LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 25: (L-R) Peter Spears, Frances McDormand, Chloe Zhao, Mollye Asher, and Dan Janvey, winners of Best Picture for "Nomadland," pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, April 25, 2021, at Union Station in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images)
Cover (From left) Peter Spears, Frances McDormand, Chloe Zhao, Mollye Asher, and Dan Janvey, winners of Best Picture for "Nomadland," pose in the press room at the Oscars at Union Station in Los Angeles. (Image: Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images)

The highly-anticipated awards show premiered on April 26 (SGT) and it was certainly one worth watching. If you missed it, Channel 5 will be airing a same-day encore at 6 pm on April 26 with the main show being repeated at 10.30 pm

Despite its two-month delay, the Oscars returned on April 26 (SGT) to much fanfare and excitement and the show, which aired on Mediacorp this morning, was certainly one to watch. The 93rd Academy Awards was particularly exciting because it took place as an in-person event. This is even as other award shows, such as the Emmys and the Golden Globes, went virtual due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.  

(Related: Where to Watch Oscars 2021 in Singapore on April 26)

The world was eager to see a sense of normalcy return after many months of cancelled events and lockdowns and they were not disappointed. 

The Oscars took place in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre Union Station and though guests were allowed to remove their masks while on camera, they were required to put them back on when the cameras went off such as during commercial breaks. The show also followed all Covid-19 safety protocols by requiring testing, safe distancing and vaccinations. 

(Related: Oscars 2021: What to Expect, Where to Watch the Awards Show, and More)

The awards show was also careful to ensure that only nominees, their guests and presenters attended the show. They had arranged the seating such that there was a main room and two courtyards. Nominees and guests were cycled through these locations to ensure that only 170 people were in the main room at any one time. 

If you missed the show, read on to find out some of the most talked about moments and highlights from the event this year. 

(Related: Oscars 2021: The Full List of Winners)

1. Riz Ahmed fixes his wife's hair for the photographers

Riz Ahmed, who was nominated for best actor in the film, Sound Of Metal, and his wife, Fatima Farheen Mirza, were total couple goals on the red carpet today. While the pair were posing for photos along the red carpet, the British-Pakistani actor asked photographers to give him a second while he helped his wife to fix her hair. 

He joked with them that he was the "official groomer" as he helped her adjust her hair before turning to pose for the cameras. The couple had met while Riz was preparing for his role in Sound Of Metal and reportedly got married late last year. 

In addition to being the most swoon-worthy husband on the carpet tonight, Riz is also the first-ever Muslim actor to be nominated in the best actor category of the Oscars. 

2. Paul Raci uses sign language on the red carpet

Paul Raci is an actor who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a deaf coach in the film Sound of Metal. He did an interview on the red carpet and simultaneously signed sign language as he spoke, in an endeavour to be inclusive. 

Raci has been vocal about the importance of portraying the deaf community accurately and about being inclusive particularly as he worked on the film which saw three deaf advisors on set. 

Raci is also the son of two deaf parents so the need for more inclusivity certainly hits closer to home for him.  

3. Chloé Zhao wins best director for Nomadland

Chloé Zhao made waves this year when she was nominated in the best director category at the Oscars, mainly because she was the first woman of colour to be nominated in this category. 

Today, history was made as the Beijing-born Zhao won the award for best director for her movie, Nomadland. She is also only the second female director to win this award.

Zhao, according to Variety, is also the most awarded person in a single awards season in the modern era with 34 awards season trophies for directing,13 for screenplay, and nine for editing. 

Nomadland also won best picture at the Oscars. 

(Related: Oscars 2021: Chloé Zhao Becomes First Asian Woman to Win Best Director)

4. Youn Yuh-jung wins best supporting actress

This year's academy awards was a huge step forward for Asian women with Youn Yuh-jung winning best supporting actress for her role in the film Minari.

Youn is the first Korean actress to win in that category and only the second Asian to take home the coveted prize. The 73-year-old actress also won the Screen Actors Guild Award and a Bafta before the Oscars. 

Her acceptance speeches have entertained viewers throughout the awards show season thanks to her cheeky remarks. And she certainly did not let us down again today as she gushed over Brad Pitt, who presented the Oscar to her.

(Related: Oscars 2021: Youn Yuh-jung Makes History With Best Supporting Actress Win For Minari)

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