Warmth, joy follow Oscars Harris’ trip to Africa to deepen outreach
Michelle Yeoh and Angela Bassett locked in a long embrace, whispering and laughing with glee as nearly every phone in the vicinity came out to take photos.
Vanity Fair’s annual post- Oscars party was full of such moments of warmth and joy as Sunday night led into Monday morning after a dramafree Academy Awards.
Yeoh, whose best actress Oscar was one of seven for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” had just walked into the party and was swarmed by well-wishers and selfieseekers before seeing Bassett, who hadn’t looked happy when she lost best supporting actress to Yeoh’s castmate Jamie Lee Curtis but was all smiles here.
Brendan Fraser got the same treatment when he walked in holding his best actor Oscar for “The Whale” shortly before Yeoh.
Half of the directing duo behind “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Daniel Scheinert stood outside and ate an In-nout burger, as he bopped up and down to House of Pain’s “Jump Around.”
The champagne-soaked affair, which begins as a viewing party for 100 people and grows into the night’s most sought-after invitation, is hosted by Vanity Fair editor Radhika Jones.
Oscar night is just beginning for many stars once the ceremony itself ends, and the first stop is always the Governors Ball.
Winners go with one main objective: getting their Oscars engraved with their names. Others take the chance to get a bite of the Wolfgang Puck-prepared bites.
“Navalny” director Daniel Roher took his newly personalized best documentary feature Oscar with him to wait in line for prime rib.
It was relatively calm until Curtis made her way to the platform and the photographers clamored.
When Ke Huy Quan finally appeared to get his best supporting actor statuette personalized, he hammed it up for the cameras, pumping his fist.
“The Whale” playwright and screenwriter Samuel D. Hunter was still processing the fact that Fraser not only won, but namechecked him in his acceptance speech.
Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel was waylaid outside of the main party, chatting with “Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski and “The Whale” director Darren Aronofsky. Judd Hirsch also made his way to Kimmel, who was in good spirits standing next to his wife and producer, Molly Mcnearney.
Brian Tyree Henry snapped a photo with Troy Kotsur, who won a best supporting actor award for his role in “CODA” last year, on his way out the door, leaving Kotsur free a few moments later to run after Michelle
Williams. When she stopped, Kotsur complimented Williams on bringing such authenticity to her role in “The Fabelmans.”
By 9:30, some were ready to go. Hugh Grant pointed to the exit and, separately, Sigourney Weaver wasn’t far behind. Vanity Fair was under way already.
“The Fabelmans” director and Hollywood royalty Steven Spielberg made a rare, and brief, party appearance. He was embraced by Ariana Debose, who won an Oscar last year for his “West Side Story.”
The fame, and fortune, of the Vanity Fair party goes well beyond Hollywood.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and partner Lauren Sanchez traded hugs, posed for photos and suggested travel plans with Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and wife, Ciara.
Tennis great John Mcenroe, his wife, singer Patty Smyth, and actor and screenwriter Mindy Kaling chatted and stood for their own photos across the room.
Vice President Kamala Harris will spend a week in Africa this month as the U.S. deepens its outreach to the continent amid global competition, notably with China.
Harris plans to be in Ghana from March 26 to 29, then in Tanzania from March 29 to 31. Her final stop is Zambia, on March 31 and April 1.
Harris has a personal connection to the third country. Her maternal grandfather worked in Zambia years ago, and she visited him there.
Harris’ agenda will include promoting democracy, climate adaptation, women’s economic empowerment and food security. Besides meeting the each country’s president, she plans to talk with young leaders, business representatives, entrepreneurs, and African Diaspora members.