In a stunning victory that defies conventional Hollywood wisdom, Teyana Taylor has proven that cinematic impact isn't measured in screen time. The actress and singer secured the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture on Sunday night for her performance in One Battle After Another, despite appearing for a mere 20 minutes.
From Reality TV to Red Carpet Glory
Taylor's win marks a dramatic career ascent for the 35-year-old, who first found fame on MTV's My Super Sweet 16 back in 2007. Her journey from Harlem reality star to Golden Globe recipient, clutching the award for her role as Perfidia Beverly Hills, serves as a potent reminder that breakthrough success can arrive at any moment. Industry insiders now tip her for an Oscar nomination this season, capping a remarkable few months.
The award came as a particular surprise given Taylor's recent project, the Disney+ legal drama Ryan Murphy's All's Fair, was critically panned. The show, featuring Kim Kardashian and Naomi Watts, earned a damning 0% 'rotten' rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Yet, Taylor had the last laugh, collecting her gong before Hollywood's elite.
A Speech She Almost Didn't Write
In a heartfelt acceptance speech, Taylor revealed she 'almost didn't' prepare remarks, doubting she would win. She reserved special thanks for filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, director of One Battle After Another, saying, 'To Paul 'Let 'Em Cook' Thomas Anderson, thank you for your vision, your trust and your brilliance. My gratitude is endless.'
She also shared a touching moment dedicated to her family, her 'grounding force,' noting her two daughters—Iman 'Junie' Tayla Shumpert Jr., 10, and Rue Rose Shumpert, five—were 'upstairs watching.' She joked, 'Y'all better be off those damn phones and watching me right now.'
Taylor concluded with a powerful message for her 'Brown sisters and little Brown girls watching tonight,' stating: 'Our softness is not a liability. Our depth is not too much. Our light does not need permission to shine. We belong in every room we walk into. Our voices matter and our dreams deserve space.'
A Multifaceted Career: Music, Dance and Kanye West
Long before her acting breakthrough, Taylor was a multitalented force. She began a music career at 15, famously choreographing Beyoncé's Ring The Alarm video. She later signed with Pharrell Williams's Star Trak Entertainment and appeared in videos for Jay-Z and Kanye West.
Her relationship with Kanye West, now known as Ye, has been longstanding. In a recent Vanity Fair interview, Taylor addressed their friendship amidst his public controversies, saying, 'I don't have to agree with everything that he do or say, but I'm not going to, like, abandon him.' She was signed to his G.O.O.D. Music label until 2020, releasing three albums before departing, feeling 'underappreciated.'
Her acting portfolio is now rapidly expanding. Following a acclaimed role in A Thousand And One and a National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance, her part in Anderson's film has become career-defining. She has also appeared in Coming 2 America, the Fox series Star, and the upcoming Matt Damon and Ben Affleck-produced film The Rip.
In One Battle After Another, Taylor's character Perfidia is the mother to a child played by Leonardo DiCaprio's Bob, sharing the screen with an ensemble cast including Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, and Regina Hall. Her brief but potent performance has unequivocally stolen the show.
