Cassandra Kulukundis won the newest Oscar at the Academy Awards on Sunday, taking home the inaugural award for best casting for her work on writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.”
“I have to thank the Academy for even adding this category, and for the casting directors who fought terrible hard to make this happen,” Kulukundis said of the first new category added to the Academy Awards in 24 years.
“When Paul Thomas Anderson calls you, you enter the PTA witness protection program,” she continued. “You literally can’t talk to your friends and family unless you have a part for them.
“I just thank you for, I mean, 10 movies,” Kulukundis said, speaking directly to Anderson, nominated for best director and best picture, sitting in the audience. “We’ve done this for over 30 years. Like we grew up together, I guess. And I have one before you, which is crazy. I hope you get one tonight.”
Kate Hawley took the Oscar for costumes on the Guillermo Del Toro reimagining of “Frankenstein,” which starred Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth.
“On behalf of myself and the amazing teams that I work with – the artisans, the alchemists, the dream weavers, we thank the academy,” Hawley said.
“Guillermo, thank you for the vision and for taking us on your journey,” she continued. “It’s been great to be part of it. All our nominations are your nominations. We share this with you.”
Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey won the Oscar for makeup and hairstyling for “Frankenstein” next, honored for their work transforming Jacob Elordi into the monster, as well as Oscar Isaac as Frankenstein and Mia Goth as two different roles.