2023 Oscars Shine a Light on Addiction and Recovery

The 95th annual Academy Awards took place on Sunday, March 12, 2023, and are considered the crown jewel in cinema.

While the night belonged to “Everything Everywhere All At Once” from an awards standpoint, this year’s Oscars were special for those in the addiction and recovery community. The documentary film “All The Beauty And The Bloodshed” received a nomination, and many actors and actresses in recovery shined.

Here is a quick recap of the overall results before we get into addiction and recovery-specific topics.

“Everything Everywhere All At Once” won almost every major award, stealing the show by winning 7 awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Leading Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Screenplay. The Best Leading Actor went to Brendan Fraser for his role in “The Whale.” In total, 23 awards were handed out that night.

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed

One of the films that did not win any awards on the night was “All The Beauty and the Bloodshed,” losing out to “Navalny” in the Documentary Feature Film category. All The Beauty and the Bloodshed focuses on the life and career of photographer and activist Nan Goldin. A major part of the film centers around her pursuit of Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family (the makers of OxyContin) to hold them accountable for the opioid epidemic. Goldin founded the advocacy group PAIN (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now) after her own addiction to OxyContin nearly resulted in a fatal overdose.

While the film did not win, it serves as a reminder that opioid abuse and addiction are still major issues in the United States that continue to require people on the front lines to fight.

Actors and Actresses in Recovery

Actress and supermodel Cara Delevigne turned heads on the Red Carpet with a red dress that paid homage to Angelina Jolie’s look at the 2012 Oscars. She arrived at the Oscars newly sober after some paparazzi photos of her convinced her to go to rehab. Delevigne wasn’t the only recovering celebrity to make waves on Oscars Sunday.

Jamie Lee Curtis, who has been open about her addiction to prescription painkillers and her sobriety, won Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” While he didn’t win the award for Best Leading Actor, Colin Farrell was in attendance celebrating his 16th year of sobriety. In a move that shocked many, the movie that he starred in, “The Banshees of Inisherin,” was nominated for several awards on the night but didn’t win any, repeatedly finishing runner-up to “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” Curtis and Ferrell were recently profiled in Variety, speaking about their sobriety.

If the success and acclaim of Cara Delevigne, Jamie Lee Curtis, Colin Farrell, Nan Goldin, and “All The Beauty and the Bloodshed” have taught us anything, it is never too late to get help.

Treatment options are available if you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse and addiction. Call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) helpline at 1-800-662-4357, or visit their online program locator to find addiction treatment options near you.