At the Academy Awards on Sunday night, Billie Eilish made history as the youngest two-time Oscar winner at the age of 22. Eilish, alongside her brother Finneas O’Connell, clinched the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the power ballad “What Was I Made For?” from the hit movie Barbie.
“I feel so incredibly lucky and honored,” Eilish said, before thanking Barbie director Greta Gerwig. “This goes out to everyone that was affected by the movie and how incredible it is.”
“What Was I Made For?” perfectly encapsulates the identity crisis experienced by Barbie (played by Margot Robbie) throughout the movie.
The song’s resonance extended beyond the big screen, dominating the 2024 Grammys with wins in multiple categories, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Music Video.
This isn’t the first time the sibling duo has claimed the spotlight; they previously won the award for Best Original Song in 2021 for “No Time to Die,” featured in the James Bond film of the same name starring Daniel Craig.
In 2018, TIME recognized Eilish as one of the most influential teens, highlighting her aspirations for a multifaceted career that extends beyond music to include ventures like car and shoe design.
Alongside her artistic pursuits, Eilish is dedicated to activism, particularly in the realm of climate change. In case you didnt listen to the song yet, make sure to watch the below attached video.
She leads by example, implementing strategies to reduce her carbon footprint, such as providing her touring crew with plant-based meals and powering her Lollapalooza set with a zero-emissions battery system.
“I can’t imagine a life that doesn’t involve creativity,” she said, “or at least inspiring other people.”
