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CNN Live Event/Special
And the Winner Is...
Aired March 02, 2014 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
PIERS MORGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening from Hollywood, and welcome to "AND THE WINNER IS..." a PIERS MORGAN LIVE special. I'm here at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the site of the first Academy Awards back in 1929.
With me now is supermodel and style icon Coco Rocha. Welcome to you, Coco. And joining us in a few moments will be Anthony Breznican, senior writer for "Entertainment Weekly." CNN's own Nischelle Turner is live at the Governor's Ball.
Nischelle, you and I have every reason to be feeling really, really smug. We both tweeted our predictions way, way before the awards started and we got the top five absolutely right. "12 Years a Slave," Best Movie, Matthew McConaughey, Best Actor; Cate Blanchett, Best Actress; Jared Leto, Best Supporting Actor; and of course, Lupita Nyong'o, Best Supporting Actress. So we are magicians. Over to you.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Right off the back, we have to make this about ourselves, right, Piers? Yes, that's what we do.
MORGAN: Always.
TURNER: Actually, I got the top six right, because I also predicted that Alfonso Cuaron would win Best Director for "Gravity." So yes, all of these. There weren't big upsets in the big categories tonight, but it was a good night. I think that the show kept moving; it kept going. Ellen kept the ball kept rolling, and there were some really great heartfelt speeches. That's what we like to see at the Academy Awards, and that's definitely what we got. You're right.
I am here at the Governor's Ball. Right through those doors are where the winners will come first right after they leave the ballroom. I have a good vantage point, because I'm in first position here, and I've got an eagle eye right for the stairs. So I can see who's coming up, and I know you're going to be on me. I know you're going to stay on me to keep grabbing and jumping at the people who come through. We definitely will do that here tonight.
We are expecting Lupita Nyong'o. We are expecting Matthew McConaughey. We are expecting Cate Blanchett, and we're also expecting Jared Leto.
Now just a little note about Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto, Piers. They are the first supporting actor and actor duo to win for the same movie in a decade. 2004 was the last time we saw that happen. That was Sean Penn and Tim Robbins for "Mystic River." So an interesting kind of history-making night tonight.
We said in the preshow if Alfonso Cuaron won, tonight he would be the first Latino director to win for Best Director. He did do that, so we definitely saw history made here at the Academy Awards tonight.
MORGAN: And I thought there were two standout speeches to me. One was Jared Leto, who went very early; made a very powerful speech. I actually saw him at a party last night, and he was with his mom. And I said to him -- she couldn't hear me. And I said to him, "If you win, who are you going to be most thankful to?"
And he said, "That woman, my mother."
And I went over to his mother and said, "Do you realize he's going to thank you tomorrow?"
And she said, "I don't know what my son is going to do." She said, "But I'm just so proud of him."
And there he was on that stage, paying the most emotional tribute to his mother. I thought it was incredibly powerful and moving. But actually, it wasn't even the best speech of the night, because I think the real star was Lupita Nyong'o, who made, to me, one of the great Oscar speeches ever. What did you think, Nischelle?
TURNER: Yes. You know, I think you're right. I think you're right on about a lot of that, Piers. Jared Leto has been very public and open about his family's struggles financially, when he was growing up, about his mother and himself and his brother being on public assistance and really had to fight their way back. But all the while, his mother kept still preaching to them, "Be creative, be who you are. You can always be better."
So that was really moving to me, too.
And you talked about Lupita. And I think that, if I can just get personal for a second, seeing someone who mirrors me, another brown- skinned lady, standing up there on that stage in all her glory but still paying homage to our ancestors and what happened in the past and not making light of the fact, like she said, that all of her joy comes from a story of so much pain and recognizing that. I thought that was beautiful. And I also thought it was really beautiful to remind people wherever you come from, whoever you are, your dreams count, and your dreams matter. I thought it was beautiful. You're right.
MORGAN: I completely agree. Let's listen to a little of what Lupita said tonight, because it was special.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the Oscar goes to Lupita Nyong'o.
LUPITA NYONG'O, BEST ACTRESS WINNER: Steve McQueen, you charge every you fashion with a breath of your own spirit. Thank you so much for putting me in this position. This has been the joy of my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: A really special moment there, Nischelle, and it was also an extraordinary social media moment involving Lupita and others when Ellen took out her Samsung, a big plug for Samsung there. They'll be happy. And she did this great thing. Let's watch it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, OSCAR HOST: And then, you get in here, too, Julia. Lean in. Channing if you could get in here also. Channing. Bradley, will you come down? I want you all in it. Jennifer, come in also. Brad, get in here. No, I'm doing it. Angie, Lupita.
Come on, Meryl -- no, Meryl, can you take it, Meryl? Meryl, can you take it? I can't get everyone in here.
BRADLEY COOPER, ACTOR: I'll take it.
DEGENERES: All right. All right. That's good, look at us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: And you know what, Nischelle, there's a great twist on this, because you've got the biggest selection of superstars ever amassed in one selfie. It's actually got double the number of retweets over any tweet in history, beating the famous picture of the Obamas after he won the last election. Nearly two million, I think, or more now already and zooming away every minute.
What I love, there's one ringer in that picture who is Lupita's kid brother, Junior, who if you look at the picture is on the far right. Now this guy, he came up to me earlier on the red carpet, because it turns out he's a massive fan of the soccer team I like in England, Arsenal, who are big, actually, back in Africa. And he was like, "I want to talk to you about arsenal," and then he did a selfie with me, which is on his phone somewhere. And then me gatecrashed or photobombed the greatest selfie in history. That guy is going to go far.
TURNER: Big props to Junior, yes. I was sitting there looking, saying how did Junior get in that picture. I mean, you see every A- list star in Hollywood, and then Junior with his high-top fade, poking his head into the picture, photobombing it. It was a great moment.
Lupita said, "Listen, my brother is my best friend," her right-hand man. They go everywhere together, even in Oscar selfies. So that's what you get.
Hey, can you see these people coming behind me here, Piers? The doors are open here at the Governor's Ball. Folks are starting to come in. Like I said, I'm keeping an eye out over here. So if you see me kind of shifting, looking like that, it's because I'm doing work. That's what I'm doing out here.
MORGAN: I want you -- you be on red alert. You be on red alert, Nischelle, and we'll come to you any moment you grab anyone.
I want to turn to Coco Rocha, because the fashion, as always, was a huge talking point. For what it's worth, my fashion knowledge and expertise is limited.
COCO ROCHA, FASHION EXPERT: I'm not laughing.
MORGAN: The ones that I saw coming down the red carpet...
ROCHA: Yes.
MORGAN: ... I liked Jennifer Lawrence.
ROCHA: OK.
MORGAN: I liked Amy Adams.
ROCHA: Yes.
MORGAN: I liked Lupita Nyong'o. And I loved Kate Hudson. Now am I barking up the wrong tree?
ROCHA: A few of those are definitely my favorite. I was waiting. I was really wanted to see what Lupita was going to wear today. She has been killing it on every red carpet, and it's refreshing to be actually waiting to see what someone is wearing.
MORGAN: She's really a beautiful, striking young woman.
ROCHA: And I think that's what it is. I don't think it's so much the dress, per se. It is really she just comes into a room and there is a photo going around on Twitter where she just kind of goes on the red carpet and flows that Prada dress. And it's just really humbling and nice to see a girl like that.
MORGAN: What I liked about her, she's very simple.
ROCHA: Yes.
MORGAN: It's just bold colors.
ROCHA: Yes.
MORGAN: Normally just one color. No fancy sequins or any checks or any of that kind of thing.
ROCHA: And I think everyone else can kind of learn from that. And we will see that.
MORGAN: Hold one second. We've got Kristin Chenoweth with Nischelle -- Nischelle.
TURNER: Yes, Pier, we do have Kristin Chenoweth, and I just told her she looks beautiful in this gold Cavalier. Honey, yes.
KRISTIN CHENOWETH, ACTRESS: Thank you, honey. I'm trying. I'm trying.
TURNER: Well, you are winning. Yes, you are. So what did you guys think of the show?
CHENOWETH: Well, I mean, I was rooting for "Captain Phillips," but I thought it was a good show. Ellen killed it.
TURNER: You know, the movie, your movie was great. You had Barquad nominated. You guys got a lot of nominations, a great, great film. But I did think, like you said, Ellen was a great host. She kept the ball moving. You know, she did some kind of unconventional things that I don't know if the Academy was saying, "Oh boy. There's pizza."
CHENOWETH: Well, I was -- he kept going.
DANA BRUNETTI, PRODUCER, "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS": I was trying to push her out to go get me a slice.
CHENOWETH: And I'm like, "If I'm going to go get a slice, it's for me, baby."
BRUNETTI: Well, you would share.
CHENOWETH: No, I wouldn't.
BRUNETTI: Yes, you would.
TURNER: I kept saying, will somebody get the pregnant lady, Kerry Washington, a slice of pizza? Because she looked like she wanted to eat.
CHENOWETH: Yes, she deserves that. She's carrying a baby. Come on. Give her some pizza.
TURNER: We've been talking about some of our standout moments of the night, and things that really kind of caught our attention. What did it for you guys?
CHENOWETH: I think it was a lot of things that Ellen did in between, which was great, but also Matthew McConaughey's speech was fantastic.
TURNER: Wasn't it?
CHENOWETH: I cried. I cried. I loved what he said. Three great messages. And also I really, really enjoyed Pink tonight.
TURNER: You know what, didn't she sound great? I mean, she didn't do -- everyone was saying is she going to do the theatrics, but no, honey. Her theatrics they were vocal. She just stood there and sang.
CHENOWETH: Yes, I'm going to be a little bit harsher critic, and I was -- I was blown away by her. Loved her.
TURNER: Well, you guys go have a great time at the Governor's Ball. Thanks so much, and congratulations to you on the honors tonight, OK? All right. So Piers, we're going to send it back to you. Kristin Chenoweth said her favorite was Matthew McConaughey. I loved that, too, because couldn't you say big Jim McConaughey sitting there with a Miller Lite, lemon meringue pie and a pot of gumbo, saying, "That's my boy"?
MORGAN: You know, you and I both interviewed Matthew at a recent Oscar lunch, and he was talking about his dad. Very moving when I spoke to him and about what an incredible motivator he was for him, and how he wished he could be there. And it was a special moment for Matthew McConaughey onstage when he finally won Best Actor. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the Oscar goes to Matthew McConaughey.
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, BEST ACTOR WINNER: To my father, who I know is up there right now with a big pot of gumbo. He's got a lemon pie over there. He's probably in his underwear, and he's got a cold can of Miller Lite, and he's dancing right now.
So to any of us, whatever those things are, whatever it is we look up to, whatever it is we look forward to, and whoever it is we're chasing, to that I say amen. To that I say all right, all right, all right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: Tonight, one of the best...
MORGAN: Fantastic actor and a great guy, too. Matthew McConaughey, incredibly well-deserved, finally gets the Best Actor Oscar. When we come back, more of the award winners, more speeches, party stuff, fashion stuff. We'll have it all for you in a few moments.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: Here with your mum.
JARED LETO, BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR WINNER: Yes.
MORGAN: And you were going to pay tribute to her if you win. Is that still the plan?
LETO: Of course. What a great opportunity. The awards are great, because they get a lot of joy for you and your family, and your friends, and all the people that have believed in you for so many years. But it's an amazing opportunity to get up there and to say thank you, you know, to acknowledge and pay tribute to the people that really....
MORGAN: My two fashion experts here with me all afternoon, they voted you the best-looking dude on the carpet.
LETO: Well, I'll take it where I can get it, man. (END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NYONG'O: Well, my heart is telling me it's going to be a good night.
MORGAN: Do you mind if you win? You've had so much attention, and it's propelled you into the stratosphere of actresses. You've almost done the hard work here, right?
NYONG'O: Well -- I've almost done the hard work?
MORGAN: Does it matter if you win now?
NYONG'O: No, it doesn't. It doesn't. I mean, if I win, that will be amazing, but if I don't, you know, at the end of the day, Patsy was the win, and then all of this is just bonus after bonus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: Well, win she did, the glorious Lupita Nyong'o. Back now with Coco Rocha. And joining me is Anthony Breznican, senior writer, "Entertainment Weekly." Nischelle Turner is live at the Governor's Ball, ready to pounce on any big stars that arrive at that party. We'll go straight to her when they do.
Anthony, let me bring you in here. You were there.
ANTHONY BREZNICAN, SENIOR WRITER, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Yes.
MORGAN: You were near the stage, backstage, I think?
BREZNICAN: In the wings of the stage. Right...
MORGAN: Tell me about the pizza guy, because...
BREZNICAN: All right.
MORGAN: ... we all assumed it was a big set up. He's a real pizza guy, right?
BREZNICAN: Well, he may be an actor. I mean, he's working as a pizza delivery guy in Hollywood. So -- but he's an actual pizza guy. He owns a shop down on Sunset. They told him he was delivering to a bunch of writers. He comes on, and there's Ellen DeGeneres to say, "No, you're coming on the stage with me." And he just went and did it.
MORGAN: What do we think of Ellen's performance? My own review was pretty good. I thought the selfie stunt was sensational, a bit of social media work. I liked the pizza thing. I didn't like her little zinger at Liza Minnelli early on. That was a bit uncalled for. That went a bit flat.
BREZNICAN: Yes, that was a little bit of -- that felt -- I would say that did fall flat. A little bit of an easy joke.
MORGAN: Yes, and I thought a little bit hurtful to someone who, when I interviewed her on the red carpet, she's a real legend, Liza Minnelli. She's very, very nervous as it was.
BREZNICAN: A lot of times they run those jokes by the people that they're going to make fun of.
MORGAN: Let's take a little look. Let's look at this moment. Hang on.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEGENERES: And I have to say one of the most amazing Liza Minnelli impersonators I have ever seen in my entire life. Just really, seriously. Good job, sir. I mean, that is really.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: You know, I just thought that was a cheap shot, actually.
BREZNICAN: I think Liza can take it.
MORGAN: She didn't look she was very happy, did she? I thought, you know what?
ROCHA: But to her defense, don't you think they...
BREZNICAN: They run the jokes by the people that they're making them about.
MORGAN: It didn't look to me like that. They went back to her later to try and make amends and then it really fell flat. Anyway, Ellen generally, do you think she'll go down well tomorrow in the reviews?
BREZNICAN: It's hard to say. From my vantage point it's not the same as watching it on television, but I think she was generally funny. She didn't -- she didn't reach to be too edgy.
MORGAN: Yes.
BREZNICAN: She didn't try to break down any barriers of taste or class. So I think it's just kind of -- it will be remembered as OK.
MORGAN: That's part of the problem for the Oscars. With someone like Ricky Gervais doing the Globes or the Emmys, whatever it may be, ripping everyone to pieces, at the Oscars, it appears to be increasingly tame.
BREZNICAN: Yes, it is. It's challenging for the Oscars, because on one hand, they want to be honorific and gentle to their nominees. On the other, they want to make people laugh, and those two things don't always go hand in hand.
MORGAN: I mean, I thought Ellen was warm. You know, she is a warm character, apart from that one uncomfortable moment with Liza. BREZNICAN: Which you are unforgiving of.
ROCHA: I mean, one moment. And not only that, I think Liza has so many people that tried to be her. It's only like...
BREZNICAN: One mean joke, and...
ROCHA: One joke.
MORGAN: I know, but I just felt for Liza.
ROCHA: I do.
MORGAN: She looked very hurt by it.
ROCHA: I love Liza.
MORGAN: Maybe I'm overstating things.
ROCHA: I think you are. Because I mean, like you said, the people want to be entertained, and I guess that was entertaining to people.
BREZNICAN: ... thought of herself.
MORGAN: In the room itself, what were the great highlight moments other than Lupita's speech or maybe Jared Leto's speech? What for you were the big highs?
BREZNICAN: Well, I think Cate Blanchett gave a beautiful speech. I thought -- the people backstage were just in tears over Lupita's speech.
MORGAN: Yes.
BREZNICAN: There were people, literally tears streaming down their face when she was talking about, you know, the joy of winning coming at the expense of a slave who led a very doomed existence. So that, I think, really was the high point of the night.
People, as far as jokes, I think Ellen's joke about Jonah Hill showing her something in "Wolf of Wall Street" that she hasn't seen in a long time, Jamie Foxx was backstage just howling about that.
MORGAN: What did you think, Coco?
ROCHA: Well, I know it was all about the actors, but Bette Midler, I started to almost sob.
MORGAN: I loved Bette Midler.
ROCHA: Like, they had to tell me to stop crying because we were coming here.
MORGAN: That song itself is so moving anyway, and it followed the big sort of memorial for all the people we'd lost in the last year. I thought it was a powerful moment in the show. BREZNICAN: When she came backstage, she was talking to one of her guides, and she said, "I just looked off the stage, and there was Amy Adams like draped over the guy next to her." Like I think the audience really felt that music.
ROCHA: I definitely did. It's something that it just kind of hits you when you think of everyone that you have been around and what they've done for you.
BREZNICAN: Also a year of really unexpected deaths of younger people like Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Harold Ramis. So, you know, that hits the audience, too.
MORGAN: Generally speaking...
BREZNICAN: Paul Walker.
MORGAN: ... do you think it was a successful Oscars moment?
BREZNICAN: The "In Memoriam" segment?
MORGAN: Yes.
BREZNICAN: Yes, I think so. But...
MORGAN: I noticed they -- they weren't applauding this year, which I think is...
BREZNICAN: They tell you in the auditorium beforehand, please don't applaud. They beg the audience not to do that.
ROCHA: It makes sense.
BREZNICAN: But there's always controversy about someone who's in and someone who's left out. Tomorrow we'll hear a lot about who got left out and should be included.
ROCHA: But understanding why don't they make you clap. Because I have watched years where I cringe when I hear someone gets huge claps, and then someone else is just like who was that person?
BREZNICAN: Yes. It's like a contest.
ROCHA: No, it isn't a contest. And I thought that was appropriate.
MORGAN: What was the atmosphere like backstage?
BREZNICAN: You know, it's very workman-like, because there's a job to be done. If you're presenting, you're kind of going over your lines. You'll see Brad Pitt come up and look through his script.
MORGAN: I imagine they're all quite nervous, because walking out in front of billions of people worldwide, it's quite a big deal.
BREZNICAN: Exactly. You know, a lot of these are film actors, not stage actors. So they're not used to being in front of a big crowd like that. There's a bit of nervousness, yes, but there's also a lot of high emotion when people win. Doesn't matter who you are, actor, famous, celebrity, non, sound guy.
MORGAN: We have to take another short break. We have more party stuff from Nischelle down at the Governor's Ball. And more analysis, more speeches by the winners who've been appearing at press conferences. Come with us in a few moments.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: Now what are you wearing?
JENNIFER LAWRENCE, OSCAR NOMINEE: I'm wearing Dior.
MORGAN: I think it's you and Lupita have killed it tonight.
LAWRENCE: Thank you very much.
MORGAN: I'm not the world's great fashion expert.
LAWRENCE: Yes.
MORGAN: Just going on the impact.
LAWRENCE: What is she wearing?
MORGAN: She just looks fabulous.
LAWRENCE: Oh, OK.
MORGAN: You look fabulous.
LAWRENCE: Thank you.
MORGAN: I heard you fell over earlier?
LAWRENCE: I did. I tripped on a cone. They shouldn't have those laying around. I'm the same color as the cone.
MORGAN: Do you think you're going to sneak in a little crafty win tonight?
LAWRENCE: You know, I don't know. Bye.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHN RIDLEY, BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY WINNER: It was certainly to entertain people, but if you can inspire people in what you do, I think of the movies and the stories that inspired me, that is so special. And I'm so thankful for it. It makes a difference when people choose with their pocketbooks and that people want to put out their hard-earned money for Solomon's story, that means the world.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to 82 and then 92. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's over to your other side. Hi. This is Forsakia (ph). You took a story from the past, and you had to tackle the language, as well. For you, how did you go in that process of adapting that and deciding to do it that way, and linking someone's story from before to the future?
RIDLEY: Well, in terms of the language, if you're talking about the English that was used, I mean, that was the most difficult thing, because Solomon, he was an exquisite writer. And he wrote with eloquence, and he wrote in an elevated nature, and I would say a big part of the process for me was just trying to learn an English that was not my English. It was a task. And it was a chore, but it was an education. As was about the circumstance at the time, the politics, and all of those things.
I think the fact that the story is relevant now is because stories about human nature are always relevant. Stories about individuals, no matter their circumstances, seeing beauty in the world, that's always relevant. And unfortunately, it's relevant because there are more people in slavery right now in the world than at any other time.
And as beautiful as this film is, my fear is that people would walk away from it and say that's the past, that's the distance, thank God that's not us anymore. I hope that people, if they feel anything at all, will think about the world we live in at this moment, right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: John Ridley right there who wrote the screenplay to "12 Years a Slave." Got my special panel here. I mean, "12 Years a Slave" to me was the single most powerful movie I've seen in quite a few years. I'm delighted it got recognized in the way that it did, because it's more than just a movie, isn't it?
BREZNICAN: Absolutely. Well, I think what John Ridley did with the screenplay and what Steve McQueen did with the film, is he's taken this fairly obscure autobiography, written by Solomon Northrup, and turned it into America's "Diary of Anne Frank." Really, it was known to academics mainly, and now it's on best seller lists.
MORGAN: Right. And I felt watching it, it was the first time I've left the cinema or a movie theater where an audience has been completely silent. And I remember that exact same thing with "Schindler's List."
BREZNICAN: Yes.
MORGAN: I think it's had the same kind of impact in reminding Americans, and indeed, people around the world about the reality of slavery.
BREZNICAN: When I saw it at the Toronto International Film Festival, yes, the -- usually audiences, they are quick to come out and jibber jabber about the movie, what their opinion was, and there just people couldn't say anything except wow, or "Oh, my God." And it took a while to decompress from that film. It was a very emotional experience.
ROCHA: For me, I actually -- I'm going to be honest with you guys. Halfway through I couldn't watch it any more. It was too -- not that it was so real --
(CROSSTALK)
MORGAN: It is very hard to watch.
ROCHA: -- it was very hard to watch. And like (INAUDIBLE) just said, you know, slavery still exists, and even in America it still exists. And it is such a scary thought to me, and it's not that I would leave it hush-hush, I don't want to see it and it's not there. It was more of the fact that like it is still there and it's still so emotional --
BREZNICAN: Troubling.
MORGAN: And I interviewed Lupita Nyong'o recently with Steve McQueen, who obviously wrote the -- it's his movie. And it was amazing the way they got her to do this part. He auditioned 1,000 people and then found this girl who actually was young as you think. She's actually 31.
BREZNICAN: She turned 31 yesterday.
MORGAN: 31 yesterday, right. And so she's really just come out of nowhere and yet had been an actress for quite a while, living in New York, and she flew down and blew them away with her audition.
And he realized in that moment we have our person. But it's such a heartrending role. I mean, I know what you mean about watching it. When you're actually in there, on a big screen, watching Lupita acting the way that she does, it's (INAUDIBLE), this poor, young abused female slave, it is gut-wrenching and yet very powerful. And ultimately very inspiring.
BREZNICAN: What's so powerful about it is that Patsy is now weak person, she doesn't just suffer. She is strong and resilient, and despite this immense strength, she is still doomed. And I think that's what breaks the heart when you watch that --
MORGAN: I'm going to Nischelle Turner simply because I just wonder what has happened to her. I haven't heard from her for about five minutes.
Nischelle, how is it going on down there? Did they all go somewhere else?
TURNER: I'm sorry, Piers, could you say that again, please?
MORGAN: I said where are all these stars pouring into the Governor's Ball? Are they going somewhere else? Are they bypassing you?
(CROSSTALK)
TURNER: They're not here yet. They're slow moving. They're taking their time. They're relishing in the win and they're staring at that statue and saying, gosh, you sure are beautiful, Oscar. That's what they're doing. So they're not here yet.
I heard you talking about "12 Years a Slave," though, and I also saw the movie as well at the Toronto Film Festival, and I saw it with men, women, black, white, old, young. And everyone in that movie, including myself, was just visibly sobbing. It was literal hard sobs that I had through that movie.
People were saying, well, did you love the movie? It was a very good movie. I did not love the movie because things that I love I get joy out of. I got no joy at all from that movie because it was so hard to watch. But it was a very important movie. It was a must-be-made movie. And I'm so proud that it was.
I think Steve McQueen put his heart and soul in that. He told me earlier that he had been preparing for 43 years to make this movie. And it finally came to fruition. So I think it was wonderful, and I'm so glad that it won. I'm glad that it will be in some public schools as part of the curriculum come this fall, because I do believe it's a film that everyone should see.
MORGAN: And I love the fact that I spoke to Lupita, she said that when she called her dad to say, "I'm in a movie with Brad Pitt," he went, "Who"?
(LAUGHTER)
MORGAN: All right.
Anyway, it's your break. More Oscar winners to come. More gossip from behind the scenes, more winners. We'll be right back in a few minutes.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MORGAN: What do you think it takes to make a great actor?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Humanity, humility. I know that you laugh. It does.
MORGAN: I believe you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But I really do. I think that you have to really be aware of the world around you. I think that sometimes as actors we can shut ourselves off and, really, the key to great acting is opening yourself up.
MORGAN: If I could take you to a desert island right now with any leading man actor in the world, who would you choose?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who would I choose? Joaquin Phoenix.
MORGAN: Does he know this? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He does now.
(LAUGHTER)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, ACTOR: OK, that's great. I can talk about it now.
QUESTION: You know, I have been covering the Oscar for 25 years and I never hold one in my hands, so what it feels to have your first one with your first nomination right now with you?
MCCONAUGHEY: It's feel -- I'm not going to say surreal. I did not expect it, but it is the end -- it's a bit of the end of a journey with this film. But I mean, the script that came across my desk four years ago and also my wife and I were talking about it this morning when we woke up, not knowing what would happen tonight, saying, hey, whoever happens tonight, four years ago decided to go to work, do four films a year.
That was easy for me to do; she came with the kids and followed me everywhere. And we went and it was harder for her than it was for me. And so this, "Dallas Buyers Club" being the film that was also on my desk five years ago that we finally got made two years ago, it sort of feels like a bit of a culmination.
Not really a destination as far as work goes, but the movie, the script, no one wanted to make it for 20 years. It got turned down 137 times.
And then it came across my desk, I jumped on with the team that was trying to get it made. And we somehow got it made and got it across the line. That was a minor miracle in itself. So that felt great.
And then I saw the first cut Jean-Marc sent me to look at. And I was like, oh, I think we may have gotten it on camera. I think we have a good film here. Edit it together, I liked the film. You never know what's going to happen after that.
All of a sudden it premieres in Toronto; it's received well, it sticks with people who went away. They passed that word along then we open up in a few theaters here in America and it started to gain momentum and started to really stick with people.
And now the ultimate light, the gold standard of the light of excellence is shined on it. Not just on my performance, but we had a couple of other things tonight. We had six nominations. Jared won the makeup and hair, done with a $250 budget.
They were stealing charcoal and stuff to --
(LAUGHTER)
MCCONAUGHEY: -- to do our makeup. That is extra rewarding for me because I was part of that team that was pushing this thing, trying to push the thing over the -- that nobody wanted to make.
And I'm standing here now, it's something that -- I got a prize for excellence for the work I do and something that's not my job, it's not my hobby and it's not my fad, it's my career. That feels wonderful. And I didn't say it tonight but there was a very special thing that happened.
In 1992, one week into working on my first job, "Dazed and Confused," our father moved on six days into working on that job. Now in hindsight, I've looked back. He got to be alive for me doing the one thing that was not my fad, hobby or job. We didn't know then, but it turned out to be my career. And that's why I was actually -- he came to my mind tonight and speaking about -- it feels wonderful. I've -- yes. It feels wonderful.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to 33 and then 213.
QUESTION: Hi, Matthew; James Bean, hyperbole.com (ph). I actually got to talk to you during the press rounds for "Dallas Buyers Club."
And your first nomination, first award, you're one for one, which is an awesome record.
And I wondered if you could you give us a behind-the-scenes --
(LAUGHTER)
MCCONAUGHEY: That's good.
QUESTION: -- I wondered if you could give us a behind-the-scenes look at the McConnaissance that --
MCCONAUGHEY: McConnaissance?
QUESTION: -- with "True Detective" --
MCCONAUGHEY: That term I heard -- somebody said it in Sundance.
(CROSSTALK)
MCCONAUGHEY: (INAUDIBLE) McConnaissance. And he went on and said (INAUDIBLE) -- wait, wait, go back. What did you say?
He said, "McConnaissance."
I was like, "I don't know what that is, but it sounds good."
Anyway, look four years ago, I've told the story before, but I took a couple years off. I didn't know if it would be two years, I didn't know if it would be three years, four years. I took some time off to stop doing the things I was doing because I wanted to do something that I felt like I could give an original take on, something that scared the hell out of me.
And I started going to work. Now that started back with "Killer Joe," "Lincoln Lawyer," "Magic Mike" and things like that. I've got to be honest. The thing -- I have been more process oriented than I ever have been. I've been more like go for the experience, Matthew. What's the personal experience I can get out of this as an actor? And love making the daily construction and architecture, the making of a movie.
And when it's over be fulfilled in the making of that movie, and what it -- if it rises to somewhere, if it goes straight to DVD, forget it. That was about making the movie. You as a process, you worked with people and went to work and put your head down and did it.
Now results came in more than ever by just putting my head down and sticking to the process.
You know, I have worked with single-minded directors. They were all characters. They were sort of fringe, on the outsider, on the -- sort of outcast characters, characters that didn't make up -- that made up their own rules. You know, they didn't placate or pander to nobody else. With "Wall Street," I got to go to work with Martin Scorsese, worked with Leonardo in that scene -- in a scene for a day.
"True Detective," great writing. I read two episodes and I'm like, I'm doing this if you'll give me the role of Rustin Cole, I'm in. And we went and made that. That was basically like a six-month film, it was one director, eight episodes, 450 pages, basically a 450-page script, six months shooting on film, very considerate. Much more considerate than "Dallas Buyers Club." We shot that with one camera, no lights and a tiny crew in 25 days. I was going for the quality and the experience.
And what's my experience going to be? I don't know what this means; I don't know what the result will be. What can I get an experience out of, Matthew? That was the question I was asking myself.
QUESTION: Thank you so much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to 213 and then 154.
QUESTION: Hi, I'm Fallon (ph). I just wanted to congratulate you.
MCCONAUGHEY: thank you.
QUESTION: And also I noticed I want today congratulate you, and also I noticed when Jennifer Lawrence was walking out to present you with the Oscar, she kind of said something to you. We're you kind of laughing -- ?
MCCONAUGHEY: She was talking to Jared because Ellen was on the side. You know, Ellen had earlier made the joke about Jennifer tripping last year, well, Ellen was on the side when Jennifer was walking out, going, oh, oh, oh, oh. And Jared was laughing at Ellen. So she was -- she yelled over to Jared like, what? Yes. That's what that was about.
QUESTION: Oscar moment, thank you.
QUESTION: So we're going to 154.
QUESTION: Congratulations.
MCCONAUGHEY: Where's 154?
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Natalie (INAUDIBLE) from TV (INAUDIBLE).
What's the status, are you going to go back for "True Detective" season two? Have you thought about continuing on with the show?
MCCONAUGHEY: No, I will not be back for season two. Season one was finite.
(LAUGHTER)
MCCONAUGHEY: Eight episodes, that's (INAUDIBLE).
MORGAN: (INAUDIBLE) to Rocha (ph) and Anthony Breznican (ph) and Nischelle Turner, who is live at the Governor's Ball. (INAUDIBLE) to Matthew McConaughey there, Nischelle, because -- hey, wait a minute. Wait, stop --
(CROSSTALK)
MORGAN: She has got Jared Leto.
(CROSSTALK)
MORGAN: (INAUDIBLE) and congratulate him.
TURNER: Yes, we are congratulating him.
You do. And you look at it and you kind of lose your breath.
This thing is heavy.
JARED LETO, ACTOR: Yes, it is. It's heavy; it's substantial, it's beautiful. And it's really a symbol of something magical, you know? When a film connects with people, you know, when a story moves people. And it's nice to be a part of something like that.
TURNER: I can't believe you're letting me hold this. But I'm so glad because I think this is the closest I will ever get to an Oscar.
LETO: You know, I thought the same thing, you never know. I never thought that I would ever get an Oscar, never, ever, ever imagined that I would be on that stage and able to thank my mother and my brother. And it was a really wonderful thing to be able to do.
TURNER: Now I know you gave a very moving speech tonight, and one of the things that you did, you got a little political. You talked about the people facing the crises in Ukraine and Venezuela.
What was on your heart to make that statement tonight? LETO: I'm in a band called 30 Seconds to Mars. And we tour the world. We're really a global band. And we have shows coming up in the Ukraine. We had a show in the works in Venezuela. We have a show in Thailand. And all of those places and my other places we play in the world, deal with social issues, social unrest.
So it's a part of our lives, and it means a lot to me to speak and support the people that are there facing really challenging times, literally fighting for their lives.
And, you know, so that's why I took the opportunity to shine a light on that situation.
TURNER: I know they're trying to pull you away.
But do you -- are you still planning on going to Ukraine?
LETO: Yes, as -- I mean, we have a show there in a week or two. So we're looking at the situation very closely, as we are in Thailand.
But it is pretty -- it's a pretty interesting thing to be in a business where, you know, plans can get diverted because of social unrest.
You know during the middle of the Arab Spring, we played in the Middle East and, fortunately, we were able to play those shows. And I say fortunately because it was a really special thing to connect with the audiences at such a special time in the history of those cultures and countries.
So, you know.
TURNER: They're going to take you away from me. I could stand here and talk to you about this all day.
You've got to take this back or I'm going to stand here with this all night.
LETO: How does it feel?
TURNER: Oh, this feels wonderful.
Thank you, Piers Morgan, thank you everybody at CNN for giving me this opportunity, thank you so much.
(LAUGHTER)
TURNER: Here you go. Thank you. Congratulations.
MORGAN: Congratulations to Jared Leto, who's a terrific guy, and best supporting anchorwoman there to the delightful Nischelle Turner. Well done, you deserve that.
(CROSSTALK)
TURNER: Let me ask you, Nischelle because I really love the women's this year, of the Big Four acting awards. They're all great characters; they're all very eloquent. They're all individual, very different people, from Jared Leto, to Lupita Nyong'o, to Matthew McConaughey, Cate Blanchett. I really feel this year the Academy has got it right.
TURNER: Yes, you know, I think the Academy did get it right in a lot of the situations. And right now we're standing here with the star of "12 Years a Slave."
We're talking about the Academy getting the picks right tonight, "12 Years a Slave," winning best picture, Chiwetel Ejiofor, standing here with me.
How are you feeling right now?
CHIWETEL EJIOFOR, ACTOR: I'm feeling -- it's amazing, an amazing feeling. I'm so thrilled about tonight. And I'm really just incredibly happy for the film and all of us who put in so much effort and so much work into this film, and this incredible culmination of that effort, to all be up there on stage for best picture and an amazing -- an amazing evening.
TURNER: Chiwetel, I know I have spoken to you before about how you felt, taking on Solomon Northup's works and his words.
Was there any time during this filming that you -- that it really hit you to say the gravity and the magnitude of what you all were putting on the screen?
EJIOFOR: I think we were all just deeply moved, engaged and passionate about telling the story. As soon as we were up and running, I think everybody was at a really high pitch and just a real incredible level of focus and dedication to a story that we all believed should be told. So we all wanted to tell. Solomon Northup and his journey just being so reflective of so many things about human respect and human dignity. And we just wanted to be there and put our best foot forward and try and tell the story as best we could.
TURNER: I have to tell you, Paul Dano told me tonight that sometimes he just needed to have a stiff drink after shooting because it was a little heavy.
EJIOFOR: Sometimes. I think sometimes we all did. You know, we managed to all bond really well on the film. And that was part of it, that we had to enjoy in a way, enjoy each other and have fun when we weren't working and go out in the mornings and enjoy the city. And so there was a lot of that, it was a real balance of those things.
TURNER: Now the reverb is starting. We're seeing the film get into public school curriculums this fall; we're seeing the book land on the best sellers' lists, selling more copies since the film's been out that it has in the 150 years that the book has been in existence.
What does that mean to you, because this is really admitting some change? EJIOFOR: Yes, it's amazing, the feeling of just going forward, that the book is out there. I feel that it deserves to be out there, deserves to be read. You know, it deals with things that are so important to all of us, to everybody.
And from everywhere. And I think that's why internationally as well as domestically, the movie has really captured an audience and a real passion and engaged people in a real conversation. And so that getting onto the curriculum is just an amazing step for the film, for Solomon Northup's book. It should be out there, it's an amazing historical document.
TURNER: Where is that pretty sister of yours that is our CNN business correspondent?
EJIOFOR: Somewhere. I'm going to try and find her.
TURNER: I saw her in her gorgeous dress earlier. She's been ducking and dodging us.
Have we seen Zain Asher? Anybody seen Zain Asher? Tell her to come say hello to CNN. Right?
EJIOFOR: (INAUDIBLE) out here. I'll bring her out. I'll get her out here.
TURNER: Well, congratulations to you and congratulations on your nomination. I thought the film was really important film and I'm very glad that it was made. All right, sir, have a good night.
All right, Pies. So that's Chiwetel Ejiofor, who was nominated for Best Actor. But the film, "12 Years a Slave," and of course the film did win Best Picture tonight.
MORGAN: Yes. He was brilliant in that movie, I have to day.
A couple of tweets from Bette Midler which got my attention. One is this, "Everyone wants to know what I said," off-mike at the end of the song that she sang. "I said, 'I feel like I just won the Olympics,'" which is a great line. But also I thought this one was great.
She said, "Jennifer Lawrence is so charming, she could run me over with her car and I would still send her a thank you note."
(LAUGHTER)
MORGAN: Bette Midler, we love you.
And let's take a short break. Hollywood is celebrating in big style tonight. We'll be back with more of the Oscar winners and speeches after this.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) MORGAN: Back with our live post-Oscars coverage here from the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. And we're talking to Coco Rocha and Anthony Breznican and Nischelle Turner is live at the Governor's Ball.
(INAUDIBLE) Matthew McConaughey for a moment, because I love that guy. I think he is the real deal. And I think he went through this weird period in his career of just doing cheesy rom-coms and stuff, and then suddenly, you know what, I'm better than this.
And I think of all the great things I've watched in the last year, and that revolve around him, "Dallas Buyers Club," "True detective," the TV series, airing at the moment. His cameo in "The Wolf of Wall Street" is sensational, almost steals the movie, all of it. He's fantastic.
BREZNICAN: Yes, I know and he -- you say you love him, he loves himself, too, as he said in his speech. He's his hero 10 years from now or something like that.
MORGAN: Well, the point he's making was he'd never be his hero.
ROCHA: Yes.
MORGAN: You've got keep chasing. I know exactly what he meant by that.
(INAUDIBLE) lovely wife, lovely family. He is very grounded. He is reaching his peak of his own acting ability.
BREZNICAN: What's fascinating is that he didn't have to reinvent himself. He was doing fine with the movies he had, but he chose to alter his point of view, to try different things and take risks and he didn't have to do that.
MORGAN: He also has 50 sets of bongos. And when I interviewed him a few weeks ago, the Oscar nominees' lunch, I said, if you win, how many of those sets will you play?
And he said all of them, man, all of them.
So tonight he will be drinking and playing 50 sets of bongos.
We have got Steve McQueen, who, of course, is the genius behind "12 Years a Slave." Here he is backstage.
STEVE MCQUEEN, FILM DIRECTOR: (INAUDIBLE). You're living it and you're there, and it's not a dream, it's reality. So emotions and physicality just take over. So Van Halen, "Jump."
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We will go --
BRAD PITT, ACTOR: I had to clean up dog poop today.
(LAUGHTER) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go to 96 and then 148.
PITT: In my bedroom.
(LAUGHTER)
QUESTION: Hi, (INAUDIBLE) congratulations, everyone.
Five of you. This is being held as a historic win tonight.
Can each of you explain why that is?
And there was a sense not so long ago that, you know, it might not win tonight. And I know some of you feared that.
Can you just kind of talk and discuss, please? Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You. Go.
PITT: I'll jump in there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, go.
PITT: One, I love this movie. I -- just as film -- as a lover of film, the filmmaking, the -- this heroic story of a man in this inhumane situation trying to get back to his family.
I love this film, I love the filmmaking, it's counterintuitive to -- the way we're making films today, it's a real achievement by Mr. McQueen here.
I love this movie. I think it's important. I think it is important because it deals with our history, that we haven't -- that we -- it's important that we understand our history, not for any kind of guilt, but that we understand who we were so we can better understand who we are now and why we're having the specific problems we're having or the successes we're having.
And more -- most importantly who we're going to be. So it's important for that. But listen, at the end of the day, we just hope that this film remains a gentle reminder that we're all equal. We all want the same. We want dignity and opportunity for ourselves and our family.
And that another's freedom is every bit as important as our own. That's it, and that's everything.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We'll go to --
(CROSSTALK)
MORGAN: (INAUDIBLE) there from Brad Pitt, obviously talking about the movie, "12 Years a Slave." And we will be right back with more Oscar winners and all the party action after this short break.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
MORGAN: Good evening from Hollywood. Welcome back to "AND THE WINNER IS..." a PIERS MORGAN LIVE special. I'm here at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel with supermodel and style icon Coco Rocha, also Anthony Breznican ,a senior writer for "Entertainment Weekly".
CNN's own Nischelle Turner is live at the Governor's Ball and she has the Best Director, Alfonso Cuaron. I believe -- I've got to say, congratulate for him, because "Gravity" was a sensational movie from a technical and special effects point of view.
TURNER: It was. "Gravity" cleaned up today, 10 nominations, 6 wins. You're double fisting -- hold both of those up. You are double fisting tonight for directing and for editing. First of all, congratulations on all of the success.
ALFONSO CUARON, DIRECTOR, "GRAVITY": Thank you, thank you so much.
TURNER: You know, one of the things I was talking about earlier tonight was that, if you won, that there would be history made tonight, as the first Latino director to win Best Director for an Academy Award. You're looking like "Is that true?" Did you not know that?
CUARON: I had no idea. But OK, bueno.
TURNER: Bueno, muy bien. Very good. So the film, like I was telling people, it takes you on a ride. 91 minutes, a very quick film, but it just from start to finish I'm holding my breath. At the end, I felt like I just wanted to exhale at the end. I'm sure that was by design.
And one of the things that Sandra Bullock talked about so much from you is that you were so innovative, you actually created new technology for the movie. I mean, what's going on in that head of yours?
CUARON: Pure survival. I was just surrounded with an amazing group of people that can make things happen. But at the end, with all of this technology, the real miracle is Sandra's performance. I mean, if people connected with the film, it's because that emotional journey that was conveyed by Sandra.
TURNER: So what do you do? I mean, for the rest of the night, first of all. What are you going to do tonight? Just going to have a little party, you going to be laid back, you going to go hard?
CUARON: A little party.
TURNER: What does tomorrow bring? What do you do tomorrow? What does an Oscar winner, a double Oscar winner of the night, do the day after?
CUARON: I have my kids here. I have to pack and go back home. So that's the glamour of my life. I'm making school runs.
TURNER: School runs. There you go. Alfonos Cuaron has to be a dad tomorrow. Thank you very much, sir. Have a good time.
Life goes on, Piers. Life goes on. You've got to carpool after you win two Oscars. Who knew?
MORGAN: By the way, where is George Clooney tonight? I haven't seen him all day or all night.
TURNER: I know. Who knows where he is? If anybody seen George Clooney, can they let him know that Piers and I are looking for him. Because I'm looking for him too.
MORGAN: Something about the Oscars needs George Clooney, right? It's like Meryl Streep. They're like the king and queen of Hollywood.
BREZNICAN: No Jack Nicholson this year, either.
MORGAN: No Jack Nicholson again. It remains the greatest (INAUDIBLE) television history, you know why? He hasn't done a TV interview in 40 years. Four decades.
ROCHA: Are you going to be the first?
MORGAN: And I have tried everything. I've even edged him near him at the L.A. Lakers, row by row to try and get to him to physically drag him to my studio. Anyway, it's all going to be too late now.
ROCHA: Can we talk about fashion?
MORGAN: Yes, what do you want to say about fashion?
ROCHA: Well, first of all, Pharrell -- he didn't have the hat on, then the hate came on, then there's these new shoes, and then there was like no pants.
MORGAN: And by the way, Pharrell doing that dancing with Meryl Streep, how cool was that moment?
ROCHA: It was amazing. I think that was so perfect. But first of all, his shorts have their own Twitter handle now. I mean, go figure. But I think it was just fun. And a lot of people have been saying that, you know, the Oscars are supposed to be classy. He should come in a suit and tie, but I'm done with it. I think that you guys, you all look alike. It's time to change it up a little bit.
MORGAN: What's the best tux? Jared Leto?
ROCHA: Jared Leto, I mean, he did a very --
MORGAN: Red bow tie, white suit.
ROCHA: But I think him and Matthew phoned each other like let's bring our moms and let's wear white and be different. I don't know. It's just funny how two men in the same movie came and decided to like show up wearing sort of the same thing. But hey, why not?
And it is easier for girls. We get to really change it up, and anybody a boy tries to change it up, we all look suspicious. Like, what are you doing? Why are you trying to do that?
MORGAN: I never take any risks at all. This takes about 3 minutes to decide, 3 minutes to put on, 3 minutes to take off.
(CROSSTALK)
MORGAN: Let's move to Nischelle Turner. Nischelle?
TURNER: We're here. Yes. Hello.
MORGAN: I want to ask you this, which is, you're at the Governor's Ball, but tonight there are parties all over Hollywood. There is the Vanity Fair party. Harvey Weinstein's having a party in Soho House. There are endless other little parties. Madonna has one that no one can apparently get into. I don't want to get into it but apparently some people do. Lots of little splinter group parties. So does it really matter who turns up where? Could they all eventually go everywhere?
TURNER: Yes, I mean, it's one of those things where everybody hits every party. Especially the big winners. They will go here to the Governor's Ball, make their appearance at the official party of the Academy. Then they will start party hopping. They will definitely go to Vanity Fair, people go to Elton John's party. You know, I'm going to a very exclusive party, and it's called Club Bed. Club Bed is the most exclusive place (INAUDIBLE). Let me tell you about that.
Now, I'm told that Lupita Nyong'o is here, Piers, is here. She's at the bottom of the stairs. I've got my eye out for her and I'm looking for her.
MORGAN: Yes, I think we're about to hear, actually, live from Cate Blanchett. Let's go straight to her.
CATE BLANCHETT, BEST ACTRESS, "BLUE JASMINE": -- the Academy Award. Oh, look, this city needs rain so badly. I mean, you know, it's a little slight inconvenience when you're wearing a dress. But it's so good for the reservoir, so, no, I didn't worry about that. And I had the most phenomenal massage this morning.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to 86 and then back to 151.
BLANCHETT: Only 86? Jesus, I'm worth a little bit more than that. But anyway, hi.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Jo Daniels (ph), Seven (ph) Network, Australia.
BLANCHETT: Hi!
UNDIENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. So tonight is in a way an Aussie landslide because you and Catherine Martin are sharing the spotlight. Can you just talk about that great win for her?
BLANCHETT: Oh look, the creative industries in Australia are phenomenally wealthy with talent. And CM is an incredible talent. I suppose the only thing is that you don't want to constantly export the talent, you want it to continue to be able to return home and work. And the powerful thing about the creative industries in Australia is that they go overseas and it's wonderful acts of soft diplomacy, of soft power, but it's also a huge economic driver domestically. And I think you have to remember that at moments like this, that this is something that happens internationally, that that talent like CM, like Bez (ph), they return home to continue to to do what they do and it enriches what happens both in Australia and internationally. And me too.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 151 and then to 293.
BLANCHETT: 151, OK, I'll take that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello. Congratulations, can you take us through your morning and also how you chose that beautiful dress?
BLANCHETT: I looked at all of the dresses, and I thought which one is the heaviest and I put this one on. No. I've had a long and very, very creative relationship with Mr. Armani and I had the great good fortune of being a princess this morning and having three things to choose from and I chose this one. My morning began with being pummeled like Kobe beef and it's just got better and better.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to 293 and then we'll go t76.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, hi, Cate. Richard Arnold (ph) from Fairfax News of Australia.
BLANCHETT: Welcome.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to congratulate you also. Beautiful words you've given about Australia.
BLANCHETT: I can't remember I thing I said, but thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can go back to it. But I want to ask you about the fact that you are the first Australian actor or actress ever to win --
BLANCHET: And don't you (EXPLETIVE) forget it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And ask you what are your hopes in terms of continuing to challenge yourself in acting? Thanks, Cate.
BLANCHETT: Maybe it's time to stop. Look, roles like this don't come along very often. And as I think I said, or I hope I said, or I imagined I said, that it was a real synthesis for me of the long deep connection I've had with the theater. And the kind of often sort of intangible connection I have had to film. And I thank Woody Allen and the script he wrote for providing me that forum to make that synthesis happen. You know, someone who has had a fragmented sense of self, I mean, I don't think I could have approached that in as bold a way as perhaps I did, risking failure as I did, without having worked with --
MORGAN: We're going to take a break from Cate Blanchett there, who's delighted to win Best Actress. Nischelle Turner has my favorite, Lupita Nyong'o. There she is. Looking magnificent.
TURNER: Piers Morgan says I'm here with his favorite. So the love affair and Britain's love affair, apparently, continues with Lupita Nyong'o. Congratulations.
LUPITA NYONG'O, BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, "12 YEARS A SLAVE": Thank you so much.
TURNER: You have the biggest grin on your face right now from ear to ear, you're hugging that thing. It's like you're never letting off.
LUPITA NYONG'O: Yes, this is my main squeeze.
TURNER: What is it like, that moment right before you hear your name being called. You're sitting there and they say, "And the Oscar goes to -- "
LUPITA NYONG'O: It is agony. Nothing but agony. Because one way or the other you're going to have to do something very scary. Yes, it's awful. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
TURNER: Were you prepared to hear your name because they read it and you looked like you kind of lost your breath for a second, like did they just say Lupita?
LUPITA NYONG'O: Yes, I mean, no matter how many times people predicted and wished me to win, it doesn't prepare you for actually hearing your name. Because it could have gone five different ways.
TURNER: They're going to drag you away from me, but could we bring your brother Junior over here for just a second? Because we need to talk to him too about photobombing that A-list selfie. Get in here, you. How did Junior end up in the middle of Ellen's A-list selfie?
LUPITA NYONG'O: His motto is carpe diem, and he seized the day.
JUNIOR NYONG'O, LUPITA'S BROTHER: Yes, well I just saw that this an opportunity I would never get again, or if I will, it's going to be awhile. So I said you know what? Just hop on that selfie.
TURNER: And just be the most prominent thing there.
JUNIOR NYONG'O: Yes.
TURNER: You are going to be talked about like nobody's business tomorrow. You've got Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Junior.
JUNIOR NYONG'O: I hope they're talking more about her because I'm really proud of her and what she's done.
TURNER: Your best friend, your brother. You gave a wonderful speech, hope to all those little girls, that you said what Whoopi and Oprah did for you, you're doing for another little girl.
LUPITA NYONG'O: I hope so, I hope so.
TURNER: Congratulations, lady. All right, have fun tonight, guys, too.
Man, you know what? There is a bit of a love affair being had with her, Piers. I heard someone said a star is born tonight and I think you could be correct. She is so elegant and beautiful. And we've got Matthew McConaughey coming up these stairs so I'm going to try to grab him too. I don't know if we want to vamp (ph) for a second, but he's coming. I don't know how long it's going to take him to get here but I'm all right, all right, all right to him.
MORGAN: As soon as he gets to you -- and you and I will keep talking because I love those two. Never mind Lupita being an emerging star, what about Junior? Junior, who photobombed the greatest selfie in Twitter history. He supports Arsenal, so that makes him even better as far as I'm concerned, and he looks like a big star as far himself.
BREZNICAN: It wouldn't be the same without a photobomb.
TURNER: Matthew's coming right here.
Matthew, we're live on CNN right now. OK -- he is not coming? Oh, OK, well, he's not coming here. OK. All right. There you go, he is not coming.
BREZNICAN: All right, all right, all right.
TURNER: All right, all right, all right. These are the Oscars. It happens. It happens. All right, so like you said, there is a love affair with Lupita going on.
MORGAN: That seemed to go all wrong, all wrong, all wrong.
TURNER: You know, well, listen. It happens when a publicist says that this star can't come talk to someone, then they can't come talk to someone.
MORGAN: We love Matthew McConaughey.
TURNER: We do love Matthew McConaughey, we definitely do love Matthew.
MORGAN: He's probably saving himself for my show tomorrow night. Doesn't want to contaminate himself with your interviewing skills.
TURNER: All right, but you know what, Lupita was also in that beautiful Prada, that beautiful blue Prada. One of the things we were talking about earlier tonight is she picked that sky blue color because she said it reminded her of Nairobi. So it was a nod to her native Kenya. And I know that I've been seeing on Twitter tonight lots of Kenyans tweeting and saying, "Our Lupita, we're so proud of her." So, again, not only is America having a love affair with her, Britain's having a love affair with her, and Kenya is having their very own love affair with their own as well.
MORGAN: Yes, and Kenya is one of the great places in Africa and indeed the world. So it's fabulous for all of them. More Oscar winners to come. Stay with us. We'll be back in a few moments.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILL SMITH, ACTOR: The Oscar goes to -- "12 Years A Slave".
STEVE MCQUEEN, DIRECTOR, "12 YEARS A SLAVE": I dedicate this award to all of the people who have endured slavery, and the 21 million people who still suffer slavery today. Thank you very much. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: A great moment tonight, "12 Years A Slave" is made Best Picture at the 86th Academy Awards. I'm back with Coco Rocha and Anthony Breznican. And Nischelle Turner is live at the Governor's Ball.
Nischelle, what's going on down there?
TURNER: Well, first of all, I'm waiting still to see if Cate Blanchett is coming through the door here, Piers. We have most of the Oscar winners that have come through the Governor's Ball already tonight. So we are just still waiting for Cate Blanchett, hopefully she'll come up through and hopefully I still get to talk to her and her publicist won't say no. So that will --
MORGAN: Yes, we should point out that Ms. Blanchett dropped the F- bomb earlier live on CNN. It was a little bit naughty of her, but not completely unknown for Australians to do that, of course, in a live environment. So we are prepared to forgive her.
BREZNICAN: It's late too. CNN After Dark.
MORGAN: Also, yes, it's half ten, she's won Best Actress, she's the first Australian, I think she said, to win the Best Actress award. I'd be dropping F-bombs and getting blind drunk if that was me, so good luck to you, Cate Blanchett.
BREZNICAN: Go for it.
ROCHA: Aren't you? A little?
(CROSSTALK)
MORGAN: No, no, I'm completely sober at the moment, but that will not be the same in about half an hour. Because Nischelle Turner and I are going to hit Hollywood hard. Actually, you're not, because, Nischelle, you're defecting you said earlier to some sort of bed party . What is this? Something creepy.
TURNER: You're not invited, Piers. You promised me, Piers Morgan, that you were going to take me out after the Oscars with you on the town, and I think I should hold you to it. Because I've been told that Piers Morgan is like the mayor of Hollywood, the mayor of Beverly Hills. Is that correct?
MORGAN: Well, your words, not mine, but I'm not denying it.
TURNER: Well, listen, you've been all around town this awards season so you've seen and met everyone, and there's definitely some very happy folks here tonight in Hollywood. It's going to be one of those nights; it's Hollywood's biggest night. It's going to be Hollywood's biggest party night.
One of the things Jared Leto said backstage is, look, I'm going to party to the break of dawn. I just won an Oscar. So it will be one of those nights.
I'm not going to party to the break of dawn because I will be on the air, back on the air at the break of dawn, actually at zero dark thirty in the middle of the night, because we're going to continue this Oscar discussion on to the morning show, onto "NEW DAY", tomorrow. So we're going to be doing it there as well.
You know, I heard Coco talking about fashion, and if I could for just one second, I would like to tell you who I thought my best dressed of the night was. I had two ladies, Kate Hudson and Charlize Theron. Both I thought were impeccable, beautiful.
And for the men, you know what, I was a big Jared Leto fan. I love the ombre hair; I love the pop of color, red bow tie, because I do like a bow tie, you heard me say that earlier. And I also love Kevin Spacey. I don't think there are many men in Hollywood that do classic glamour better than him. And for me the fact that he switched it up a little this year and didn't do a plain black tux, I thought he was fantastic.
ROCHA: I have to say something about Kate Hudson. I don't think we touched enough on her.
MORGAN: Kate Hudson was beautiful tonight.
ROCHA: Beautiful. I mean, I always say that Kate Hudson always shows a lot of skin, and I'm totally for it, but there was still a lot of skin, but something about this dress gave it like old romantic Oscars. And I thought it was beautiful. It was Versace.
MORGAN: I could also say that I felt compelled, when I saw Charlize Theron on stage, to send her man, Sean Penn, a text that said you are a lucky man. And back came a one-word reply. "Yes."
So we're all agreed. Sean, if you're watching, you are a lucky guy. She's absolutely delightful, Charlize Theron, and looked great.
We'll take a final break here. The parties are in full swing. The winners are here, more to come in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MORGAN: -- actress to win two Academy Awards, fabulous.
TURNER: So, hey, Piers, I am here with Oscar winner, the belle of the ball, Cate Blanchett. It's OK to call you the belle of the ball. Honey, you just won a Best Actress.
BLANCHETT: So many belles and I'm sure Lupita's waltzed on through. There's many belles.
TURNER: I love when you have this huge smile on your face. It's so genuine and wonderful.
BLANCHETT: Look, it's been, since my last time around the dance floor, it's gotten noisier and louder. And I'm a little bit sick of the sound of my own voice, but it doesn't rob this moment of being so extraordinary. I mean, so many people I respect are here this evening and whose work that I have long admired from afar and to have this in my hand --
TURNER: You had a strong category. I mean, Ms. Meryl Streep. OK, we've got one more question and then she's got to take you. OK, well, that's fine, she's got to take you. That's OK. That's all right, I am not stopping a girl from her food. Enjoy your night. Congratulations. Have a good one.
Cate Blanchett needed to eat. She was not playing and I was not going to stop her. We'll send it back to you, Piers.
MORGAN: You've got to love these publicists. Theynever crack a smile, do they? They just stand there.
Anyway, Nischelle, you've done a fabulous job tonight at the Governor's Ball. We've got the Best Actress at the end there, and I think you should go and find Matthew McConaughey. I want to do a show called "Finding and Searching and Hunting Down Matthew McConaughey by Nischelle Turner".
TURNER: We're going to work it out. We're going to work it out. We're going to work it out. All right, all right, all right, we're going to work it out.
MORGAN: You've done a great job all day, Nischelle. A pleasure as always to have you as my little wing man.
She didn't even react.
ROCHA: OK. That's fine.
MORGAN: Anthony, Coco, final thoughts before we leave for the night.
BREZNICAN: It's Hollywood's biggest night. I think tomorrow is Hollywood's biggest hangover. You know, it was quite a night. A historic night. "12 Years A Slave" is a movie that deserves to be remembered, and this will ensure that, but I think even if it hadn't won, this is a movie that people will watch many years from now.
ROCHA: And congrats to the Oscars for finishing right on time. Like, when you started, I was watching that TV. That ended. That was probably, s tarkly, the first time.
MORGAN: Absolutely. I also want to say, having hammered the Academy year in and year out, always getting it wrong, I went and saw all of the movies, the best movies, and involving all the best actors and so on. I thought this time they got the big six absolutely spot on.
And Leo DiCaprio, all right, maybe he could have won it, but actually I thought McConaughey this year did the best body of work out there.
BREZNICAN: Definitely. Very memorable performance.
MORGAN:, guys, listen, thank you so much.
ROCHA: Thanks for having us!
MORGAN: Let's go and have a drink, shall we?
ROCHA: Let's.
BREZNICAN: Are you buying?
MORGAN: Fantastic. That's all for us tonight from Coco, Anthony, Nischelle and me. Thank you. Congratulations to all of the winners, of course. And to the losers, come back next year and try again. I'll see you then with more Oscar highlights on PIERS MORGAN LIVE. Goodnight, everybody, and thank you for joining.
