Oscars backstage photos: Brendan Fraser to Jamie Lee Curtis

By Maane KhatchatourianDeputy Editor, Entertainment and Arts

Photography by

March 12, 2023 8:50 PM PT

While the bulk of the action on Oscars night takes place on the Dolby Theatre stage — and airs on TV screens in more than 200 countries worldwide — the small backstage area, where only a few photographers selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are allowed access each year, can be just as lively.

Times photographer Robert Gauthier is capturing all the commotion behind the scenes as winners make their way backstage and presenters wait in the wings. The stars mingle, read their cue cards and watch the monitors offstage.

Gauthier captured Jamie Lee Curtis breaking down in tears after accepting the Oscar for supporting actress and celebrating with “Everything Everywhere All at Once” co-star Ke Huy Quan, who won as supporting actor. Meanwhile, Rihanna and ASAP Rocky embraced, Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek Pinault shared a laugh, Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh looked stunned, and an impostor donkey masqueraded as Jenny from “The Banshees of Inisherin.”

Gauthier photographed last year’s ceremony as well, documenting “CODA” director Siân Heder hugging Elliot Page, Ariana DeBose’s victory walk, Jessica Chastain celebrating her lead actress win, Jane Campion showing off her trophy, and Venus and Serena Williams holding hands and talking. He also captured Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Francis Ford Coppola — who reunited for the 50th anniversary of “The Godfather” at the 2022 Oscars — watching the monitors the moment Will Smith stormed the stage and slapped Chris Rock. The mood backstage shifted, to say the least.

Before retiring from The Times in 2021, photojournalist Al Seib had captured the Academy Awards red carpet and backstage scene for 16 years (and photographed the Oscars for 37 years total).

Here’s everything you missed backstage:

A woman in a champagne colored dress holds an Oscar and cries backstage.

A woman comforts a tearful woman backstage at the Oscars.

A woman in a champagne-colored dress and man in a tux both hold up Oscars backstage.

Two women in evening gowns flank a man in a tux backstage at the Oscars.

A man cuddles a pregnant woman backstage at the Academy Awards.

A man and a woman embrace amid a crowd backstage at the 95th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre.

A man in a bear costume reveals his own head.

A woman in a white dress holds up an Oscar backstage at the 95th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre.

A man in a tuxedo holding an Oscar backstage at the 95th Academy Awards.

A smiling woman in a gown and a man in a tux backstage at the Oscars.

Men in tuxedos, one holding an Oscar, backstage at the 95th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre.

A man in a red suit shows off his white shirt backstage at the Oscars.

A man in a red suit opens his jacket wide as a man in black points backstage at the Academy Awards.

A woman in a black dress chats with a man in a tux backstage at the Oscars.

Four men in tuxes, with two holding Oscars.

A woman in a flowy white dress and a man in a white suit smile and make their way through the backstage crowd.

A smiling woman in a yellow dress holds an Oscar.

A man in a tux stands under an Oscars sign backstage.

A woman in red and a man in a tux share a laugh backstage at the Oscars.

Oscar statues, backstage at the 95th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre.

A smiling man in a tux and a surprised-looking woman in a champagne-colored dress backstage at the Oscars.

A woman is the center of attention backstage at the Oscars.

A donkey is moved through a crowd of people in suits, with two hands on the donkey's rear end.

Backstage at the 2023 Oscars: Exclusive photos from behind the scenes

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