Actor Michael B. Jordan won his first Academy Award for Best Actor at the 98th Academy Awards for his performance in the film Sinners.
The award was announced by Adrien Brody at the ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre. Jordan received a standing ovation from the audience as he accepted the honour.
Jordan became the sixth Black actor to win the Oscar for Best Actor. During his acceptance speech, he acknowledged actors who had previously won the award and helped open doors for Black performers in Hollywood.
“I stand here because of the people that came before me,” Jordan said, referencing past winners including Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker and Will Smith.
“To be amongst those giants, those greats… thank you everybody in this room and everybody at home for supporting me over my career,” Jordan said.
Jordan also thanked his family during the speech, acknowledging his parents who attended the ceremony.
He praised filmmaker Ryan Coogler, with whom he has collaborated on several films including Fruitvale Station, Creed and the Black Panther series.
“You’re an amazing person. I’m honoured to call you a collaborator and a friend. You gave me the opportunity and space for me to be seen,” Jordan said.
Jordan’s win followed a competitive awards season. Other nominees in the Best Actor category included Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Wagner Moura.
Sinners, set in the 1930s, features Jordan in dual roles as twin brothers Smoke and Stack who return to the American South after World War I and open a juke joint before supernatural events disrupt the town.
The film received 16 Oscar nominations and earned about USD 370 million at the global box office.
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