Oscar Season: Top Heartwarming speeches of all Time

Oscar speeches

Oscar speeches are an integral part of the Oscars ceremony, serving as an opportunity for winners to express gratitude, share their personal stories, and make a statement about important issues. The speeches are important in creating lasting memories for the winners and their fans, and can also influence public opinion and shape the cultural conversation. In addition, Oscar speeches often set the tone for the rest of the awards show and are a key aspect of the event’s prestige and glamour. Overall, Oscar speeches are a significant part of the film industry and hold great importance in the world of entertainment. The following is a list of Oscar speeches that have been widely praised as heartfelt and moving.

Oscar speeches

1. 1. Halle Berry, “Monster’s Ball” (2002) – Berry became the first African American woman to win the Best Actress Oscar and delivered an emotional speech that brought tears to the eyes of many. “This moment is so much bigger than me. This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It’s for the women that stand beside me, Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett, Vivica Fox. And it’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.”
   2. Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club” (2014). McConaughey gave a motivational speech, encouraging others to follow their own dreams and never give up. “Just keep living. That’s what life is.”
   3. Emma Thompson, “Howards End” (1993) – Thompson delivered a speech that was both humorous and heartfelt, thanking her husband and children for their support. “I would like to thank the Academy for this lovely punctuation mark in the midst of my entire life.”
   4. Adrien Brody, “The Pianist” (2003) – Brody became the youngest person to win the Best Actor Oscar, and his speech was a touching tribute to his late father and the cast and crew of the film. “I’d like to thank the inspiration for this, the cast and crew of the film. I’d like to thank the Academy for such a great recognition, my family for their love, my friends for their support, and my father for his passion.”
   5. Marlon Brando, “The Godfather” (1973) – Brando declined to accept his award in person and sent Native American actress Sacheen Littlefeather to make a statement about the treatment of Native Americans in the film industry. “I think the artist’s duty is to reflect the times. I think that is what has happened with the motion picture industry and the contemporary American Indian is the pathetically sad residue of 500 years of invasion.”
   6. Martin Scorsese, “The Departed” (2007) – Scorsese finally won his first Oscar after several nominations, and his speech was a touching tribute to his family, friends and mentors. “I’m just lucky to have been in the game this long, and I’m grateful for that. I’m grateful for this, I’m grateful for my family, my friends, and I’m grateful to you, the members of the Academy.”
   7. Sandra Bullock, “The Blind Side” (2010). Bullock gave a touching speech, thanking her co-star, the film’s producers, and her family for their support. “I just wanted to say thank you to my mom, who is somewhere here, who has taught me through example. To never give up, to always keep fighting and never, ever take no for an answer.”
   8. Angelina Jolie, “Girl, Interrupted” (2000) – Jolie delivered a moving speech, dedicating her award to the survivors of mental illness and those who have lost loved ones to the disease. “This is for every woman who’s ever felt unjustly blamed, and for every woman who’s ever been the primary parent, and for every woman who had to work twice as hard.”
   9. Lupita Nyong’o, Best Supporting Actress for “12 Years a Slave” (2014). “It doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is thanks to so much pain in someone else’s.”
   10. Jennifer Lawrence, Best Actress for “Silver Linings Playbook” (2013).  “You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell, and it’s really embarrassing.”
   11. Sandra Bullock, Best Actress for “The Blind Side” (2010). “There’s no prepping for this. It’s just life, and it’s an honor to be considered a part of it.”
   12. Tom Hanks, Best Actor for “Forrest Gump” (1995). “For me, tonight, this is like the moon landing, I guess.”
   13. Julia Roberts, Best Actress for “Erin Brockovich” (2000). “The true testament of a person’s life is in who they touch, who they inspire, and who they empower.”
   14. Sean Connery, Best Supporting Actor for “The Unforgiven” (1992).  “I have a secret. I’m not really Scottish. I’m from Newport Beach.”
   15. Eddie Redmayne, Best Actor for “The Theory of Everything” (2015).  “This belongs to all of those people around the world battling ALS. It belongs to one exceptional family: Stephen, Jane, and Jonathan Hawking.”
   16. Cate Blanchett, Best Actress for “Blue Jasmine” (2014). “As random and as subjective as this award is, it means a great deal in a year of. Yet again, extraordinary performances by women.”
   17. Matthew McConaughey, Best Actor for “Dallas Buyers Club” (2014).  “First off, just want to thank God, ’cause that’s who I look up to. He’s graced my life with opportunities that I know is not of my hand or any other human hand.”
   18. Jennifer Hudson, Best Supporting Actress for “Dreamgirls” (2007). “I have to first thank God. Without him, none of this would be possible.”

Oscar speeches

Note that these are not official Oscar speeches, it’s based on my understanding of speeches that people found as heartwarming. The list is subjective and different people might have a different opinion.