What are some of the best award acceptance speeches ever?

NEGI RK Friday, December 25, 2020

What are some of the best award acceptance speeches ever?

Joaquin Phoenix has been cleaning up at the awards circuit. Deservingly so, might I add.

For his marvellous turn as Arthur Fleck in Joker, Phoenix has already won several major accolades, including a Golden Globe.

His acceptance speeches have been customarily chaotic. Joaquin, who although always comes across as being honest and earnest, isn’t exactly someone you would call eloquent.

He has always been eccentric and doesn’t seem entirely comfortable in large public gatherings.

I think Tina Fey described that side of him best when she jokingly said at the 2014 Golden Globes - “One of my favourite films this year is the movie Her. Which takes place in the not-so-distant future, which is perfect because so does Joaquin Phoenix.”

But for his most recent win, at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Phoenix rose from the ashes of his awkward, manic speeches to give an eloquent, endearing and truly gracious speech, dedicated entirely to his fellow nominees, which is quite rare.[1]

When was the last time an actor spent the entirety of their speech singing praises of the other nominees?

Phoenix began his speech by saying “I was here many years ago. But I couldn’t fully appreciate it at the time, but now I realise how fortunate I am to be a part of this community.”

He then dedicated the rest of the speech to praise his fellow nominees.

When I started acting again, and going to auditions, I'd always get to like the final callback, and I think many people know what that's like. And there would always be, like, two other guys that I was up against.
And we'd always lose to this one kid. No actor would ever say his name because it was, like, too much, but every casting director would whisper, 'It's Leonardo, it’s Leonardo’.
Leonardo (DiCaprio), you’ve been an inspiration for over 25 years to me and so many people. I thank you very, very, very much.

He then turned his attention to Christian Bale.

“Christian, you commit to your roles in a way I can only dream of. You never turn in a bad performance. It’s infuriating. I wish you would, one time, just suck once. That would be great,” Phoenix joked.

Up next was Adam Driver.

Adam, I’ve been watching you for these last few years, and you’ve been turning in these beautiful, nuanced, incredible, profound performances.
And I’m just so moved by you. You were so devastating in this film (Marriage Story), and you should be here.