by While most of the action on Oscars night takes place on the Dolby Theater stage — and is broadcast on television screens in more than 200 countries around the world — the small backstage area is home to few of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences selected photographers who are admitted each year can be just as lively.
Times photographer Robert Gauthier captures all the excitement behind the scenes as the winners walk backstage and the presenters wait in the wings. The stars mingle, read their cue cards and watch the monitors backstage.
Gauthier captured Jamie Lee Curtis, who broke down in tears after accepting the Oscar for Supporting Actress and celebrating with It All At Once co-star Ke Huy Quan, who won in the same category. Meanwhile, Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek Pinault shared a laugh, Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh looked stunned and a cheating ass dressed up as Jenny from The Banshees of Inisherin.
Gauthier also photographed last year’s ceremony and documented “CODA” director Sian Heder hugging Elliot Page, Ariana DeBose’s winning run, Jessica Chastain celebrating her win as Lead Actress, Jane Campion presenting her trophy, and Venus and Serena Williams holding hands and talking. He also photographed Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Francis Ford Coppola – who reunited for the 50th anniversary of The Godfather at the 2022 Oscars – and watched the monitors the moment Will Smith stormed the stage and slapped Chris Rock missed. The mood backstage changed, to say the least.
Before retiring from The Times in 2021, photojournalist Al Seib had spent 16 years capturing the red carpet and backstage scene at the Oscars (and photographing the Oscars for a total of 37 years).
Here’s everything you missed backstage:
Jamie Lee Curtis breaks down in tears as she walks backstage after accepting the Oscar for Supporting Actress.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Everything Everywhere All at Once stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Ke Huy Quan share a special moment backstage with their matching hardware.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Ross White, Tom Berkeley, James Martin and Seamus O’Hara celebrate their win for the live action short film An Irish Goodbye.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Margot Robbie and Morgan Freeman chat backstage before taking the stage together.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Stephanie Hsu and David Byrne take to the stage at the Dolby Theater to perform their song “This Is a Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Costume Design Award winner Ruth E. Carter looks cheerful backstage after making history as the first black woman to win two Oscars.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Presenter Jimmy Kimmel is raring to go between the jokes.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Friends and frequent co-stars Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek Pinault share a laugh backstage before presenting an award together.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Oscar statuettes shimmer in the light.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Andrew Garfield and a stunned Florence Pugh await their turn to take the stage.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
A cheating donkey who dresses up as Jenny from The Banshees of Inisherin.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
