by BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Straight after her first Oscar nomination for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Jamie Lee Curtis was honored Saturday at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards with a career achievement and praised by her peers for her milestone.
At 64, Curtis is a full grown adult, but she exuded a childlike energy and soaked up every moment of praise.
Cheering, Curtis made her way down the red carpet in a classic black suit with floral embellishments, posed for photos with her boyfriend Brian Tyree Henry, paused mid-interview to say hello to fellow first-time Oscar nominee Brendan Fraser, and stopped once more to to share a beautiful moment with Jeff Bridges as the old friends kissed, hugged and had a quick chat ahead of the ceremony that took place at the Beverly Wilshire hotel.
It was a night to celebrate standout TV and movies that resonated with fans 50 and older, but the AARP Awards felt more like a pre-Oscar celebration as many nominees were under the same roof weeks before the March 12 ceremony .
Here are highlights from the night:
Jamie Lee Curtis Marks ‘Huge’ Week, Receives First Oscar Nomination for ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’
“It’s been a big week,” Curtis said on the red carpet of her Oscar nomination. “It will never settle.”
“Everything Everywhere” scored 11 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Star Michelle Yeoh (who missed the AARP event while filming “Wicked” in London) has her first Best Actress nomination, and Curtis and Stephanie Hsu earned their first supporting actress nominations.
On Saturday, Curtis celebrated “Everything Everywhere” as a movie about “the forgotten people of the world.”
“I love that we made a movie about the immigrant experience in truth, not fantasy, and that it shows the very challenging aspects of being an immigrant,” she told USA TODAY on the red carpet.
The film’s themes of love and community appealed to Curtis. “It’s a movie about reconciliation and that ultimately through failure we just need love,” she told USA TODAY. “We all need that kindness and love, and the rest is not important.”
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AARP Awards host Alan Cumming, Brian Tyree Henry sings the praises of Jamie Lee Curtis
“I’m saying such good things about you right now,” Lisa Ann Walter (“Abbott Elementary”) told Curtis on the red carpet as “Black Bird” actor Paul Walter Hauser got down on one knee and the stunned icon held a Smashburger.
“I love you, and I feed the people I love,” Hauser told Curtis before the two embraced.
Before taking the stage to collect her award, Curtis thumped the table with excitement when Henry introduced her, then bolted from her seat and ran up the stairs.
“For the most part, I really enjoy being an adult,” she said during her speech. “I love that we kind of know who we are and what we’re about and what we like and what we don’t like, and that’s given me the greatest confidence. I love that we know we’re here are for something more than shiny things and Instagram likes. I love that we know and recognize that it’s our responsibility to do our part before we die to just make the world a better place.”
On the carpet, host Alan Cumming told USA TODAY that Curtis is “so admirable” for battling Hollywood beauty standards and embracing aging.
“She’s been very open about that, and that makes her more authentic as a person and as an artist,” Cumming said. “We love the fact that she’s a grown woman.”
Sheryl Lee Ralph on the beauty of aging: ‘I respect it’
“Abbott Elementary” star Sheryl Lee Ralph, who won the Best TV Actress award, spoke to USA TODAY about embracing aging.
“This is my natural face,” she said. “It’s not pulled, it’s not tucked, it’s not stuffed or anything and it’s my 60-year-old face. My body is still my body, it’s still me. And the way I age, it’s different? Absolutely, but I respect it.”
She said she thinks of friends who died young. “I wish they had a chance to live, to grow older, to grow up. But they didn’t. So don’t turn your nose up at getting older, because not everyone can do it. “
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Austin Butler arrives fashionably late, Baz Luhrmann dedicates award to Elvis Presley
As attendance dwindled, “Elvis” star Austin Butler showed up fashionably late. Cue the chaos on the red carpet. The star didn’t stop for interviews, instead waving to the flashy cameras before moving in to award best director to Luhrmann.
“It is his intention to create art for audiences of all ages to enjoy together,” said Butler in his moving introduction. “The stories are specific and his messages are universal.”
Luhrmann called Butler a “miracle” who “humanized Elvis” by bringing “his inner life, his spiritual life and his sensitivity” to the forefront of the film.
“I would like to dedicate this award to Mr. Elvis Presley,” the director concluded.
Austin Butler calls ‘Elvis’ wink ‘bittersweet’: “I wish Lisa Marie was here”
Brendan Fraser, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ star Glen Powell celebrates
Hong Chau, nominated for an Oscar for “The Whale,” awarded Fraser as Best Actor.
“Tonight I stand before you as an Oscar nominee,” said 54-year-old Fraser to loud applause and a standing ovation. “I know that life doesn’t begin at 50, but it can renew and reward beyond our wildest dreams. I am proof of that, as are so many people in this room.”
Glen Powell awarded producer Jerry Bruckheimer with Best Picture for “Top Gun: Maverick.” As Fraser returned to his seat with girlfriend Jeanne Moore, he crossed Powell and Bruckheimer on their way backstage to take photos. The three congratulated each other on their awards.
Judd Hirsch, 87, who won the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in “The Fabelmans,” joked that director Steven Spielberg said there were “no aliens on dinosaurs in this movie. Well, he was wrong — I’m either thing.”
2023 Oscar Nominations: ‘Everything Everywhere’ leads with 11, Jamie Lee Curtis gets first nod
Complete list of AARP winners
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards will air February 17 on PBS.
Career Achievement: Jamie Lee Curtis
Best Photo/Best Movie: “Top Gun: Maverick”
Best Actress: Michelle Yeoh (“Everything everywhere at once”)
Best Actor: Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”)
Best Supporting Actress: Judith Ivey (“Women Talk”)
Best Supporting Actor: Judd Hirsch (“The Fablemans”)
Best Director: Baz Luhrman (“Elvis”)
Best Screenwriter: Kazuo Ishiguro (“Life”)
Best Ensemble: “She said”
Best Intergenerational: “Until”
Best Time Capsule: “Elvis”
Best Love Story: “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande”
Best Documentary: “Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down”
Best Foreign Film: “The Quiet Girl” (Ireland)
Best TV Actress: Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary School”)
Best TV Actor: Jeff Bridges (“The Old Man”)
Best TV Series: “The old man”
Best TV Movie/Limited Series: “Black Bird”
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jamie Lee Curtis Receives AARP Award, Celebrates Oscar Nomination
