Lupita Nyong’o And Kumail Nanjiani Pay Tribute To Dreamers At 2018 Oscars

Lupita Nyong’o and Kuimail Nanjiani presented an award at the 2018 Oscars on Sunday night, and Nyong’o immediately joked that both their names are difficult to pronounce.

2018 Oscars Dreamers Speech

“Actually, I have to come clean. Kumail Nanjiani is my stage name,” the “Big Sick” actor joked.

“My actual given Pakistani name is Chris Pine. So, you can imagine how annoyed I was when the other, when the white Chris Pine showed up. The real Chris Pine.”

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However, the pair of actors also took a serious turn while presenting Best Production Design, and mentioned the “Dreamers,” kids who came to the United States as youngsters born from immigrant parents. Nyong’o and Nanjiani themselves are Dreamers from Kenya and Pakistan who had to fight hard to work in the film industry.

“And like everyone in this room, and everyone watching at home, we are Dreamers,” Nanjiani. “We grew up dreaming of one day working in movies. Dreams are the foundation of Hollywood. And dreams are the foundational of America. And so, to all the dreamers out there, we stand with you.”

The Production Design Oscar went to The Shape of Water.