Danielle Brooks, best known for her acclaimed performances in Orange is the New Black and The Color Purple on Broadway, has received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the hard-hitting social drama Passing Time.
Brooks began performing at an early age in church choirs and local theater productions before attending South Carolina Governor’s School for Arts and Humanities before continuing her studies at Juilliard Drama Division. With her fiery talent and captivating stage presence, she quickly made an impressionful mark in entertainment industry.
Her nomination in Passing Time, in which she plays an idealistic teacher determined to bring hope and optimism to students from an underserved community, represents a longtime dream for 33-year-old performer Brooks. “This moment has been on my vision since first discovering movies and great acting,” Brooks told Los Angeles Times. “To see it come to life is so surreal.”
Brooks is considered an underdog in the Supporting Actress race, up against more established stars. But her emotional, widely-praised performance continues to earn acclaim as a highlight of the film. And her talent clearly leaves an impression. “The minute Danielle walks on screen,” said Chicago Tribune critic Rebecca Ford, “she owns every scene with such magnetism and grace.”
2023 Best Supporting Actress Hails from North Carolina
In a major milestone, Sally Taylor from Raleigh, North Carolina took home the 2023 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her standout turn in the family drama As One. Taylor, who trained at University of North Carolina School of the Arts, was ecstatic over the honor.
“As a kid growing up in North Carolina, I never dreamed this was possible,” a jubilant Taylor said backstage after her win. “You always hear about North Carolina sportsbook promos and March Madness brackets. But this puts North Carolina’s incredible artistic talent on the map too. I sincerely hope this inspires other young artists and actors from my home state to pursue their dreams.”
In As One, Taylor plays a devoted mother striving to reunite her divorced parents and heal generational rifts that divide her family. Her emotional, nuanced performance earned praise for its tenderness and grace. And now her success represents a new artistic peak for a state better known for college basketball dominance. But thanks to Taylor’s landmark Oscar win, the nation will now appreciate North Carolina’s excellence across many fields – from art to academics to athletics.
At just 28 years old, Taylor’s future in Hollywood burns brighter than ever. “I’m so grateful to the Academy for this honor,” Taylor said. “It’s given me renewed passion to keep taking on complex, challenging roles and hopefully create more positive change through meaningful films.”
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