This incredible win completed a remarkable awards season sweep for the Hollywood star. Downey’s victory at the Oscars now joins his previous supporting actor wins at the Golden Globes, Critic’s Choice Awards, SAG Awards, and BAFTA Film Awards.
When he got up on stage to receive his award, Downey Jr. started his speech with a humorous quip, saying “I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy – in that order.” He then went on to thank his wife, Susan Downey, whom he referred to as his veterinarian, before jokingly correcting himself. He expressed his gratitude to her for rescuing him and loving him back to life, which is why he believes he is standing on that stage.
Downey also thanked his “Oppenheimer” collaborators, including director Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, and his co-stars and fellow Oscar nominees Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt. He revealed that he needed the job more than it needed him and that Chris Nolan knew it. Emma Thomas made sure that he was surrounded by one of the great casts and crews of all time, which included Emily and Cillian. Downey explained how he stood there before the audience a better man because of the experience.
He concluded by saying, “What we do is meaningful, and the stuff that we decide to make is important.” Robert Downey Jr.’s win was well-deserved, and it was an incredible moment in Hollywood history.
Robert Downey Jr. recently gave a heartfelt speech at an awards show, where he thanked his entertainment lawyer, Tom Hanson, for his support over the past 40 years, during which time Hanson had tirelessly worked to get him insured and bailed him out of trouble on numerous occasions. Downey also expressed gratitude towards his stylist, publicist, and manager for their contributions to his success.
Despite facing criticism from various quarters throughout his career, Downey has remained positive and upbeat. In fact, at the Critics Choice Awards, he decided to read out some of the reviews he had received over the years that were not exactly complimentary. The actor sarcastically thanked the critics for their “beautiful feedback” and went on to share some of their more memorable comments. One critic had described him as “sloppy, messy and lazy,” while another had likened him to “Pee-wee Herman emerging from a coma.” A third critic had called him “a puzzling waste of talent,” while a fourth had described him as “amusing as a bed-locked fart.” Despite these negative reviews, Downey has continued to thrive and dominate the awards season with his charismatic acceptance speeches.
During the BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, Robert Downey Jr. made headlines for his gracious speech in which he expressed his gratitude to Christopher Nolan for casting him and restoring his credibility as an actor. Downey Jr. had previously spent more than a decade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portraying the iconic character of Tony Stark/Iron Man. He thanked Nolan for suggesting an understated approach that helped him revive his dwindling reputation.
In his speech, Downey Jr. also spoke about his journey as an actor, starting from his aspiration to be like Peter O’Toole when he was 15 years old. He went on to work with legendary actors like Richard Attenborough and Anthony Hopkins at the age of 25 and 35 respectively, before finally understanding why Dickie thought Tony would be a better role model for him than Peter. He then worked with Guy Ritchie on two films and learned to make big Hollywood movies with a civil British flare.
Downey Jr. was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award at the Oscars, alongside other talented actors like Sterling K. Brown, Robert De Niro, Ryan Gosling, and Mark Ruffalo. He had been dominating the awards season so much that even Brown admitted last month that he knew he would be losing the Oscar to the “Oppenheimer” star. As he accepted the award, Downey Jr. shared his joy with his fellow nominees, acknowledging that it had been an exceptional year for all of them.