The good, bad and ugly of acceptances
It’s gold statue time again...as Hollywood’s biggest stars prepare for next week’s Oscar ceremony.
And nothing makes or breaks an actor more than the reaction to their acceptance speech after winning an Academy Award. Here are some of the most memorable – the good, bad and plain ugly.
JACK PALANCE CITY SLICKERS 1992
Palance was 73 when he won Best
Supporting Actor.
After remarking on the producers’ supposed concerns about his age, he dropped to the floor and started performing one-armed push-ups on stage.
He said: “They forget, they forget to ask that you go out there and you do all these…things.”
SAM SMITH SPECTRE 2016
The singer-songwriter won Best Song for the James Bond theme and said it was the first time an openly gay man had ever won an Oscar. Except it wasn’t.
He apologised after screenwriter Dustin Lance Black pointed out he’d won the Best Adapted Screenplay award in 2009 for Milk.
JULIA ROBERTS ERIN BROCKOVICH 2000
America’s sweetheart wasn’t about to be rushed off stage when she won the Best Actress Award. After lots of thank yous, she looked down at the orchestra conductor, in charge of politely ushering people off stage, and said: “Stick man I see you!”, before bursting into laughter and exclaiming “I love it up here!”
MICHAEL MOORE
BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE 2003
Winning best documentary, the filmaker launched an attack on President George Bush for the Iraq war calling him a “fictitious president… we are against this war… shame on you Mr
Bush…” Cue a mixture of boos and applause.
GWYNETH PALTROW SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE 1998
Her weepy Best Actress speech is the epitome of schmaltz. In tears from the start, she sobbed her way through a long list of collaborators and loved ones.
CUBA GOODING JNR JERRY MAGUIRE 1997
His acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor has gone down in the annals for sheer joy. He carried on well after the house band attempted to play him off the stage.
ALFRED HITCHCOCK
IRVING G. THALBERG MEMORIAL AWARD 1967
After saying “Thank you,” Hitchcock stepped back from the mic and turned to look at presenter Robert Wise then stepped back up to the mic and added, “Very much indeed.”
OLIVIA COLEMAN
THE FAVOURITE 2019
The Brit brought the house down with her speech after winning the prestigious gong for her portrayal of Queen Anne. Colman said winning the Best Actress award was “genuinely quite stressful” and then added: “This is hilarious
– I’ve got an Oscar!”