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Oscars 2021: Youn Yuh-jung wins Best Supporting Actress for 'Minari', fans joke she 'flirted with Brad Pitt'

This marks her first nomination and her first win as well, making her the first Korean actress to win under this category

Hollywood's biggest night is truly a defining moment for world cinema. For actors who are nominated, the Oscars truly sets them apart from the rest. For her phenomenal performance in 'Minari', Youn Yuh-jung bagged the award for 'Best Actress in a Supporting Role'.

This category had tough contenders, Olivia Colman for her role as 'Anne' in 'The Father', Maria Bakalova for her role as 'Tutar Sagdiyev' in 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm', Amanda Seyfried for her role as 'Marion Davies' in 'Mank', and Glenn Close for her role as 'Mamaw' in ‘Hillbilly Elegy'.

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Youn Yuh-jung played the role of 'Soon-ja' in the movie. As per the synopsis of the movie, the movie follows the story of a Korean American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of its own American dream. Amid the challenges of this new life in the strange and rugged Ozarks, they discover the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home. Youn Yuh-jung's performance in the movie is particularly moving as it shows her struggle with her new life in Arkansas while trying to reconnect with her family. Just as she is making progress, she suffers from a stroke and her family begins to crumble, caving under the pressure of a new life. 

Who is Youn Yuh-jung?

Youn Yuh-jung was born in 1947 in Kaesong, Gyeonggi Province, although she grew up Seoul. She attended Hangyang University majoring in Korean language and literature, but she dropped out of college to star in 'Mister Gong', a 1967 TV drama.

Her work also included 'Woman of Fire', for which she won several awards, 'The Housemaid', 'The Taste of Money', and 'Canola', making her a renowned actress in South Korea. International fame came with her portrayal of Soon-ja in 'Minari', seeing that she went on to become the first Korean actress to win a Screen Actors Guild Award and British Academy Film Award. She is also the first Korean actress to be nominated for a Critics' Choice Movie Award. 

Has she won/ been nominated before?

Youn Yuh-Jung Has not been nominated before this. This marks her first nomination and her first win as well, making her the first Korean actress to win under this category.

'First thing she does is gush over Brad Pitt'

Fans took to Twitter to celebrate the actress's win, including the fact that she joked about meet Brad Pitt. "She is such a delight. Youn Yuh-jung just won an Oscar and the first thing she does is gush over Brad Pitt. #Oscars" tweeted a user. "Youn Yuh-jung just flirted with Brad Pitt and everybody just let this queen talk for as long as she wants #Oscars," added another. "Youn Yuh-jung calling out everyone for mispronouncing her name AND thirsting after Brad Pitt in the same breath??? Our Oscar winner !!" added another. 

The actress also joked about how she felt she just had a little more luck than the others seeing that winning over Glenn Close must have been 'American hospitality'. Fans loved how funny the actress kept her entire speech. "Youn Yuh-jung's acceptance speech is so genuine and wholesome," tweeted a fan. "Youn Yuh-Jung also wins best speech of the night #Oscars," added another. "Youn Yuh-jung just roasting everyone in sight," tweeted another.

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.