In his acceptance speech after winning best director of a motion picture for Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan remembered late actor Heath Ledger.

Nolan, 53, recounted the year his 2008 film The Dark Knight was nominated for an award, and he had to receive it on behalf of Ledger, who had recently died.

“The only time I’ve ever been on this stage before was accepting one of these on behalf of our dear friend, [the late] Heath Ledger, and that was complicated and challenging for me,” he said.

“And in the middle of speaking, I looked down at Robert Downey Jr., [who] caught my eye and gave me a look of support,” he said.

“The same look [he’s] giving me now — the same love and support he showed so many people in your community over the years.”

At the age of 28, Ledger died in New York City nearly 16 years ago. He died as a result of an unintentional overdose of prescription pharmaceuticals, including pain relievers, anti-anxiety medications, and sleeping pills.

Nolan went on to remark that he believed it would be “simpler” to receive the prize as himself, but as a director, he “can only accept awards on behalf of people” since filmmakers bring people together.

Bradley Cooper was nominated for Maestro, Greta Gerwig for Barbie, Yorgos Lanthimos for Poor Things, Martin Scorsese for Killers of the Flower Moon, and Celine Song for Past Lives.