Chadwick Boseman wins Best Actor at the 2021 Critics Choice Awards

Late actor Chadwick Boseman has officially won the award for Best Actor at the 2021 Critics Choice Awards.

The Black Panther star was nominated for his powerful portrayal as Levee in Netflix‘s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

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Back in August, Chadwick Boseman tragically died at the age of 43 after a long battle with colon cancer. However, while battling the disease, the actor filmed various projects including Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Last weekend, he posthumously won the award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama at the Golden Globes for his role in the Denzel Washington-produced film. Boseman’s wife Taylor Simone Ledward gave a touching speech as she accepted the award on his behalf.

Now, Boseman has also won Best Actor at the Critics Choice Awards. The Marvel star was nominated among the likes of Tom Hanks, Ben Affleck, Riz Ahmed and Anthony Hopkins in the category. As well, Boseman was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Spike Lee‘s Da 5 Bloods. He was also part of the Best Acting Ensemble nominations for both Da 5 Bloods and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

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Ledward accepted the Critics Choice Best Actor award on Boseman’s behalf. During her moving speech, Ledward thanked all of the people in Boseman’s life that supported him over the years.

“It is so hard to find a celebratory feeling in these moments as proud as we are of him. Yes, for his work but even more just for who he is as a person. His work deserves this, his work in this film deserves this, he deserves this. So, he would always thank God first and foremost in everything. He would always honor his mother and his father. He would always acknowledge those who came before him, those who chartered the path, those who gave him their gifts.

[Chad] may say something about the importance of this story, about the importance of black voices telling black stories. He may take this moment to give honor to August Wilson, one of the greatest playwrights of our time. As I recently read, societies grow great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they may never sit. Our society may be a far cry from great, but I know that the seeds you planted will grow into forests. One day, we too will be tall enough to reach the heavens. Thank you Critics Choice and thank you, Chad.”

Last month, the Critics Choice Association honored Black artists in cinema at the Celebration of Black Cinema event. During the ceremony, Boseman was awarded Performance of the Year for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

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“The Celebration of Black Cinema honors @chadwickboseman with the Performance of the Year Award. His portrayal of Levee in @MaRaineyFilm is a breathtaking reminder of the late actor’s captivating energy and emotional depth. His legacy lives on.”

The Celebration of Black Cinema honors @chadwickboseman with the Performance of the Year Award. His portrayal of Levee in @MaRaineyFilm is a breathtaking reminder of the late actor’s captivating energy and emotional depth. His legacy lives on.#restinpower #blackcinema pic.twitter.com/FweLiYRvjZ

— Critics Choice (@CriticsChoice) February 3, 2021

Da 5 Bloods and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom are the last projects Boseman filmed before his death. However, Marvel fans haven’t seen the last of him just yet. Boseman’s T’Challa will appear in the new Disney+ series What If…?. As it turns out, Boseman’s T’Challa voice appears in various episodes of the animated show.

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As for Black Panther 2, Marvel Studios and Sony have confirmed Boseman is not being recast. Shortly after Travis Barker helped honor the late actor at the MTV VMAs, Marvel paid tribute to Boseman in a new Black Panther intro.

Long live the King. #WakandaForever pic.twitter.com/FHiJDVQ3NS

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) November 29, 2020

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Da 5 Bloods are both streaming on Netflix.

What are your reactions to Chadwick Boseman winning Best Actor at the Critics Choice Awards? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: altpress.com