Nicola Peltz Beckham accepted the Rising Star award at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday night, thanking her husband, Brooklyn, and her family for their unwavering support.
"My family are my everything. My mum, dad, (brothers) Diesel and Brad and Brooklyn thank you. You always believe in me," Peltz Beckham stated from the podium in the gardens of the Casa Cinema Giovani. "To have your support is the reason I can reach to the stars in the first place."
She was accompanied by Brooklyn, who clasped her arm and guided her to the stage. Her parents, businessman Nelson Peltz and Claudia Peltz, and her brother Bradley were also present to witness the ceremony.
Peltz Beckham, 31, appeared visibly nervous as she accepted the honor, wearing an emerald and diamond necklace and a full-length black dress. "I am normally more comfortable playing a character as an actor than standing in front of an audience, so please bear with me," she told the attendees. "Thank you so much for this immense honor. To receive an award at the Venice Film Festival is something I will carry with me for the rest of my career."
She also acknowledged Faye Dunaway, who received a lifetime achievement award at the same ceremony, calling her an inspiration. Dunaway shared that the best advice she ever received was the Shakespearean line, "To thine own self be true."
There was a brief delay before Peltz Beckham took the stage, with presenters calling for the honoree. She reportedly did not wish to accept her award until Dunaway was also in place.
Peltz Beckham's acting career began in 2006 at age 11. She has appeared in films such as "The Last Airbender" and "Transformers: Age of Extinction." More recently, she has been involved in writing and producing films through her label, Bunny Films, named after her late grandmother and partly financed by her father.
Her latest film, "Prima," an independent drama, does not yet have an official release date. Peltz Beckham stars as a prima ballerina facing significant life changes. The film also features Dunaway, Jack Huston, Mira Sorvino, and Betty Gabriel, and is directed by the Morelli Brothers. Peltz Beckham undertook four months of intensive ballerina training for the role, adhering to a strict diet and regimen that led to a significant weight loss.
Her husband, Brooklyn Beckham, son of David and Victoria Beckham, publicly defended his wife earlier in the week against online criticism of her appearance. In a comment on an Instagram cooking tutorial, he responded to a follower who commented on his wife's weight, stating, "Don't ever talk about my wife. She's absolutely beautiful and you should never comment on a woman's body. It's disgraceful."
Peltz Beckham has been married to Brooklyn since April 2022. Reports have suggested a rift between her and the Beckham family, with Brooklyn reportedly having distanced himself from his family seeking "peace."