Ethiopian-Irish actress Ruth Negga won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Rebecca Hall's acclaimed drama Passing at the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California on Sunday.
The Limerick-raised star beat fellow Irish actress Jessie Buckley, who was nominated for her role in Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Lost Daughter, to take home the gong.
Negga, who will soon appear in Macbeth opposite Daniel Craig on Broadway, said while accepting the award via video link: "My cheeks hurt because I can't stop smiling.
"This is a really lovely honour. I am sorry I can't be there. I am rehearsing for a play. I would just like to share this with the entire cast and crew of Passing.
"Nothing can be created in isolation - without anybody else. We create in solidarity with others. This is an award for all of us. I am so proud of being part of such a beautiful film."
The winner for #BestSupportingFemale goes to #RuthNegga for #PassingMovie pic.twitter.com/fNQBPEdErv
— Film Independent (@filmindependent) March 6, 2022
She concluded her speech by showing her support for Ukraine following Russia's invasion, saying: "I would like to express my solidarity with the peoples of Ukraine."
Both Negga and Buckley are nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for this weekend's Bafta Awards in the UK.
Negga was previously a winner with the London Film Critics Circle and the National Society of Film Critics in the US for her work on Passing.
Both Passing and The Lost Daughter are streaming on Netflix.
