Malek missed out on posing with his fellow actors Mahershala Ali, Regina King and Olivia Colman, who won for Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress, respectively.
The actor wasn’t out for the count for long. He spoke about what his win meant to him while backstage at the Oscars.
“The one thing I can say about this, as an actor, there are so many of us who dream of one thing. Perhaps it’s not this, it’s just getting a job,” he said. “The fact that I have this is beyond any expectation that myself or my family could have ever had. I’ll just say that.”
He added, “This has been a tough battle and the fact that I’m here is proof that anything is possible. Tonight I’m celebrating with all of you and anyone who has had a dream.”
The actor won Best Actor for his portrayal of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.
After his name was announced, Malek passionately kissed with his costar and girlfriend Lucy Boynton.
“My mom is in here somewhere, I love you. I love you, lady,” Malek said while accepting the award. “My family, thank you for all of this. My dad didn’t get to see me do any of this, but I think he’s looking down on me right now. This is a monumental moment.”
He went on to thank Queen, as well as producer Graham King.
“Lucy Boynton, you’re the heart of this film,” he concluded. “You are beyond immensely talented you have captured my heart. Thank you so much.”
Malek, who won both a Golden Globe award and Screen Actors Guild award earlier this month for the role, initially believed taking on the part of the Queen frontman would kill his career.
The actor spoke to an audience at Cinemacon in April 2018 where he said, “When I got this role, I thought, ‘Oh my God, this could be a career-defining performance.’ And about two minutes later I thought, This could be a career killer.”
The Mr. Robot star wasn’t kidding either, adding, “You don’t get this right and it’s trouble.”
The movie chronicles Queen from 1970, when Mercury teamed with Brian May and Roger Taylor, until the band’s performance at Live Aid in 1985, six years before the singer died of complications from AIDS.
