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Oscars 2021: Emerald Fennell wins Best Original Screenplay for rape-revenge satire 'Promising Young Woman'

Emerald Fennell, known for her brilliant portrayal of Camilla Parker Bowles in 'The Crown', won the award for her feature film debut

Going in trend with the predictions, Emerald Fennell, the writer-director for 'Promising Young Woman' starring Carey Mulligan in the lead, has bagged the Academy Award 2021 for Best Original Screenplay. The movie, which is being dubbed as a 'rape-revenge satire', marked Emerald Fennell's feature film debut.

Fennell is a well-known face in the film industry, especially because of her brilliant portrayal of the role of Camilla Parker Bowles in the Netflix hit 'The Crown'. Alongside, Fennell is also a seasoned filmmaker and writer, with many acclaimed movies to her credit. She has also worked as head writer for the popular series, 'Killing Eve'. This was the first Oscar nomination and win for Emerald Fennell and one of the very few women to win in this category. 

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Nominations for Best Original Screenplay

Fennell had been a strong favorite in the category from the beginning, especially after she had already won at the BAFTA and Writers Guild Awards. The other nominees in this category were Aaron Sorkin for 'The Trial of Chicago 7', Lee Isaac Chung for 'Minari', Abraham Marder, Darius Marder and Derek Cianfrance together for 'Sound of Metal' and Will Berson, Shaka King, Keith Lucas and Kenneth Lucas for 'Judas and the Black Messiah'.

Fennell beat one-time Oscar winner Aaron Sorkin to bag the award for the movie that shows a young woman's trauma about the events in her past, as she seeks out vengeance.

The official Academy Awards preshow, ‘Oscars: Into the Spotlight’, began airing on ABC at 6:30 pm ET. With Ariana DeBose and Lil Rel Howery as hosts, it offered a behind-the-scenes look at the big night with red carpet coverage and interviews. The main ceremony started at 8 pm ET on ABC. 

In an emotional speech during acceptance of the award, Fennell thanked her young son, lead actor Carey Mulligan, and even apologized to Oscars Producer Steven Soderbergh for not having written a proper acceptance speech. She added that she had written her Oscars acceptance speech as a child of 10 years and much of it was no longer relevant.

She called Carey Mulligan "not only the most talented person in the world but also the kindest and funniest". While thanking her son and her family, she said that her son "arrived two weeks after shooting, thank God. I was crossing my legs.” Fennell is presently pregnant with her second child as she celebrates the first Oscar win of her career.

'First woman to win a screenplay Oscar in 13 years'

Fennell's win was celebrated with much applaud on social media, as celebrities and fans poured in their sincere notes of congratulations. 

"Emerald Fennell is the first woman to win a screenplay Oscar in 13 years, since Diablo Cody triumphed in this same category for JUNO," noted actor Kyle Buchanan.

Vanity Fair editor Katey Rich reminded, "Emerald Fennell an iconic entry in my canon of "pregnant women getting shit done," directing Promising Young Woman and probably also winning an Oscar for it during two separate pregnancies!"

"Carey Mulligan crying over Emerald Fennell winning is making me so emotional. Team Promising Young Woman ALWAYS #Oscars," said Nora Dominick.

"Can you guess what every woman's worst nightmare is?" I'll be thinking about this film for days. Incredible debut from Emerald Fennell and a masterclass of cinema - everyone needs to watch this. #PromisingYoungWoman," tweeted a fan.