Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir calls for more women musicians in Oscars speech
A trace of Nordic gender equality coming up: Massive congratulations to the Icelandic musician and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir winning the 2020 Oscar for her brilliant work on Joker!
On February 9, Hildur Guðnadóttir made history at the 92nd Academy Awards when she became the first woman in over 20 years to take home the Oscar for Best Original Score. She is now just one of three women to ever win the Oscar for Best Original Score and the first woman to win for a dramatic composition.
In addition, Guðnadóttir also made history becoming the first Icelander to win an Oscar.
In her acceptance speech, the composer dedicated the win to women:
“To the girls, to the women, to the mothers, to the daughters who hear the music bubbling within – please speak up. We need to hear your voices."
She can now add the Oscar to her growing collection, after winning a Golden Globe and Emmy earlier this year, as well as a Grammy award for “Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media” for her music to HBO’s series Chernobyl. Listen here.
While recognition of female-created works was sorely lacking elsewhere on this year's Oscar Awards Gala, Guðnadóttir's win is a step in the right direction. All the way from Iceland, Guðnadóttir is now an inspiration and role model for women and young girls in music all around the world.
Watch Hildur discuss the Best Original Score win for Joker backstage at Oscars 2020 below: