The Oscars: Best Acceptance Speech at the 2010 Academy Awards

Interestingly, even the best actors and actresses cannot act their way through a great speech when accepting an award. This was evident once again at the 2010 Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars.

In years past, there have been several memorable acceptance speeches given at the Academy Awards. According to Sharon Waxman of the Washington Post, these are some of the best:

1998- Robin Williams, Best Supporting Actor for "Good Will Hunting" said, "Most of all, I want to thank my father, up there, the man who when I said I wanted to be an actor, he said, 'Wonderful, just have a back-up profession, like welding.'"

1994- Steven Spielberg for "Shindler's List" said, "Oh wow. This is the best drink of water after the longest drought of my life." (He'd been passed over by the Academy for a long time).

1972- Jane Fonda, Best Actress for "Klute" said, "There's a great deal to say, but I'm not going to say it tonight."

During the 2010 Academy Awards, one person stood out as he gave his acceptance speech. Michael Giacchino earned the title of Best Acceptance Speech as he accepted his award for Best Original Score for the animated movie "UP." He told a story about asking his dad for the use of a camera. His dad gave it to him and he began making movies at a young age. Gaiacchino said that no one ever told him that what he was doing was a waste of time. As he closed his speech he said, "Listen to me. If you want to get out there and do it, it's not a waste of time. Just get out there and do it."

See Patricia Fripp's article, Accepting an Award With Class (Toastmasters Magazine), and determine which Academy Award winners hit the mark in your opinion. Fripp offers 5 questions that will help future Oscar winners craft their next acceptance speech and make it memorable.

People often judge us by our words and how we use them. It's important to realize this and increase not only our vocabulary but the way we put our words together and how we deliver them.