With the success of films like Everything Everywhere All at Once, Parasite and Crazy Rich Asians, actors, filmmakers and industry professionals of Asian descent are having a long-overdue moment in Hollywood. The Oscars are also finally recognizing the immense talent of Asian actors and filmmakers, be it Bong Joon-ho, who won the Best Director Oscar for Parasite, Chloe Zhao a year later in the same category for Nomadland, or veteran actress Yuh-Jung Youn Beste Supporting actress for Minari. Other Asian filmmakers such as Ang Lee and Ryusuke Hamaguchi have also received awards from the Academy in the past.
Actors of Asian descent such as Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu are also nominated for upcoming Oscars for their roles in the film Everything Everywhere All At Once. Hong Chau was also nominated for her role in The Whale, while MM Keeravani and Chandrabose were nominated for the hit song Naatu Naatu.
With Asians making their presence felt on the awards circuit, there have been many Asian actors, directors and other industry professionals who have graced the Oscars red carpet in the past. So, with the Oscars 2023 just around the corner, let’s take a look at all the Asian celebrities who were the showstoppers on the Oscars red carpet.
Asian men at the Oscars
Rice Ahmed
Riz Ahmed, a British actor of Pakistani descent, has walked the Oscars red carpet on several occasions. In 2021, he was nominated for Best Actor at the 93rd Academy Awards for his role in the film Sound of Metal. On the Oscars red carpet, he wore a black Prada suit and shirt, along with a white pocket square and black leather shoes. As for accessories, he also added a diamond-encrusted safety pin to his ensemble, which he wore as a symbol of solidarity with marginalized communities. His wife, writer Fatima Farheen Mirza, accompanied him and wore a stunning green dress. In 2022, Ahmed won an Oscar for the short film The Long Goodbye, opting for an oversized maroon blazer and pants and a classic black t-shirt.
Developer Patel
Dev Patel, the British actor of Indian descent, has appeared at the Oscars several times. He first attended the Oscars in 2009 as the cast of Slumdog Millionaire, which won the Oscars that year. In 2017, Patel was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Lion and hit the red carpet in a white Burberry tuxedo jacket with black pants. He was accompanied by his mother, who wore a traditional Indian sari.
Simu Liu
In 2022, Simu Liu attended his first Academy Awards. The actor opted for a cherry red suit by Versace which was paired with a crisp white shirt and black bow tie which completed his entire look. The actor is best known for his role as Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Jackie Chan
In 2016, Jackie Chan received an honorary Oscar for his outstanding achievements in the film industry. The award was presented to him by actor Chris Tucker, his co-star in the Rush Hour film series. Chan has appeared in several Hollywood films including Kung Fu Panda and The Karate Kid. He is known for his martial arts and for offering a unique blend of comedy and action in his films. One of the most well-known figures in Asian cinema, Chan has been an ambassador for Chinese culture around the world.
Henry Goldling
At the 2019 Oscars, Henry Golding attended the ceremony and looked absolutely dapper in a classic black tuxedo, showing off a subtle and elegant look on the red carpet. Golding is known for his roles in Crazy Rich Asians, A Simple Favor, Last Christmas and The Gentlemen.
John Cho
John Cho is a Korean-American actor who has appeared in a variety of films and television shows. He is best known for his role as Harold Lee in the Harold & Kumar films. At the Oscars 2020, the actor stunned on the red carpet in an Ermenegildo Zegna suit in a handsome shade of brown, paired with a black shirt and shoes.
Song Kang Ho, Bong Joon Ho and Lee Sun Kyun
At the 2020 Oscars, the men of Parasite’s cast, Song Kang-ho and Lee Sun-kyun, walked the red carpet alongside director Bong Joon-Ho in classic tuxedos. 2020 was a special year at the Oscars as Parasite made history by becoming the first non-English language film to win the Oscar for Best Picture. The film also won the Oscars for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature Film.
Anil Kapoor and Irrfan Khan
In 2009, Anil Kapoor attended his first Oscars as the cast member of Slumdog Millionaire, walking the red carpet in a black tuxedo. Considered one of India’s finest actors, Kapoor has starred in several Bollywood and Hollywood films throughout his long career and has been praised for his versatile acting skills.
Like Kapoor and Patel, the late Irrfan Khan was part of Slumdog Millionaire. He also opted for a classic black tuxedo on the 2009 Oscars red carpet. Considered by many to be the greatest actor of his generation, Irrfan has also appeared in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Amazing Spider-Man and Life of Pi.
Amir Khan
Aamir Khan attended the 74th Academy Awards where his film Lagaan was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. Along with director Ashutosh Gowariker, the actor attended the red carpet and opted for a black sherwani with dupatta. He has also been linked to films submitted to the Oscars in the past, including critically acclaimed films such as Taare Zameen Par and Rang De Basanti. Khan is considered one of the most talented and influential actors in Indian cinema.
AR Rahman
AR Rahman won two Oscars for his work on Slumdog Millionaire. The musician attended the ceremony in an all-black bandh gala, which was an ode to his Indian roots. He also went on to perform the song Jai Ho at the ceremony alongside singer-songwriter John Legend. Rahman has also been associated with other Hollywood films such as The Hundred-Foot Journey, Million Dollar Arm and Pele: Birth of a Legend. Regarded as one of the most influential music composers in the world, Rahman has been a prominent figure in promoting Indian music worldwide and has even collaborated with several international artists over the years.
Steven Yeun
Steven Yeun, an American actor of Korean descent, attended the 93rd Academy Awards as a Best Actor nominee for his role in Minari. He walked the red carpet in a black suit and was joined by his wife. Minari was nominated for several Oscars that year, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress (which he won). Although the actor didn’t win the Oscar, his nomination became a significant moment for Asian representation in Hollywood. Yeun is also known for his work on The Walking Dead.
(Credit for hero and feature images: Courtesy of Instagram)
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