History was made at the 97th Annual Academy Awards, held at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and broadcast live on NBC, which recognized some theatrical favorites at the March 2 ceremony.
Tony winner Paul Tazewell (Hamilton) took home the coveted gold statue for Best Costume Design for his work on Wicked. The Oscar win and nomination are Tazewell’s first and follow earlier victories at the British Academy Film Awards, Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, American Cinematheque’s Tribute to the Crafts, African American Reel Awards, and Costume Designers Guild Awards for his work on the screen adaptation of the 2003 Broadway musical.
Tonight’s win makes Tazewell the first African American man to win in this category in Oscars history.
Other nominees in the category included A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Gladiator II, and Nosferatu.
In a heartfelt acceptance speech, Tazewell addressed the world:
“This is absolutely astounding. Thank you, Academy, for this very significant honor,” said Tazewell, who wore a black Dolce & Gabbana suit with a long-sleeved silk shirt. “I’m the first African American man to receive the costume design award for my work on Wicked. I’m so proud of this.”
He added:
“If I have to say the words ‘sumptuous fabrics’ one more time in an interview, I am going to defy gravity off the side of this stage. Paul, how very dare you for being such a one-of-a-kind talent. I love you so much.”
Tazewell also gave a sweet shoutout to the Wicked cast, including his “Ozian muses,” Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
“I love you so much,” he said. “To all the other cast members, thank you for trusting me with bringing your characters to life.”
The Ohio-born costumer follows in the historic footsteps of designer Ruth E. Carter, who became the first African American designer to win an Oscar for costume design in 2019 for her work on Black Panther.
Fresh off his Oscar-winning achievement for Best Costume Design in “Wicked,” Paul Tazewell took a moment backstage to reflect on this historic milestone. As the first African American man to win in this category, his victory marks a significant moment in Academy Awards history. With over 35 years of experience designing for Broadway and film, Tazewell shared his thoughts on the significance of the win, the journey that led him here, and the creative process behind bringing “Wicked” to life on the big screen. This is an edited Q&A with Oscar winner Paul Tazewell from his conversation inside the winner’s room.
Q: Hi, Paul. First of all, in your acceptance speech, you mentioned that you are the first African American man to receive this Oscar for Costume Design. Congratulations. What does this mean to you? Talk about the significance of this moment and for those who will follow in your footsteps now that you’ve opened this door.
A: This is the pinnacle of my career. I’ve been designing costumes for over 35 years—much of it on Broadway and now in film. The whole way through, there was never an African American male designer that I could look up to, someone I could follow as inspiration. To realize that I am that person now—it feels like a “Wizard of Oz” moment. It’s like coming home to the realization that the inspiration has always been inside me. That is truly remarkable.
Q: Paul, congratulations on the win! Looking back with this historic achievement, what would you say to your younger self?
A: Hold on tight. It will all be fine, and the world is going to be wonderful.
Q: Paul, over here! Congratulations! I told you on the red carpet that you were going to win. You explained a little about the magic behind Wicked. How did you create that magic?
A: With the help of many truly amazing and talented costume artisans, assistants, and crew. There’s no way I could have done it alone. My greatest joy is collaborating with other very talented artists. I deeply respect their artistry, and I share this award with them because their contributions are invaluable.
Q: Hello, Paul. Congratulations! I’m wearing green for Wicked today. What resonated with you when you finally saw the completed film on the big screen?
A: I knew it was going to be spectacular, but I was absolutely blown away. Because we were working on two films at the same time, it wasn’t until I saw a nearly complete cut that I truly experienced the full journey we had created for audiences. That moment reminded me why I do costume design and why I am a costume designer.
[Moderator:] Final question will be virtual. Paul, please look into the camera.
Q: Congratulations once again! Who are the women that inspired you throughout your career as a designer?
A: Oh my gosh, so many. Irene Sharaff, who designed the original West Side Story. Ann Lowe, an African American fashion designer who created Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding dress. Iris van Herpen, who continues to be a huge inspiration. Ann Roth, Theoni Aldredge, Willa Kim… and of course, Ruth E. Carter, who has paved the way for designers of color.
[Moderator:] Thank you very much. Congratulations!
This story has been edited for length and clarity.
A team of transcribers creates acceptance speech transcripts for the 97th Academy Awards in real time with minimal editing for the benefit of the press on the night. They may contain omissions and errors, especially in the spelling of names. Clips of winner acceptance speeches may be found on oscar.com.
