Oscars 2018: Frances McDormand’s Best Actress Oscar stolen at Governors Ball after-party

BEST Actress winner Frances McDormand didn’t have custody of her Academy Award for long as a man promptly ran off with it at the Governors Ball.

FRANCES McDormand almost lost her Best Actress Oscar for good.

After getting her trophy engraved at the Governors Ball on Sunday, McDormand, 60, misplaced her trophy, USA Today reported. The situation left her distraught outside the event as she exited with her husband Joel Coen, reports the New York Post.

Frances McDormand, with her son Pedro, gets her Oscar engraved, shortly before it was allegedly stolen. Picture: AFP/Angela Weiss

New York Times reporter Cara Buckley tweeted that McDormand “had set it down and was chatting” when a man swiped the golden statuette.

“Security at the Governors Ball are looking for this guy, who grabbed Frances McDormand’s Oscar and ran out with it,” Ms Buckley wrote.

“Wolfgang Puck’s photographer stopped him, got the Oscar back, and the guy disappeared back into the ball. Apparently Frances has said to let him go.”

Security at the Governors Ball are looking for this guy, who grabbed Frances McDormand’s Oscar and ran out with it. Wolfgang Puck’s photographer stopped him, got the Oscar back, and the guy disappeared back into the ball. Apparently Frances has said to let him go. #Oscars #Drama pic.twitter.com/5tlsx4Ulwt

— Cara Buckley (@caraNYT) March 5, 2018

According to the New York Post, the alleged thief has been arrested.

Los Angeles police confirmed to the New York Post that the man, reported by the Daily Mail as Terry Bryant, has been arrested and booked on felony grand theft charges.

Bryant is now facing up to a year in prison for the theft.

The man with the Oscar. Picture: Facebook

The man has been charged with theft. Picture: Facebook

On Instagram, Bryant calls himself a “producer, Alist Entertainment journalist,TV Film & Music Producer, A&E Editor, Actor, TV Host, UN Ambassador”.

Bryant, who also reportedly goes by DJ Matari, did have a ticket to the event.

Terry Bryant with a Moonman at last year’s MTV Awards. Picture: Facebook

McDormand won the statuette for her performance in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Her rep told USA Today that the actress got the trophy back.

Terry Bryant pictured with Beyonce in 2009. Picture: Facebook

“Fran and Oscar are happily reunited and are enjoying an In-N-Out burger together,” her rep said.

Frances McDormand with fellow winners, Sam Rockwell, Allison Janney and Gary Oldman. Picture: AFP/Frederic J Brown

This article first appeared in the New York Post and is republished with permission.

Originally published as Oscars 2018: Frances McDormand’s Best Actress Oscar stolen at Governors Ball after-party