Michelle Obama Makes Oscars Appearance – Thanks Movie Magic, Harvey Weinstein

The First Lady's appearance was one of the biggest surprises of the evening

Photo: Jeff Vespa/Wireimage

When Michelle Obama appeared on screen at the 85th Annual Academy Awards to present the Oscar for Best Picture, many were shocked that she was able to be part of Hollywood’s Biggest Night.

But thanks to a little movie magic, the producers of Argo – Ben Affleck, George Clooney and Grant Heslov – were given their Award by the First Lady herself.

Here’s how it became Oscar history:

According to The Hollywood Reporter, having the First Lady, 49, present Best Picture from the White House was all movie mogul Harvey Weinstein’s daughter’s idea.

Once the show’s producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron were on board, the Academy approached the First Lady. Zadan says her response was, “Yes, I think it’s a great idea. We watch movies all the time at the White House. Let’s do it.”

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Two weeks before the show aired, Koch and producers flew to D.C. where they joined up with Weinstein and his daughter, Lily. Next, they met up with the First Lady’s staff. It was soon decided that rather than appear by herself, she would appear with members of the military.

As for Mrs. Obama’s co-presenter, Zadan and Meron approached Jack Nicholson – who they had worked with in their film The Bucket List. Once they explained the situation, the actor, 75, was immediately in.

Then on Sunday, the First Lady – wearing a glittering, custom, smoke-gray Naeem Khan gown and Sutra Silver at Fragments jewelry – presented the Best Picture Oscar live from the White House. While her appearance went off without a hitch – Nicholson was holding a second envelope with the winner at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, just in case they experienced any technical difficulties.

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