Chadwick Boseman, who recently passed away at such a young age, earned his first Golden Globes award for his character in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. His wife Simone Ledward accepted the award with a powerful message.
“He would thank God,” Taylor began while holding back tears. “He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifice. He would thank his incredible team. He would thank his team on set. He would say something beautiful, something inspiring, something that would amplify that little voice inside us that tells you you can, that tells you to keep going, that calls you back to what you are meant to be doing at this moment in history.”
She also thinks Boseman would thank pioneering African-American actors like Denzel Washington and Viola Davis.
“I don’t have his words, but we have to take all the moments to celebrate those we love,” she continued. “So thank you HFPA for this opportunity to do exactly that and hun, you keep em coming. Thank you.”
Boseman’s Golden Globe win happened six months after the actor passed away due to colon cancer. He was only 43 years old.
The Golden Globes were his wife’s second opportunity to share some insight on his behalf. Earlier in the year, she accepted an Actor Tribute at the 30th Annual IFP Gotham Awards in his memory. She emphasized Boseman’s purpose in life and dedication to the craft of acting.
“As an artist, an actor, and a person, Chad made a practice of telling the truth,” she shared. “He is the most honest person I’ve ever met. Because he didn’t just stop at speaking the truth, he actively searched for it—in himself, in those around him and in the moment. The truth can be a very easy thing for the self to avoid, but if one does not live-in truth, then it’s impossible to live in line with a divine purpose for your life. And so, it became how he lived his life, day in, day out. Imperfect, but determined.”
Boseman’s win at the Golden Globes makes him the first Black actor to win in this category in almost 15 years, since Forest Whitaker won in 2007 for his portrayal of Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. He is also the first Black posthumous winner in any acting category.
Boseman had an extensive battle against colon cancer. He officially received the diagnosis in 2016. Even though he was going through surgeries and chemotherapy he continues to film as much as possible because he believed in not letting anything stop him from producing art and being there for his fellow castmates. “It brought tears to my eyes very early on, knowing what I know now,” Colman Domingo, who played another band member, told the New York Times in December. “I don’t know how he did it.” Boseman leaves behind some great films that his fans will enjoy forever including playing James Brown in 2014’s Get on Up, Thurgood Marshall in 2017’s Marshall, and T’Challa in 2018’s Black Panther.