15 award acceptance speeches worth rewatching
You’ll like them, you’ll really like them.
Nothing sends me deeper into a YouTube hole quite like watching famous people at the pinnacle of their careers trying to elegantly articulate their feelings of elation, shock, and gratitude (rehearsed or otherwise) in front of the world with a 60 second time limit.
Award acceptance speeches are on the whole quite formulaic, and frankly boring. It’s understandable given the formality of it all; they have a lot of people (most of whom you’ve never heard of) to thank in not a lot of time, meanwhile trying to bask in the glory of one of the best moments of their lives.
The best stars are the ones who manage to bring the same effortless charisma and poise that made their careers to their acceptance speech, making themselves seem simultaneously deitylike yet relatable, and still entertaining in the shortest of time slots. Some just completely lose their shit and babble uncontrollably, and that’s equally fun to watch.
These are the ones I find myself watching over and over just for those reasons.
P.S. As it’s Oscars season we’re only looking at awards for acting.
P.P.S. I tried to find some men to include but they’re all boring!
1. Whoopi Goldberg
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Ghost (1990)
63rd Academy Awards (1991)
Nominees: Annette Benning, Lorraine Bracco, Diane Ladd, Mary McDonnell
Oscars don’t often get handed out for comedy roles, so you know Whoopi had really won the Academy members over with her incredible performance. Years after the win she admitted to some “self medication” to calm her nerves before she would then have to address the room. The unhampered joy as she leaps out of her chair when her name is called just seems so authentic, and that authenticity carries through her engaging speech.
Speech starts at 1:35
2. Geena Davis
Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama in Commander in Chief (2006)
63rd Golden Globe Awards (2006)
Nominees: Patricia Arquette, Glenn Close, Kyra Sedgwick, Polly Walker
I’ve never seen this show so I have no idea if it was any good – but who cares, it’s Geena Davis. She knows exactly how to work the room and gets the audience in the palm of her hand right from the start.
Speech starts at 0:55
3. Marion Cotillard
Academy Award for Best Actress in La Vie en Rose (2007)
80th Academy Awards (2008)
Nominees: Cate Blanchett, Julie Christie, Laura Linney, Elliot Page
Definitely one from the “losing their shit” pile, Marion just manages to be painfully adorable for 60 seconds straight.
Speech starts at 0:35
4. Frances McDormand
Academy Award for Best Actress in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
90th Academy Awards (2018)
Nominees: Sally Hawkins, Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan, Meryl Streep
No stranger to this stage, Frances delivers her speech like a Kate McKinnon skit, being funny, thought-provoking, and endearing all at once.
Speech starts at 2:05
5. Rue McClanahan
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in The Golden Girls (1986)
39th Primetime Emmy Awards (1987)
Nominees: Bea Arthur, Blair Brown, Jane Curtin, Betty White
Even without the musicality of Blanche Devereaux’s southern accent, Rue’s comic timing is spot on and has you hanging on every word.
Speech starts at 2:00
6. Octavia Spencer
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in The Help (2011)
84th Academy Awards (2012)
Nominees: Bérénice Bejo, Jessica Chastain, Melissa McCarthy, Janet McTeer
In the kindest possible way, it’s quite entertaining to watch Octavia quickly crumble under the pressure of having to speak because it’s all going so well until they try to cut her off.
Speech starts at 0:40
7. Reese Witherspoon
Academy Award for Best Actress in Walk the Line (2005)
78th Academy Awards (2006)
Nominees: Judi Dench, Felicity Huffman, Keira Knightley, Charlize Theron
Reese definitely came prepared for this one! Oozing with southern charm, you can’t help but be taken in by her sweet humility.
Speech starts at 1:30
8. Olivia Colman
Academy Award for Best Actress in The Favourite (2018)
91st Academy Awards (2019)
Nominees: Yalitza Aparicio, Glenn Close, Lady Gaga, Melissa McCarthy
Perhaps the most British speech ever, Olivia spends a full two minutes giving a speech that’s equal parts grateful and apologetic and borders on accidental stand up.
Speech starts at 1:55
9. Cher
Academy Award for Best Actress in Moonstruck (1987)
60th Academy Awards (1988)
Nominees: Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, Sally Kirkland, Meryl Streep
I mean: it’s Cher. Perhaps more of an underdog at the time, now knowing what an icon of entertainment she is it’s amazing to see her so sincerely grateful for and humbled by this achievement.
Speech starts at 2:25
10. Meryl Streep
Academy Award for Best Actress in The Iron Lady (2011)
84th Academy Awards (2012)
Nominees: Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Rooney Mara, Michelle Williams
The unofficial queen of the Oscars (though it may as well be official) Meryl’s first two wins were followed by somewhat earnest and self-effacing speeches. But when she won her third for playing Margaret Thatcher, though she tried to maintain an element of modesty by this point you can tell she knows she is That Bitch.
11. Mo’Nique
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Precious (2009)
82nd Academy Awards (2010)
Nominees: Penélope Cruz, Vera Farmiga, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Anna Kendrick
A deserving win if ever there was one, Mo’Nique gives a serious but powerful and poignant speech, the sentiments of which still resonate today.
Speech starts at 1:55
12. Kim Cattrall
Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film in Sex and the City (2002)
60th Golden Globe Awards (2003)
Nominees: Megan Mullally, Cynthia Nixon, Parker Posey, Gena Rowlands
While Kim doesn’t deliver her speech in character, she definitely invokes the spirit of Samantha Jones and it’s fabulous to watch.
Speech starts at 0:40
13. Julia Roberts
Academy Award for Best Actress in Erin Brockovich (2000)
73rd Academy Awards (2001)
Nominees: Joan Allen, Juliette Binoche, Ellen Burstyn, Laura Linney
The blueprint for Jennifer Lawrence, America’s sweetheart takes her sweet time to say everything she needs to but doesn’t forget she is on stage and has a crowd to please – which she does!
Speech starts at 1:05
14. Sandra Bullock
Academy Award for Best Actress in The Blind Side (2009)
82nd Academy Awards (2010)
Nominees: Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan, Gabourey Sidibe, Meryl Streep
Not that you’d expect anything less from ar Sandy, her speech filled with quips and anecdotes is the definition of warmth, competence, and charm.
Speech starts at 9:05
15. Susan Lucci
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in All My Children (1998)
26th Daytime Emmy Awards (1999)
Nominees: Jeanne Cooper, Elizabeth Hubbard, Melody Thomas Scott, Kim Zimmer
This is the one, the ultimate awards moment. After famously being nominated 18 times for her role as Erica Kane and never winning, Susan Lucci finally struck gold on her 19th try. Though she gives a lovely speech, this is more about the rousing audience reaction of an entire room collectively feeling like they had won the lottery on her behalf. Simply incredibly scenes that never fail to spark joy.
Just watch the whole damn thing
This article was originally published on the Pop Warrior blog – 27 March 2022
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