Ruth E. Carter.Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty
Ruth E. Carterjust made history at theOscars 2023.
The 62-year-old took home her second Academy Award for Best Costume Design at this year’s ceremony for her work onBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, making her the only Black woman to have two Oscars to her name.
“She endures, she loves, she overcomes. She is every woman in this film. She is my mother,” Carter continued before revealing that her mom, who was 101 years old, had died recently.
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Ruth E. Carter.Kevin Winter/Getty
“This past week, Mabel Carter became an ancestor,” she went on. “This film prepared me for this moment.”
She then went on to shout out lateBlack PantherstarChadwick Boseman, whose memoryWakanda Foreverpaid major tribute to: “Chadwick, please take care of Mom.”
In her speech, Carter also thankedWakanda Foreverdirector-cowriterRyan Cooglerand co-producer Nate Moore for their “vision,” adding, “Together, we are reshaping how culture is represented.”
“The Marvel family, Victoria Alonso, Louis D’Esposito and their arsenal of genius. Thank you. I share this with many dedicated artists whose hands and hearts helped manifest the costumes of Wakanda and Talokan,” Carter said. “This is for my mother.”
RELATED VIDEO: Lupita Nyong’o Says MakingWakanda ForeverGave Cast and Crew an Outlet to Grieve and Pay Tribute to Chadwick Boseman
Back in a September 2020 chat with PEOPLE, Carter reflected on some of the moments she shared with Boseman while working with him onBlack Pantherand 2017’sMarshall.
After their time onMarshall, Boseman — who died on Aug. 28, 2020 at the age of 43, following a privateyears-long battle with colon cancer— and Carter began working together on the film that would not only make history but forever immortalize the actor as a superhero, the two collaborated to perfect the iconic costume that would go on to inspire millions.
“There was so much trust because we’d worked onMarshalltogether. There wasso much trust when we startedBlack Panther,” she said.“It was an incredible experience because he didn’t doubt anything. He always greeted me with a smile, a hug and cooperation.”
The Oscarsare airing live on ABC on Sunday, March 12, at 8 p.m. ET.
source: people.com