'A result of hanging in there': How Delroy Lindo, 73, received his first Oscar nomination

"The first thing that you have to come to terms with as an actor is being rejected. That's key for anyone trying to make it in Hollywood. But Lindo, who plays blues musician Delta Slim in Best Picture nominee Sinners, has been working in the industry since moving to New York in his 20s, and finally got his first Academy Award nomination this year for Best Supporting Actor."

"In Sinners, Lindo says he improvised a crucial part of the film that wasn't in the script. It happens after his character tells the story of a lynching, and he begins stomping his foot and humming. Lindo's co-stars went with it, and while at first the moment was cut from the film, he pushed for it to make the final cut. In the end, it did, giving greater authenticity to the moment."

"There was space in our creative relationship for me to raise my hand. Lindo told the Journal when describing his experience on the Sinners set with director Ryan Coogler and co-star Michael B. Jordan, emphasizing that creative freedom and collaborative environments enabled him to contribute meaningfully to the film."

Delroy Lindo, at 73 years old, earned his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in the film Sinners, playing blues musician Delta Slim. After working in the entertainment industry since the 1980s, including roles in Malcolm X, Get Shorty, and The Cider House Rules, Lindo credits his success to accepting rejection and trusting both his abilities and those who encouraged him to continue. On the Sinners set, he improvised a significant scene involving foot stomping and humming after his character recounts a lynching story. Though initially cut from the film, Lindo advocated for its inclusion, ultimately strengthening the role's authenticity. He attributes this creative freedom to the collaborative environment fostered by director Ryan Coogler and co-star Michael B. Jordan, emphasizing that perseverance through industry droughts and self-doubt was crucial to reaching this point in his career.

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