“It came true.” Anne Hathaway breathlessly thanked a slew of collaborators – from Hugh Jackman and Tom Hooper to Universal Studios President Ron Meyer and the creative team behind Les Miserables -- as she accepted her anticipated Oscar at Sunday’s Academy Award telecast.
Watch Hathaway express all her gratitude on the "thank you cam" that ABC had stationed backstage at the awards:
Hathaway has had plenty of opportunities to perfect her acceptance speech, picking up nearly every trophy along the lengthy awards trail. Aside from Daniel Day-Lewis in the Best Actor category, Hathaway came across as the evening’s best lock for a victory, and yet she still seemed surprised and (surprisingly) humble as she took the stage. Having just performed as part of an impressive ensemble medley with her Les Mis castmates, Hathaway recognized her co-nominees, spent a chunk of her time thanking her husband, and ended her speech before the ridiculously rude Jaws music played her off the stage.
Hathaway had a fantastic year last year, contributing to Christopher Nolan’s Batman conclusion and nailing a very difficult number in Hooper’s adaptation on Les Miserables. She rode the power of that scene to a deserved Oscar win. I, personally, have given Hathaway hell for her frontrunner status throughout the awards campaign. And yet, she nailed her emotionally devastating scene, boosted the first act of Hooper’s Oscar-winning musical, and earned the multiple trophies that recognized her accomplishments.
Knowing that she was going to win, I thought Hathaway gave a gracious speech that honored her collaborators, her peers in the category, and the power that Les Miserables had over its fans. It was the shortest and most concise speech she has given after winning an award … and in my book, that makes it her best.
Photo Credit ©ABC
