Marcia Gay Harden hints that Judi Dench ‘wasn’t so happy’ with her surprise Oscar win

One of the biggest Oscar surprises in history turns 20 years old this year, with Marcia Gay Harden’s rather shocking Best Supporting Actress for Pollock.

Harden was considered an extreme longshot to win for her role as Lee Krasner, the wife of Jackson Pollock (Ed Harris), going up against Frances McDormand and Kate Hudson for Almost Famous, Judi Dench for Chocolat and Julie Walters for Billy Elliott.

The 61-year-old actress revisited her iconic win in a new interview with Vulture, where she all but insinuates that Dench, ‘wasn’t so happy’ she lost to Harden.

Oscar surprise: One of the biggest Oscar surprises in history turns 20 years old this year, with Marcia Gay Harden’s rather shocking Best Supporting Actress for Pollock

Not happy: The 61-year-old actress revisited her iconic win in a new interview with Vulture , where she all but insinuates that Dench, 'wasn't so happy' she lost to Harden

Not happy: The 61-year-old actress revisited her iconic win in a new interview with Vulture , where she all but insinuates that Dench, ‘wasn’t so happy’ she lost to Harden

While Harden was an established actress by that point, she certainly didn’t have the awards prestige that McDormand, Walters or Dench had, and Hudson’s breakthrough movie Almost Famous was widely beloved by critics and fans alike.

Pollock only had a limited theatrical run, with Harris not only starring but making his directorial debut, with the film only getting a wide release the Friday before Oscar Sunday.

As for Harden, she wasn’t nominated for a Golden Globe or a Screen Actors Guild Award, and was an immense underdog coming into the Oscars, making her win one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history.

Prestige: While Harden was an established actress by that point, she certainly didn't have the awards prestige that McDormand, Walters or Dench had, and Hudson's breakthrough movie Almost Famous was widely beloved by critics and fans alike

Prestige: While Harden was an established actress by that point, she certainly didn’t have the awards prestige that McDormand, Walters or Dench had, and Hudson’s breakthrough movie Almost Famous was widely beloved by critics and fans alike

During the interview, she was told that her win was particularly exciting because it was so unexpected, with Harden revealing the other nominees were happy for her… except one actress she didn’t name.

‘It’s new blood. It just felt great. And by the way, I felt the girls were really happy for me as well. There was one I will not mention — but it wasn’t Kate — who seemingly wasn’t so happy,’ Harden said.

The interviewer circled back to that, assuming it was Julie Walters, but Harden insisted, ‘It’s not her,’ adding, ‘But I would never say anything negative because what a night, right?’

Wasn't happy: 'It’s new blood. It just felt great. And by the way, I felt the girls were really happy for me as well. There was one I will not mention — but it wasn’t Kate — who seemingly wasn’t so happy,' Harden said

Wasn’t happy: ‘It’s new blood. It just felt great. And by the way, I felt the girls were really happy for me as well. There was one I will not mention — but it wasn’t Kate — who seemingly wasn’t so happy,’ Harden said

With Walters and Hudson eliminated, the interviewer mentioned that both McDormand and Dench had won Oscars prior to that night, with Dench winning in 1999 for Shakespeare in Love and McDormand in 1997 for Fargo.

Harden mentioned, ‘And I’m friends with Frances McDormand. There you go,’ essentially insinuating that Dench wasn’t thrilled she lost to Harden.

‘I don’t want to say anything negative about anybody, honestly. It was my perception that somebody wasn’t so happy, but you never know what people have going on,’ Harden added.

There you go: Harden mentioned, 'And I’m friends with Frances McDormand. There you go,' essentially insinuating that Dench wasn't thrilled she lost to Harden

There you go: Harden mentioned, ‘And I’m friends with Frances McDormand. There you go,’ essentially insinuating that Dench wasn’t thrilled she lost to Harden

‘Whatever. However, I’m a big one for effusive congratulations. That’s who I am. I’m just so happy for other people in their wins and their glories. For me, there’s plenty of room at the top. Sometimes you just accept that life rolls along and things come to you when they should,’ Harden added.

Harden was nominated once more in 2004 for her portrayal of Celeste Boyle in Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River, losing out to Renee Zellweger for Cold Mountain. 

Dench has been nominated in 2002 for Iris, 2006 for Mrs. Henderson Presents, 2007 for Notes on a Scandal and 2014 for Philomena. 

Nominated: Harden was nominated once more in 2004 for her portrayal of Celeste Boyle in Clint Eastwood's Mystic River, losing out to Renee Zellweger for Cold Mountain

Nominated: Harden was nominated once more in 2004 for her portrayal of Celeste Boyle in Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River, losing out to Renee Zellweger for Cold Mountain

Dench noms: Dench has been nominated in 2002 for Iris, 2006 for Mrs. Henderson Presents, 2007 for Notes on a Scandal and 2014 for Philomena

Dench noms: Dench has been nominated in 2002 for Iris, 2006 for Mrs. Henderson Presents, 2007 for Notes on a Scandal and 2014 for Philomena