The winners’ speeches at the 79th Golden Globe Awards deserve their own awards.
Sure, people can’t stop talking about Ricky Gervais’ controversial opening monologue. But we’d rather give the spotlight to the actors who used their platforms to raise awareness on important topics, as well as just remind everyone to be decent humans.
We’re ending this year’s Golden Globes on a high note. Here are some quotes from the speeches that made our day:
Bong Joon-ho (director, “Parasite”)
Award: Best Foreign Language Film
“Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you’ll be introduced to so many more amazing films.”
Michelle Williams (“Fosse/Verdon”)
Award: Best Actress in a Limited Series
“I wouldn’t have been able to do this without employing a woman’s right to choose.To choose when to have my children and with whom, when I felt supported and able to balance our lives as all mothers know that the scales must and will tip towards our children. Now I know my choices might look different than yours, but thank God or whoever you pray to that we live in a country founded on the principles that I am free to live by my faith and you are free to live by yours. So, women 18 to 118, when it is time to vote please do so in your self-interest. It’s what men have been doing for years, which is why the world looks so much like them but don’t forget we are the largest voting body in this country. Let’s make it look more like us.”
Ellen DeGeneres
Award: Recipient of the Carol Burnett Award for Excellence
“All I’ve ever wanted to do is make people feel good and laugh, and there’s no greater feeling than when someone tells me that I’ve made their day better with my show, or that I’ve helped them get through a sickness or a hard time in their lives. But the real power of television for me is not that people watch my show, but people watch my show and then they’re inspired to go out and do the same thing in their own lives.”
Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood“)
Award: Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
“Hey, if you see a chance to be kind to someone tomorrow, take it. I think we need it.”
Bonus quote: (to his co-star Leonardo DiCaprio) “I would have shared the raft.”
Tom Hanks
Award: Recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award
“There is a saying in motion pictures, back when it was shot on film, that you could not move on to the next scene until the gate was good…Thank you all here, thank you all for all your inspiration and all of your work and all of the struggle that you guys all go through in order to hit the marks and, I have checked the gate. The gate is good. Thank you.”
Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker“)
Award: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama)
“It’s really nice that so many people have sent their well wishes to Australia but we have to do more than that. Hopefully, we can be unified and actually make some changes. It’s great to vote, but sometimes we have to take that responsibility on ourselves and make changes and sacrifices in our own lives. We don’t have to take private jets to Palm Springs for the awards.”
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Tell us: What was your favorite Golden Globes moment?
Art by Tricia Guevara
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