Gracious in Gold: Sterling K. Brown Savors Oscar Nod, Praises Fellow

Actor Sterling K Brown is no stranger to the thrill of winning awards in Hollywood. The This Is Us star has three Emmys, a Golden Globe, and four Screen Actors Guild awards. But his first Oscar nomination for American Fiction has him taking things in a different approach. “I’m sort of the Vince Lombardi mind; when you score a touchdown, act like you’ve been there, right?” Brown told at the Academy Awards nominees luncheon this month.

The 47-year-old actor has gotten used to being congratulated by his coworkers, but this time, he’s also getting a lot of love from people outside the industry. “I woke up this morning, and my phone had 126 text messages,” he said. “I’m thankful for that.”

Brown, who also has a starring role in the upcoming Netflix series The Umbrella Man, says being nominated is a “huge honor,” he’s still basking at the moment. “It’s nice to be recognized by people who haven’t been in the business for a long time, and they see your work and say, ‘Oh wow, you’re good at this.’ I’m honored that they recognize me and appreciate it.”

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During his speech at the SAG Awards earlier this year, he took the opportunity to thank his wife, Ryan Michelle Bathe. “I have to thank my best scene partner anyone has ever had; she’s the best,” he said. “She’s been there for me through the ups and downs, the highs and lows.”

He’s also got a sense of perspective after being part of the NBC drama that won a record 13 Emmys this year, including two for him as co-star Milo Ventimiglia. It’s the most wins for a TV show in history and marked the first time an actor of color has won both lead and supporting acting awards in the same year.

In addition to his work on NBC’s This Is Us and the FX limited series The People vs OJ Simpson, Brown has appeared in other TV shows such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, and more. In the film world, he’s starred in Black Panther and The Predator.

Brown hopes to win his first Oscar for the upcoming Christopher Nolan film Oppenheimer, which stars Robert Downey Jr as Kurt Weill. He’s a strong contender against fellow actors such as Will Smith for Not My Problem, Mark Ruffalo for Poor Things, and Ryan Gosling for Blade Runner 2049. In the meantime, he’s enjoying his Oscars moment and has a message for those who dream of making it big. “To those who are still hustling and trying to make it in this town, keep going,” he said on the red carpet. “The fame won’t sustain you, the money won’t, but the love will keep you going.” The 96th Academy Awards air on Sunday, March 10, on ABC.