{"id":385015,"date":"2025-11-17T10:46:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T10:46:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/385015\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T10:46:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T10:46:11","slug":"ariana-grande-sydney-sweeney-tom-cruise-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/385015\/","title":{"rendered":"Ariana Grande, Sydney Sweeney, Tom Cruise and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Honorary Oscars<\/a> to actor and producer Tom Cruise<\/a>, choreographer and actor Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas at the 16th Governors Awards<\/a> on Sunday at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood.<\/p>\n

\n\tMusic icon and philanthropist Dolly Parton<\/a> received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which she accepted via a pre-recorded message.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe annual event, produced by Jennifer Fox, drew numerous filmmakers, stars and Oscar hopefuls. Director Guillermo del Toro attended alongside his \u201cFrankenstein\u201d cast members Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth, as well as costume designer Kate Hawley and composer Alexandre Desplat. <\/p>\n

\n\tOther notable attendees I spotted included Noah Baumbach and Adam Sandler from \u201cJay Kelly,\u201d Edward Berger and Colin Farrell from \u201cBallad of a Small Player,\u201d and Kate Winslet with writer Joe Anders from \u201cGoodbye June.\u201d Directors Clint Bentley, Richard Linklater and Rian Johnson were present with cast members from their respective films \u201cTrain Dreams,\u201d \u201cNouvelle Vague\u201d and \u201cWake Up Dead Man.\u201d \u201cWicked: For Good\u201d stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo also charmed the room, along with Ethan Hawke from \u201cBlue Moon\u201d and Chlo\u00e9 Zhao from \u201cHamnet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tNotable absences included Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet from \u201cMarty Supreme,\u201d Paul Mescal from \u201cHamnet\u201d and Russell Crowe from \u201cNuremberg.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tLegendary production designer Wynn Thomas received his first Oscar, presented by Octavia Spencer. Widely recognized as the first African American production designer in film history, Thomas has worked with directors including Spike Lee, Tim Burton and Ron Howard on films such as \u201cDo the Right Thing,\u201d \u201cMalcolm X,\u201d \u201cHidden Figures\u201d and \u201cA Beautiful Mind.\u201d He was also the first African American to join the Art Directors Guild and be nominated for an Art Directors Guild award.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn his acceptance speech, Thomas reflected on growing up poor and Black in Philadelphia, finding escape and purpose in books. He delivered the night\u2019s biggest laugh with this line: \u201cThe local gangs looked down on me and called me a sissy. But that sissy grew up to work with some great filmmakers!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWicked for Good\u201d star Cynthia Erivo had the honor of presenting an Honorary Oscar to choreographer and actor Debbie Allen, whom she affectionately calls, \u201cAuntie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAllen spotted Cruise in the audience and couldn\u2019t resist a playful nod to his iconic \u201cRisky Business\u201d moment. \u201cHoney,\u201d she teased, \u201cwe loved when you slid out in those tightie-whities.\u201d The crowd roared as Allen leaned into the nostalgia, reminding everyone why Cruise remains one of Hollywood\u2019s most enduring showmen.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Honorary Award, according to the Academy, is given \u201cto honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or outstanding service to the Academy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, also an Oscar statuette, is awarded to \u201can individual in the motion picture arts and sciences whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry by promoting human welfare and contributing to rectifying inequities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe 2024 Governors Awards ceremony honored Quincy Jones (posthumously), the first Black producer to be nominated for best picture; legendary casting director Juliet Taylor; screenwriter and director Richard Curtis; and longtime James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.<\/p>\n

\n\tAs usual, the un-televised ceremony delivered a mix of heartfelt speeches, star-studded reunions and candid moments that viewers at home will never see. Here are the 10 most memorable highlights from inside the room.<\/p>\n

\n\tAriana Grande Takes a Photo with EJAE, the Voice Behind \u201cGolden\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tAriana Grande had one of the night\u2019s most charming cross-generational interactions when she took a photo with EJAE, the singer behind \u201cGolden,\u201d the biggest hit of the year and a leading contender in the original song race. She also posed with singer-songwriter Aiyana-Lee, who sings and appears in Spike Lee\u2019s \u201cHighest 2 Lowest.\u201d The exchange delighted nearby attendees \u2014 and showed how the Governors Awards uniquely blends music, film and rising talent.<\/p>\n

\n\tTom Cruise<\/a>\u2019s Honorary Oscar \u2014 and the Moment Sydney Sweeney Froze<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tTwo-time best director winner Alejandro Gonz\u00e1lez I\u00f1\u00e1rritu presented Tom Cruise with his Honorary Oscar, calling him an \u201cAmores Perros\u201d superfan and praising him as \u201cthe embodiment of movies.\u201d I\u00f1\u00e1rritu is directing Cruise in an as-yet-untitled Warner Bros. film slated for 2026.<\/p>\n

\n\tWatching Cruise at that moment, I couldn\u2019t help but think of Paul Newman\u2019s trajectory \u2014 when he received an Honorary Oscar and then won competitively the following year for \u201cThe Color of Money\u201d (1986), which co-starred a young Cruise.<\/p>\n

\n\tEarlier, Sydney Sweeney experienced her own movie-star shockwave. When Cruise approached, she froze.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cHave you ever met him?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cNo, never,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cGo say hi.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI don\u2019t even know what to say.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tEarlier in the evening, Andra Day \u2014 a clear Cruise superfan \u2014 adjusted his undone button mid-conversation. The movie-star aura remains undefeated.<\/p>\n

\n\tWill Arnett Kicks Things Off, Andra Day Brings the House Down<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tWill Arnett, star of Bradley Cooper\u2019s third feature as a director, \u201cIs This Thing On?,\u201d set the tone with a loose, deadpan introduction: \u201cYou might know me from my storied film career \u2014\u00a0and the story is thanks to Bradley Cooper, he finally made a good one, huh?\u201d Arnett then handed things over to co-star Andra Day, who performed a soulful cover of Dolly Parton\u2019s \u201cJolene\u201d immediately after Parton\u2019s pre-recorded acceptance speech, earning huge applause from the room.<\/p>\n

\n\tAustin Butler Chats With Jacob Elordi and Walks With Josh O\u2019Connor<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tBetween greetings and photo ops, Austin Butler found himself playing unofficial usher. The \u201cElvis\u201d actor appeared to point \u201cWake Up Dead Man\u201d star Josh O\u2019Connor to his seat before chatting with Jacob Elordi. The \u201cFrankenstein\u201d star also squeezed in conversations with Jennifer Lopez, there to support her film \u201cKiss of the Spider Woman,\u201d and the cast of Cannes darling \u201cSentimental Value,\u201d including Renate Reinsve, Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas.<\/p>\n

\n\tTom Cruise\u2019s Speech Leaves Wagner Moura Ready to Shoot<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe Secret Agent\u201d star Wagner Moura was deeply moved by Tom Cruise\u2019s career reel and speech<\/a>.
\u201cI really want to go make a movie right now,\u201d he told me afterward, calling Cruise\u2019s tribute \u201cpure fuel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Room So Star-Packed You Couldn\u2019t Walk Straight<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tAt one point, I found myself surrounded by Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Benicio Del Toro, Jennifer Lopez, Ted Sarandos, Hailee Steinfeld, Rian Johnson, Mark Hamill, Sydney Sweeney \u2014 and Cruise himself. Navigating the room became an Olympic sport but what a room to be in.<\/p>\n

\n\tLily Tomlin\u2019s Wild and Wonderful Dolly Parton Tribute<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tComedy legend Lily Tomlin received a standing ovation before launching into a hilariously meandering, heavily improvised 15-minute introduction for Dolly Parton. After sharing that she has double-vision issues, she reminisced about pajama-party sleepovers with Jane Fonda and Parton while making their 1980 comedy classic \u201c9 to 5,\u201d joking, \u201cCan you picture Brando inviting Pacino and Duvall over for a sleepover?\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tHalfway through, producers tried to roll Parton\u2019s pre-taped speech \u2014 prompting Tomlin to pause and ask whether she was being gently nudged offstage.<\/p>\n

\n\tAn \u201cUncut Gems\u201d Reunion<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tAdam Sandler caught up with his \u201cUncut Gems\u201d directors Benny and Josh Safdie, who were supporting their respective new films as individual directors: \u201cThe Smashing Machine\u201d and \u201cMarty Supreme.\u201d The moment prompted a flurry of table-hopping from filmmakers eager to greet them.<\/p>\n

\n\tLooking Forward to \u201cProject Hail Mary\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tPhil Lord and Christopher Miller don\u2019t have a movie this year, and were at the Governors Awards as guests. Still, they teased scarce details of their Ryan Gosling sci-fi adventure, \u201cProject Hail Mary,\u201d set for release in March. \u201cRyan is very emotional in it. Surprisingly emotional,\u201d Miller said. Rumors have been making their way around the town that the film is excellent, but the pair aren\u2019t \u201cpicture locked\u201d yet.<\/p>\n

\n\tA Menu for the Stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tGuests dined on smoked salmon Oscar matzahs; aged Parmesan; beet and truffle mushroom hummus; avocado pur\u00e9e with house-made lavosh; steak frites with roasted filet mignon; Caf\u00e9 de Paris butter; French fries; and roasted Brussels sprouts. Dessert featured an espresso chocolate bonbon, raspberry linzer cookie and caramelized lemon tart, paired with La Clart\u00e9 de Haut-Brion 2021, Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2015 and Champagne Lallier R.021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Honorary Oscars to actor and producer Tom Cruise, choreographer…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":385016,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[1577,171,183760,15801,11683,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-385015","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-dolly-parton","9":"tag-entertainment","10":"tag-governors-awards","11":"tag-oscars","12":"tag-tom-cruise","13":"tag-united-states","14":"tag-unitedstates","15":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115564641519497040","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=385015"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385015\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/385016"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=385015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=385015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=385015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}