Chadwick Boseman picked up the best actor in a motion picture-drama prize for his performance as a talented jazz musician in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, becoming only the second posthumous winner in the category’s history. His wife, Simone Ledward Boseman, gave an emotional acceptance speech on the late actor’s behalf.
Boseman died on August 18, 2020, of cancer at the age of 43. His death at such a young age shocked Hollywood, coming as the actor had summited the A-list with his performance in the Marvel box office smash “Black Panther.”
“He would thank God. He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices,” Ledward Boseman said. “He would say something beautiful, something inspiring, something that would amplify that little voice inside of all of us that tells you, ‘You can,’ that tells you to keep going, that calls you back to what you are meant to be doing at this moment in history.”
Ledward Boseman also thanked Boseman’s co-stars, director George C. Wolfe, Netflix, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, his mentor Denzel Washington and more.
“I don’t have his words, but we have to take all the moments to celebrate those we love, so thank you HFPA, for this opportunity to do exactly that. And, honey, you keep ’em coming. Thank you,” she said.
Boseman beat out stiff competition to win the honor. He was up against Anthony Hopkins (“The Father”), Riz Ahmed (“The Sound of Metal”), Gary Oldman (“Mank”) and Tahar Rahim (“The Mauritanian”).
Boseman also recently appeared in Spike Lee’s “Da Five Bloods,” a Vietnam drama that has earned him Oscar buzz. Over the course of his career, Boseman showed a talent for playing historical figures, turning in memorable performances as baseball great Jackie Robinson in “42,” music legend James Brown in “Get on Up,” and as Civil Rights crusader Thurgood Marshall in “Marshall.” He also starred in the 2019 thriller “21 Bridges.” This was Boseman’s first Golden Globe nomination.
