Emma’s rousing speech at gender neutral awards
Passionate speeches were the highlight of MTV Movie Awards
British actor Emma Watson (left) made history at the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards by winning the first ever gender neutral acting award.
The 27-year-old star beat actors Taraji P. Henson, Daniel Kaluuya, Hugh Jackman and Hailee Steinfeld to take home the award for Best Actor in Film and TV for her performance in the live action film Beauty and the Beast. While accepting the Golden Popcorn trophy, Watson dedicated her speech to celebrating the genderless acting categories.
The MTV awards’ policy of breaking down gender barriers in its new format — men and women competed jointly in the acting categories — was the talk of the town.
Watson said, “The first acting award in history that doesn’t separate nominees by their sex says something about the way we perceive the human experience. MTV’s move to create a genderless award for acting will mean something different to everyone, but for me, it indicates that acting is about the ability to put yourself into someone else’s shoes. And that doesn’t need to be separated into two categories.”
It was a stirring speech from Watson, who has been a gender equality activist for some years now. As a UN Goodwill Ambassador, she gave an acclaimed speech in September 2014, while launching the He For She campaign. The initiative aimed to get men and boys to join the movement for gender equality.
Arare spell of wet weather in Los Angeles, US, might have shut down the red carpet before the 2017 MTV Movie Awards on Sunday, but the evening was still highspirited — when it came to drinks and winners’ speeches!
The presenters and winners spoke passionately about socially-relevant issues. “Women have proven they’re a huge and powerful audience, and it’s going to change the movie business,” said director Bill Condon, thanking the female audience for his film, Beauty and the Beast’s Best Movie win. Actor Ashton Sanders, who shared The Best Kiss award with Jharrel Jerome in the Oscar-winning film, Moonlight, dedicated it to “those who feel like the others, the misfits.”
Accepting the Generation Award for the Fast and Furious action franchise, actor Vin Diesel thanked “a generation that was willing to accept this multicultural franchise where it didn't matter what color your skin was or what country you're from.”
On a different note, the host for the night, actor Adam DeVine kept in sync with what this annual fanvoted, youth-orientated awards do is known for — irreverent moments, explicit jokes and unconventional award categories.