Best Oscar Speeches of All TIme

There's no business like show business! And, the Academy Awards are proof of that! Hollywood's elite hope for honor. Amid all the glitter and glamour, there are also those inspiring and sometimes incredible acceptance speeches and not the cinematic talents that let us know the hearts of the Academy's Best. True to Hollywood's style, here are some of the best Oscar acceptance speeches:

1. Hattie McDaniel, Best Supporting Actress, Gone With The Wind
Hattie McDaniel was a remarkable woman. She held many firsts. She was the first Black woman to sing on radio in America and appeared in over 300 films. It was her role as Scarlet's maid, Mammy, that won her the Best Supporting Actress Award in 1940. With the demure of a powerful lady, she took the podium and spoke these heartfelt words:

"Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, fellow members of the motion picture industry and honored guests: This is one of the happiest moments of my life, and I want to thank each one of you who had a part in selecting for one of the awards, for your kindness. It has made me feel very, very humble; and I shall always hold it as a beacon for anything that I may be able to do in the future. I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry. My heart is too full to tell you just how I feel, and may I say thank you and God bless you."

Hattie McDaniel's words expressed an incredible strength, pride and awareness that transcended how Hollywood chose to see her and other minorities. She was the first Black person to ever win the Academy Award.

2. Louise Fletcher, Best Actress, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Louise Fletcher is known to Sci-fi fans as Kai Winn from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but she will always be celebrated as the evil Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. In 1975, upon receiving her Oscar for Best Actress, Fletcher offered her speech of thanks to her parents, both deaf, in sign language. She expressed:

And, if you'll excuse me , for my mother and my father I want to say thank you for teaching me to have a dream. You are seeing my dream come true. Thank you.

In these expressive words, she showed her unique and personal experience and love for her family."She also showed that there are many ways to express love.

3. Dustin Lance Black, Best Original Screenplay, Milk:
In 2009, young film director, writer and gay rights activist, Dustin Lance Black was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the film Milk, which was the biographical film about Harvey Milk. At the 81^st Academy Awards, Black offered these words:

"To all of the gay and lesbian kids out there who have told that they are less than, by their churches, or by the government, or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value. And that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you, and that very soon I promise you, you have will have equal rights federally, and across this great nation of ours."

In his words, Black spoke for millions, who are our neighbors, friends and children. His words were affirmation of how he lives his life for the present and hopes for the future.

4. Marlon Brando, Best Actor, Godfather
Sometimes, speeches by proxy occur during the Academy Awards. One such speech, on behalf of Marlon Brando was made. Brando was a gifted method actor, whose performances inspired many. He also championed many causes, including Native American Civil Rights. At the 1972 Academy Awards, Brando did not appear, but when he was named winner of the Best Actor Award, Sacheen Littlefeather took the podium. Littlefeather spoke stating:

"I'm Apache, and I'm president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee. I'm representing Marlon Brando this evening, and he has asked me to tell you in a very long speech which I cannot share with you presently because of time, but I will be glad to share with the press afterwards, that he very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award. And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry...excuse me...and on television, in movie re-runs, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee. I beg at this time that I have not intruded on this evening, and that we will, in the future, our hearts and our understandings will meet with love and generosity. Thank you on behalf of Marlon Brando."

This proxy speech was memorable because of the act that is associated with it.Sometimes, it's not what you say or how you say it, it's how you deliver your message."

5. Jamie Foxx, Best Actor, Ray
Born Eric Marlon Bishop, the star we know as Jamie Foxx, has many talents. He is a gifted comedian, actor and singer. In 2005, Foxx, nominated for both Best Supporting Actor for Collateral and Best Actor for Ray, won the coveted Best Actor Oscar. Foxx, abandoned a birth, was raised by his mother's adoptive parents. In his acceptance speech, Foxx honored the lovely woman who raised him. He stated that "She [his grandmother] still talks to me now, only now she talks to me in my dreams. And I can't wait to go to sleep tonight because we have a lot to talk about. I love you.

Foxx, in that moment, was not a comedian or singer or actor. He was a grateful man, who expressed a deeply personal and touching side of himself.

Other touching speeches include those statements of gratitude from Phillip Seymour Hoffman about his mother, Tom Hanks' expressions of humiliaty and blessing, John Wayne's humor and class, and Sally Fields sheer surprise and elation.

Millions upon millions of people watch the Oscars each year and wait expectantly for the acceptance speeches of their favorites. While some actors and actresses use the podium as a platform for their political views, others offer the rest of us insight into their losses, thier homes, and their hearts.