thereby obviously wasting everyone’s time. 

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

It appears that Halle Berry has paid Adrien Brody back for that surprise kiss he planted on her lips when he won his best actor Oscar in 2003.

As you may recall, when Adrien went onstage to accept his award for the film The Pianist he pulled presenter Halle into his arms and kissed her, and it seems she returned the favor on the Oscars red carpet on Sunday.

Video posted to the academy’s official Instagram page shows Berry coming over to Brody on the red carpet, saying, “Sorry, there’s something I gotta do,” then kissing him.

The post was captioned, “A reunion 22 years in the making.”

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ariana Grande had the honor of opening the 97th Oscars on Sunday night.

After a montage of films set in LA, which ended with the message “We love LA,” Ari appeared wearing a sparkly red gown to sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” which Judy Garland sang in The Wizard of Oz. Since Ari is nominated for Wicked, a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, the choice was fitting.

Her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo, wearing a huge white gown with a purple floral accent, then took the stage to sing “Home” from The Wiz, another take on L. Frank Baum‘s classic tale.

The two then came together center stage to sing “Defying Gravity,” their big number from Wicked. Cynthia, of course, nailed every note, including the final battle cry, and both earned a standing ovation.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Harrison Ford will no longer be taking the stage at Sunday’s 97th Academy Awards, Good Morning America can confirm.

The 82-year-old Hollywood icon, originally slated to present at the ceremony, has stepped down after being diagnosed with shingles. Ford received the diagnosis on February 28 and is currently resting and recovering at home.

Shingles is caused by the same virus, varicella-zoster virus, that causes chickenpox and is characterized by a painful rash that develops on the face or body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A person sickened by chickenpox and who recovers can later get shingles when the virus reactivates.

A representative for Ford confirmed to ABC News that he officially withdrew from the Oscars on March 1.

Ford’s absence comes on the heels of a busy year for the actor. He recently wrapped his role in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking and starred as President Ross, aka Red Hulk, in Captain America: Brave New World, which hit theaters on February 14.

While Ford won’t be joining the star-studded lineup at the Dolby Theatre, movie lovers can still expect Hollywood’s biggest names in attendance.

The evening promises unforgettable moments and major wins across the industry’s most celebrated films.

The 2025 Oscars will air live Sunday on ABC in more than 200 territories worldwide beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

For the first time, the ceremony will also stream live on Hulu.

Disney is the parent company of Hulu, ABC News and “Good Morning America.”

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.