Legendary actress and Hollywood icon Whoopi Goldberg is making her highly anticipated return to the Academy Awards stage as a presenter for the first time in nearly 10 years.
The Academy announced that Goldberg will be among the celebrity presenters at the 97th Oscars, joining an impressive lineup that includes Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz, Elle Fanning, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, Amy Poehler, June Squibb, and Bowen Yang. Previously announced presenters include all four reigning acting winners: Robert Downey Jr., Cillian Murphy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Emma Stone.
While the Academy has not disclosed which categories each presenter will handle, Goldberg’s return comes during a ceremony where her Ghost co-star Demi Moore is a frontrunner for Best Actress, widely expected to win for her role in The Substance.
Goldberg, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1991 for Ghost, last appeared on the Oscars stage in 2016, presenting the Honorary Academy Awards and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 88th ceremony. She later participated in a comedic segment titled Mean Tweets during the 89th Oscars and presented at the Governors Awards for the 90th ceremony.
In addition to presenting, Goldberg has hosted the Academy Awards four times—1994, 1996, 1999, and 2002—making her the woman who has hosted the most Oscars ceremonies in history. She has also served on the Academy’s Board of Governors as a representative of the acting branch.
The 97th Academy Awards will be hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, marking his first time as emcee and breaking Jimmy Kimmel’s two-year hosting streak.
Source: Entertainment Weekly