Jamie Lee Curtis Addresses Inclusivity & Binary Awards Categories “As The Mother Of A Trans Daughter” – Oscars Backstage

Backstage at Sunday’s Oscars, first-time winner Jamie Lee Curtis offered her thoughts on Hollywood’s historic tendency to separate award nominees into binary categories based on gender.

The Everything Everywhere All at Once star’s comments came in response to a question about how she felt to have made this year’s list of female nominees — “surreal and proud” being the words that first came to mind.

“Obviously, I would like to see a lot more women be nominated so that there’s gender parity in all the areas, in all the branches. And I think we’re getting there,” said Curtis. “We’re not anywhere near there, and of course inclusivity then involves the bigger question which is, how do you include everyone when there are binary choices? Which is very difficult.

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“As the mother of a trans daughter, I completely understand that,” continued the actress. “And yet to de-gender the [categories] also, I’m concerned will diminish the opportunities for more women, which is something I also have been working hard to try to promote.”

Curtis reiterated, in closing, the importance of “inclusivity” generally, and of including women specifically, both in the awards race and society at large — “basically just f*cking more women anywhere, any time.”

Curtis’ daughter Ruby came out publicly as transgender in 2021. The actress’ Oscar for Supporting Actress win came for her role in the acclaimed A24 pic Everything Everywhere, which led in nominations with 11 and won seven on the night, including Best Picture. Competitors bested tonight by the veteran actress included her EEAAO co-star Stephanie Hsu, as well as Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Hong Chau (The Whale).

The martial arts-infused multiverse pic was written and directed by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert — who together go by the name The Daniels, who won Best Director tonight.