Oscars best moments: Michelle Yeoh’s history-making win to Rihanna’s standout performance

Jaw-dropping performances, Hollywood's finest in tears and a guest appearance from a donkey can only mean one thing – the Oscars are done and dusted for another year.

The 95th Academy Awards took place on Sunday night at Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre, where stars including Michelle Yeoh, Lady Gaga and Florence Pugh were out in force to celebrate the best movies of the past 12 months.

Jimmy Kimmel hosted proceedings and thankfully this year, the ceremony delivered plenty of emotional moments instead of a scene-stealing snap.

From the performances you need to see – hello Lady Gaga – to the best speeches of the night and the most jaw-dropping red carpet look, here are the Oscars best moments…

Rihanna won the ‘champagne’ carpet

Rihanna, queen of a late arrival, was one of the final stars to walk the red (well, champagne) carpet. The pop superstar showed off her bump in a form-fitting gown ahead of a much-hyped performance during the ceremony.

RiRi took to the stage for a rendition of Lift Me Up, her Oscar-nominated original song from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The star changed into an equally stunning back gown covered in crystals. Boyfriend ASAP Rocky could be seen leaping out of his seat as the pregnant star was given a standing ovation.

Jimmy Kimmel’s Viola Davis shoutout

In an opening monologue which, of course, saw him reference last year’s infamous Oscars slap, Jimmy also took the chance to make a more serious point about representation.

He said: “While we are on the subject of diversity, I want to say especially to those of you watching at home, there are a number of excellent films and performances that were not nominated tonight.”

He then heaped praise on Till and The Woman King, explaining they are “both based on true stories with great performances from Danielle Deadwyler and Viola Davis, very worthy of your time if you haven’t seen them.”

Ke Huy Quan’s speech

Everything Everywhere All At Once str Ke Huy Quan got the speeches off to a roaring start when he won the second award of the night, Best Supporting Actor.

The star – who was in tears as he made his way onto the stage – recalled coming to the US from Vietnam as a refugee as he told the audience: “My journey started on a boat, I spent a year in a refugee camp and somehow I ended up here on Hollywood's biggest stage.

“They say stories like this only happen in the movies, I cannot believe it’s happening to me. This is the American dream.”

Quan then thanked his co-stars and his family, emotionally adding: “Thank you to my mum for the sacrifices she made [and] thank you to my brother who calls me everyday to remind me to take care of myself.

“I owe everything to the love of my life, my wife Echo, who month after month, year after year for 20 years told me that one day my time will come.

“Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine.

“To all of you out there, please keep your dreams alive. Thank you so much for welcoming me back, I love you.”

And the award for Best Supporting Donkey goes to…

The attendee we didn’t know we needed to see was Jenny, the star of Banshees of Inisherin.

Host Jimmy Kimmel brought the much-loved donkey onto the stage where she was deservedly she was met with rapturous applause. Jenny was sporting a glitzy ‘Emotional Support’ sash as Jimmy quipped that the Academy had claimed she was a support pet in order for her to fly to the US.

Jimmy's awkward Malala moment

Malala Yousafzai graced the Oscars welcome carpet in head-to-toe sparkling sequins.

While she's best known for her activism, she also served as executive producer of Stranger At The Gate, which was nominated for Best Documentary Short Film.

In one of the ceremony's not-so-smooth moments, host Jimmy Kimmel spoke to the 25 year old as part of a bit where attendees were asked questions allegedly sent in by fans.

And what did he ask her? Whether Harry Styles really did spit at Chris Pine.

"I only talk about peace," a slightly baffled-looking Malala replied, before Jimmy swiftly moved on to speak to Colin Farrell. Malala's time in the spotlight wasn't quite over though, as she was then approached by the 'cocaine bear'.

Lady Gaga and Rihanna delivered knockout performances

Lady Gaga was first of the two stars to take to the stage as she delivered a Joanne era-esque, stripped-back rendition of Hold My Hand from Top Gun: Maverick – though the camera work proved to be a little distracting for many viewers.

RiRi took to the stage shortly after to deliver a show-stopping performance of Lift Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, complete with a gospel choir.

Both tracks were nominated for Best Original Song but the pop stars missed out when M M Keeravani won for his song Naatu Naatu, from the Bollywood blockbuster RRR.

Accepting the accolade, the 61-year-old composer said: “I grew up listening to The Carpenters and now here I am with the Oscars.”

He went on to sing: “There was only one wish on my mind…RRR has to win, pride of every Indian, and must put me on top of your world.”

The songs lyrics were by Chandrabose.

Michelle Yeoh makes history

The Everything Everywhere All At Once star walked away with Best Actress, making her the first woman from an Asian background to win the accolade.

Accepting her prize, the 60-year-old said: “For all the little boys and girls who look like me, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. Dream big, dreams do come true. Ladies, never let anyone tell you you are past your prime.

“I have to dedicate this to my mum, all the mums in the world because they are really the superhero’s and without them none of us would be here tonight. She’s 84 and I’m taking this home to her.”

She added: “This is history in the making.”

Everything Everywhere All At Once later cemented its icon status by winning Best Film, its seventh prize of the night.

Brendan Fraser was in floods of tears

Just prior to Michelle's big moment, Brendan Fraser was handed the Best Actor statuette for his leading role in The Whale.

The actor cried on stage as he delivered a moving speech and thanked director Darren Aronofsky for “throwing me a creative life-line”.

“So this is what the multiverse looks like,” he said. “I thank the academy for this honour…Darren Aronofsky for throwing me a creative lifeline and hauling me aboard the good ship The Whale."

Addressing his fellow best actor nominees, he continued: “You laid your whale-sized hearts bare…and it is my honour to be named alongside you in this category.”

“I want to tell you that only whales can swim at the depths of the talent of Hong Chau,” he said, referencing his co-star.

“I started in this business 30 years ago…there was a facility that that I didn’t appreciate at the time until it stopped.”

John Travolta's emotional moment

It wasn't just the speeches that sparked tears. John Travolta was tasked with introducing the In Memoriam section, which paid tribute to stars we've lost including his Grease co-star Olivia Newton John.

In a sweet nod to Olivia, he said: They’ve touched our hearts, they’ve made us smile, and became dear friends, who we will always remain hopefully devoted to.”

Lenny Kravitz then performed a rousing rendition of his 2004 track Calling All Angels as names were shown on a screen.

Robbie Coltrane, Kirstie Alley, Dame Angela Lansbury, Ray Liotta, Burt Bacharach and Raquel Welch were among those remembered.

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