Critics Choice Awards 2023 LIVE — Brendan Fraser breaks down in tears as fans say Michelle Yeoh was ‘robbed’
THE 28th annual Critics Choice Awards brought a few surprises to awards season - and some fans aren't pleased.
Former golden boy Brendan Fraser cemented his comeback by winning Best Actor for his performance in The Whale.
The actor came to the stage sobbing and through his tears, gave an emotional acceptance speech where he encouraged viewers by saying: "I want you to know that if you, too, can have the strength to just get to your feet and go to the light, good things will happen."
Meanwhile, fans were furious when Tár actress Cate Blanchett won the award for Best Actress over Michelle Yeoh for her performance in Best Picture winner Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Viewers took to Twitter to say that Yeoh was "," with one : "MICHELLE YEOH WAS ROBBED AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT."
Read our 2023 Critics Choice Awards live blog for the latest updates...
Most Critics Choice Awards for best actress
There have been many iconic actresses who have received the Critics Choice Award for best actress since its incarnation in 1995.
Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain, Frances McDormand, Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, Meryl Streep, and Hilary Swank are all tied with two wins each in the category.
There is usually six actresses who are nominated for the award each year.
About the Critics Choice Association
The Critics Choice Association is made up of broadcast, radio and online critics as well as entertainment journalists who review films, documentaries, and television.
The association is comprised of more than 500 members and is currently the largest critics organization in the North American region.
Joey Berlin, Rod Lurie and 42 founding members founded the association in 1995.
Most Critics Choice Awards for best actor
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) started presenting Critics Choice Awards in 1995 with nominees beginning in 2001.
Throughout the years many famous actors have won Critics Choice Awards but only two stands above the others with the most wins.
Iconic actors Russell Crowe and Daniel Day-Lewis hold the record for most wins for best actor with three victories each.
Jack Nicholson and Sean Penn are not far behind sitting at two wins each.
Jeff Bridges honored at Critics Choice Awards
Actor John Goodman presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to his friend Jeff Bridges.
Jeff remembered his late dad onstage because the show and his birthday happened to be on the same day.
Some stars weren’t in attendance
After last week’s Golden Globes, a few celebrities tested positive for Covid-19 – meaning that there were some empty seats at Sunday’s ceremony.
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, stars of The Banshees of Inisherin, reportedly tested positive after the awards show.
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, was also not in attendance last night after testing positive.
Who votes on the Critics Choice Awards
The only individuals eligible to vote on the Critics Choice Award shows are members of the Critics Choice Association.
The group consists of journalists who specialize in broadcast, radio, entertainment, and also includes online critics.
The first Critic Choice Award was presented in 1996.
CCA touts diverse membership
The CCA is made up of more than 500 members and is a very diverse association.
68 percent of the members are male while 32 percent are females.
Nine percent of members identify as disabled and 17 percent are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
25 percent of the organization is made up of individuals that are Asian, Latino, Mixed, and African American.
How to become a CCA member
Applicants applying must be professional film critics or entertainment journalists with material that is viewed by a wide audience.
Online critics applying must be a primary critic on their site.
Radio film critics must be heard in big markets New York or Los Angeles or five markets in addition to their primary radio station.
Other CCA productions throughout the past year
The Critics Choice Association hosts a plethora of award shows throughout the year.
Below is a list of all productions produced by CCA:
- Critics Choice Real TV Awards
- Celebration of Asian Pacific Cinema and Television
- Celebration of Latino Cinema and Television
- Critics Choice Documentary Awards
- Celebration of Black Cinema & Television
- Critics Choice Super Awards
- Critics Choice Awards
Ke Huy Quan broke down during acceptance speech
Everything Everywhere All at Once star Ke Huy Quan won the Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor and gave an emotional acceptance speech that left many audience members in tears.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” the star started.
“I’m going to try real hard not to cry tonight. Ever since our movie came out, everyone has shown me such kindness that it’s hard not to get emotional – I’m so nervous!”
Quan added: “When I think about it, my comeback story could have been very different were it not for the critics.
“You’ve not only helped audiences find our little movie but you’ve helped audiences remember who I am.
“For that I am so grateful to you.”
Elvis won Best Hair and Makeup
Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis took home the Critics Choice for Best Hair and Makeup.
Elvis beat out the following hair and makeup teams:
- Babylon
- The Batman
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Everything Everywhere All at Once
- The Whale
Jennifer Coolidge ‘feels so alive’
The White Lotus star took to the stage to accept her Critics Choice Award with an emotional speech where she admitted that she feels “so alive” after returning to Hollywood.
“I feel so alive, you know?” the actress said.
“You go through your life, and you sort of just assume you’re used to going a certain way and you just take on whatever that baggage is and that it’s never going to change.
“My life was changed overnight, and I could not be more grateful.”
Amanda Seyfried had a wardrobe malfunction
When actress Amanda Seyfried joined her crew onstage to accept The Dropout’s Critics Choice Award for Best Limited Series, she wore a black jacket over her gorgeous gold gown.
During an interview on the red carpet before the event, Seyfried had admitted to Access Hollywood that her dress “kept breaking.”
“I’m just going to take off my dress,” she joked, showing that her sleeve had fallen down her arm.
“Honestly it’s old, it’s beautiful!”
She then added: “It’s a statue dress so if I don’t get one, at least I look like one.”
Sheryl Lee Ralph’s acceptance speech
Abbott Elementary actress Sheryl Lee Ralph spoke directly to the camera during her acceptance speech, saying: “To all of you watching here, come close to the screen and listen.
“People don’t have to like you. People don’t have to love you – they don’t even have to respect you.
“But when you look in the mirror, you better love what you see.”
What to know about Janelle Monae
Born on December 1, 1985, SeeHer Award recipient Janelle Monae is a native of Kansas.
They began singing as a child while growing up in the church.
After graduating from FL Schlagle High School, Janelle moved to New York City to study theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
They dropped out the next year and headed to Atlanta to further their education.
In 2003, Janelle self-released their first album – a demo that they allegedly sold out of the back of their car.
By 2006, they were signed to Sean Combs‘ Bad Boy Records.
Henry Winkler wore a dirty shirt
Barry star Henry Winkler said that he didn’t think he was going to win the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – so he didn’t clean his shirt after the Golden Globes.
“Thank you so much, I love what I do and I get to do it every day,” the legendary actor said.
Paul Walter Hauser announced pregnancy
Actor Paul Walter Hauser took home the award for his performance in Black Bird.
The star took to the stage and thanked his wife for his support before revealing that the couple is expecting!
The actor excitedly said: “The sequel is coming this April, another baby boy.”
Best Foreign Language Film is…
RRR won the Critics Choice for Best Foreign Language Film.
The action film was directed by S. S. Rajamouli, who co-wrote the film with V. Vijayendra Prasad.
RRR also took home the Best Song award for Naatu Naatu.
Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller presented first award
The stars of upcoming movie The Gorge presented the first awards of the night.
Miles rocked a mustache while Anya Taylor-Joy stunned in a nude gown.
The young stars presented the award to Amanda Seyfried, who won Best Actress in a Limited Series for her portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes in The Dropout!
Some stars weren’t in attendance
After last week’s Golden Globes, a few celebrities tested positive for Covid-19 – meaning that there were some empty seats at Sunday’s ceremony.
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, stars of The Banshees of Inisherin, reportedly tested positive after the awards show.
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, was also not in attendance last night after testing positive.
Best Picture nominees reached an ‘exact tie’
There were 11 Best Picture nominees this year due to an “exact tie,” according to the Critics Choice Association.
Everything Everywhere All at Once beat out the other 10 contenders, which included:
- Avatar: The Way of Water
- Babylon
- The Banshees of Inisherin
- Elvis
- The Fabelmans
- Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
- RRR
- Tár
- Top Gun: Maverick
- Women Talking
Chelsea Handler called out Hollywood’s sexism
Critics Choice host Chelsea Handler started off the show by talking about Hollywood’s continued pattern of sexism.
The comedian joked: “I don’t want to say that studios treat male and female directors differently, but James Cameron was given a budget of $350million and Sarah Polley had to film Women Talking in a barn.”
Elvis wins Best Hair and Makeup
Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis took home the Critics Choice for Best Hair and Makeup.
Elvis beat out the following hair and makeup teams:
- Babylon
- The Batman
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Everything Everywhere All at Once
- The Whale
Pachinko won Best Foreign Language Series
Pachinko on Apple TV+ won the Critics Choice for Best Foreign Language Series.
The show beat out the following series:
- 1899
- Borgen
- Extraordinary Attorney Woo
- Garcia!
- The Kingdom Exodus
- Kleo
- My Brilliant Friend
- Tehran
Jennifer Coolidge ‘feels so alive’
The White Lotus star took to the stage to accept her Critics Choice Award with an emotional speech where she admitted that she feels “so alive” after returning to Hollywood.
“I feel so alive, you know?” the actress said.
“You go through your life, and you sort of just assume you’re used to going a certain way and you just take on whatever that baggage is and that it’s never going to change.
“My life was changed overnight, and I could not be more grateful.”