Casey Affleck still finds it hard to believe that he is an Oscar winner.
The Ocean's 11 actor, younger brother of fellow Oscar winner Ben Affleck, won the prestigious award in 2017 for his performance as a grieving janitor in Kenneth Lonergan's Manchester by the Sea.
That year, he was competing against Denzel Washington (Fences), Ryan Gosling (La La Land), Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge), and Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic), making it all the more difficult to believe that he prevailed.
© Getty ImagesSpeaking at the Zurich Film Festival about his forthcoming film, Company, which he directed and co-wrote, Casey, 51, remembered the 2017 Oscars as "mildly traumatic."
"I had all these people in this category that were heroes of mine — Viggo Mortensen and Denzel [Washington], and then peers of mine who are great — Andrew Garfield and Ryan Gosling," he recalled, maintaining: "It sounds like a cliche, but I was just very happy to be there."
"I didn't really expect to win because I thought Denzel was going to win, and that was totally fine," he continued, noting that he didn't plan a speech and was afterwards embarrassed when he realized he forgot to thank "all the people you're supposed to thank," including the film's director and his kids.
© Getty ImagesHowever, as he walked off the stage, none other than Leonardo DiCaprio came to the rescue.
"I just mumbled my way through it and got off stage, so it was mildly traumatic," he said of his acceptance, before revealing: "But I remember walking off stage and seeing, for some reason, Leonardo Dicaprio standing there in the wings."
"I was stuck in the moment of terror and disorientation, and he was just laughing and gave me a big hug, and then I sort of felt better," he added.
© Getty ImagesThe year after his win, when winners typically are presenters of the category they won, Casey dropped out of presenting after renewed attention on his 2010 sexual assault allegations sparked controversy. He was sued by two women who previously worked with him, allegations he refuted, and the lawsuits were ultimately settled out of court.
© Getty ImagesCasey was married to fellow celebrity sibling Summer Phoenix — sister of Joaquin Phoenix and the late River Phoenix — from 2006 to 2017, and they share two sons, Indiana, 22, and Atticus, 18.
Both star in their dad's new movie, which also stars Nick Nolte, Emily Alyn Lind, and, among others.
