Michael B. Jordan is officially an Academy Award winner.
After weeks of anticipation, the Oscars underdog-turned-frontrunner nabbed the Best Actor award on Sunday for his riveting work in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” beating out fellow nominees Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Wagner Moura and Ethan Hawke.
Jordan’s dual roles as gangster twins in “Sinners” earned him his first Oscar nomination and, now, his first win.
“I stand here because of the people that came before me: Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Will Smith,” he said, naming Black actors who have won the lead actor Oscar. “To be amongst those giants, those greats, amongst my ancestors...”
He continued, “Thank you everybody in this room and everybody at home for supporting me over my career. I feel it. I know you guys want me to do well, and I want to do that because you guys bet on me. So thank you for keeping betting on me. I’m going to keep stepping up, and I’m going to keep being the best version of myself I can be.”
