‘He would say something beautiful’: Chadwick Boseman’s wife Taylor Simone Ledward accepts his Golden Globe

‘We have to take all the moments to celebrate those we love.’
February 28, 2021 11:20 p.m. EST
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Chadwick Boseman won his first and only Golden Globe on Sunday night (watch the full show on CTV now) when he was posthumously awarded Best Actor in a Drama for his stirring role as a trumpet player named Levee in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The film was the final project Boseman completed before his death on August 28, 2020. Boseman died at age 43 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer.

Boseman’s wife Taylor Simone Ledward tearfully delivered a beautiful speech during Sunday’s telecast on behalf of her late husband, thanking his team and his Ma Rainey co-stars, as well as producer Denzel Washington. “He would thank God. He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices,” said Ledward.

“He would say something beautiful,” continued Ledward. “Something inspiring. Something that would amplify that little voice inside of all of us that tells you you can, that tells you to keep going, that calls you back to what you are meant to be doing at this moment in history.”

Showing incredible strength while speaking publicly less than a year after losing her husband, Ledward ended the speech with a sweet note to her beloved. “I don’t have his words, but we have to take all the moments to celebrate those we love, so thank you HFPA for this opportunity to do exactly that,” said Ledward. “And honey, you keep them coming.”

Ledward’s speech visibly moved Boseman’s Ma Rainey co-star Viola Davis and presenter Renee Zellweger, with quick camera pans showing both women in tears.

Boseman was nominated in one of the most impressive categories of the year, with his fellow nominees including Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal), Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Gary Oldman (Mank), and Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian). Following the December release of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, both Boseman and Davis immediately began generating Oscar buzz for their electric performances that brought George C. Wolfe’s adaptation of August Wilson’s play to life on screen.

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Before the award show began on Sunday, presenter Christopher Meloni appeared on the E! pre-show and spoke about Boseman, with whom he worked on the Jackie Robinson biopic 42 (stream now on Crave).

"Just watching him on set and how he conducted himself, both in front of the cameras and when the cameras weren't rolling, I realized not only was he a great actor but also a great human being," Meloni said of Boseman, who starred as the legendary baseball player. "His passing affected me deeply," Meloni continued. "Great guy, great actor."

Boseman’s Black Panther co-star Angela Bassett also praised the late actor, calling him an "incredible individual." 

Boseman’s name also came up earlier in the show during a segment with TikTok star La'Ron Hines, who quizzed kids on their Golden Globes knowledge. While the young viewers weren’t as up-to-date on this year’s nominees as some viewers, one name they all recognized was Boseman’s. When asked if they knew who Chadwick Boseman was, all the children immediately responded with "Black Panther."

Watch the full 78th Annual Golden Globes now on CTV.ca and the CTV app.

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