Oscars 2018: Man arrested for allegedly stealing Frances McDormand's statuette

It was allegedly taken during a Hollywood after party

Police in Los Angeles said they have arrested a man on suspicion of stealing actor Frances McDormand’s Oscars trophy after the Academy Awards.

Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Rosario Herrera, said Terry Bryant had been arrested on Sunday evening. He was being held on $20,000 bail.

McDormand received the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. The award was apparently stolen during the Governors Ball after party. Ms Herrera said Mr Bryant had a ticket for the event, according to the Associated Press. It is not clear whether he has yet had an opportunity to enter a plea or if he has been assigned a lawyer.

McDormand had earlier made headlines for an acceptance speech in which she asked all the women nominees to get on their feet, which they did.

“Look around, ladies and gentlemen, because we all have stories to tell and projects we need financed. Don’t talk to us about it at the parties tonight,” she said.

“Invite us into your office in a couple days, or you can come to ours – whichever suits you best – and we’ll tell you all about them.”

Later, she was seen distraught and in tears, and telling people that her statuette was missing.

“Somebody tried to steal my Oscar at the Governors Ball,” she told producer Jason Blum, according to the Los Angeles Times. “Let me see someone try to pawn that.”

Reports said the statuette was quickly recovered after a photographer spotted it being taken.

“After some brief time apart, Frances and her Oscar were happily reunited. They celebrated the reunion with a double cheeseburger from In-N-Out Burger,“ said McDormand’s publicist, Simon Halls.

The 60-year-old actress, who collected her second Oscar winner, previously scooped awards at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, Independent Spirit and BAFTA ceremonies.

On Sunday night, she beat nominees Sally Hawkins for her role in the The Shape of Water, Margot Robbie of I, Tonya, Saoirse Ronan for her acting in Lady Bird and 21-time nominee Meryl Streep for her portrayal of Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham in The Post.

Her first Oscar came in 1996 for Fargo, directed by her husband Joel Coen and his brother Ethan.