The widow of the late actor Chadwick Boseman shared the speech she had prepared in the event he won a Best Actor Oscar for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, according to a report published Friday, March 13, by The Hollywood Reporter.
Boseman was nominated for the award for his performance in the 2020 film, but Anthony Hopkins ultimately received the honor for his work in The Father. The revelation comes five years after Boseman’s passing and offers a glimpse into the heartfelt tribute Simone Ledward-Boseman had envisioned.
Ledward-Boseman’s prepared statement expressed gratitude to Boseman’s family, the film’s creators, and God. She described her husband as “a spirit that refused to surrender to despair” and concluded with the words, “Long live the King,” a reference to his iconic role as King T’Challa in Black Panther. The enduring popularity of the Black Panther franchise demonstrates the power of representation and inclusive storytelling in the entertainment industry.
Chadwick Boseman died on August 28, 2020, at the age of 43, following a private battle with colon cancer. Prior to his death, he received a posthumous nomination for a BAFTA Award and won a Golden Globe for his leading role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The actor’s final performance was widely praised by critics and cemented his legacy as a powerful and versatile talent.
The posthumous accolades highlight the lasting impact of Boseman’s work and the industry’s recognition of his exceptional contribution to cinema.
Simone Ledward-Boseman shared the speech she would have read at the 2021 Oscars had her late husband won Best Actor for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
“It says: I will never stop thanking God for you. Thank you to the most high God. Thank you, Carolyn and Leroy Boseman [Chadwick’s parents], and your mothers, and your mothers’ mothers. What purity. What honesty. What pain. What a role. What work,” Ledward-Boseman’s speech read. “What beautiful, intricate humanity. What courage, bravery, fearlessness, honesty, commitment, humanity, strength. A spirit that refused to surrender to despair. What an actor. What an artist. What a cast. What a team. What a vision. Glory be to the most high God. Long live the King….”
