Lupita Nyong'o Wins For Best Supporting Actress!

Best Supporting Actress is one of the categories the Academy places smack-dab in the middle of the Oscars so you feel placated enough to sit through another hour and a half of technical awards before the other juicy stuff is revealed at the end, and the category is full of deserved nominees. There's Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine, Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle, Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave, Julia Roberts, August: Osage County, and June Squibb, Nebraska. And drum roll, please! We now have our winner. The Best Supporting Actress Oscar goes to Lupita Nyong'o at the 2014 Academy Awards.

After making her way to the stage, Nyong'o thanked her director, costars, and family in a fantastic and emotional speech. Nyong'o also thanked Solomon Northup for sharing his story in the book 12 Years a Slave and added, "I want to salute the spirit of Patsey." To director Steve McQueen, Nyong'o said, "Thank you so much for putting me in this position. It has been the joy of my life." She ended saying that the award means that any child's dream is important and achievable no matter where they're from.

Nyong'o and Jennifer Lawrence were the frontrunners in the Supporting Actress category, and there was hardly any doubt one of them would take home the award. And both wins would be impressive: Nyong'o's win would be her first for her debut film role, while Lawrence's win would be her second in two years. Sally Hawkins, Julia Roberts, and June Squibb rounded out the category all with great performances of their own, but failed to generate the same buzz as Nyong'o and Lawrence.

Congrats to Lupita Nyong'o! We look forward to more amazing performances to come.