Jessica Chastain Oscars Acceptance Speech for Best Lead Actress

Anthony Hopkins: (00:01) The Oscar goes to: Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye. speaker 2: (00:13) This is the first Oscar and third nomination for Jessica Chastain. Jessica Chastain: (00:16) [inaudible 00:00:16]. Anthony Hopkins: (00:16) [inaudible 00:00:16]. Jessica Chastain: (00:16) Thank you. Yes, please. Anthony Hopkins: (00:24) [inaudible 00:00:24]. Jessica Chastain: (00:25) Thank you. Thank you. Oh my gosh. You guys. Okay. All right. Wow. Jessica Chastain: (00:37) Thank you so much to the Academy for this. I definitely would not be up here right now, I probably wouldn't even have a career, if it wasn't for Hilda [Quilley 00:00:49], Paul Nelson, Steve Warren, and Nicole Perna. I love you guys. Thank you very much. Jessica Chastain: (00:54) I just have to say your guys' names because I love you. Kristin, Nicole, Penelope, Olivia. I love you guys so much, and to be included in the conversation with you is such an honor. Jessica Chastain: (01:08) I have to thank Michael Showalter, my director, who created a space that inspired creativity and love and courage. The incredible hair makeup team: Linda, Stephanie, Justin who really helped me find her. Producers: Kelly Carmichael, Rachel Shane, Gigi Pritzker. I have to thank David Greenbaum, Matthew Greenfield, all of Searchlight for shepherding our film. My scene partner and collaborator, Andrew Garfield, the brilliant Andrew Garfield. Thank you so much for bringing out the best in me by showing up every day with the best of you. Thank you. Jessica Chastain: (01:53) Right now we are coming out of some difficult times that have been filled with a lot of trauma and isolation. So many people out there feel hopelessness and they feel alone. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. It's touched many families. It's touched mine and especially members of the LGBTQ community who oftentimes feel out of place with their peers. We're faced with discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country with the only goal of further dividing us. There's violence and hate crimes being perpetuated on innocent civilians all over the world. Jessica Chastain: (02:44) In times like this, I think of Tammy, and I'm inspired by her radical acts of love. We've talked about love a lot tonight. I'm inspired by her compassion. I see it as a guiding principle that leads us forward. It connects us all and the desire that we want to be accepted for who we are, accepted for who we love, and to live a life without the fear of violence or terror. Jessica Chastain: (03:16) For any of you out there who do in fact feel hopeless or alone, I just want you to know that you are unconditionally loved for the uniqueness that is you. Jessica Chastain: (03:31) [inaudible 00:03:31], Julietta, Augustus, you are my heart and I thank you all very, very much. Thank you.