Joaquin Phoenix attacks inequality in powerful Best Actor speech after winning first ever Oscar

‘At times I’ve been hard to work with, but so many people in this room have given me a second chance’

Joaquin Phoenix has won his first ever Oscar at the 92nd Academy Awards and delivered a powerful speech about equality, animal rights and his brother, River Phoenix, who died in 1993.

A week after being praised for a Baftas acceptance speech in which he attacked “systemic racism”, the Joker star took home the trophy for Best Actor, beating out Adam Driver (Marriage Story), Antonio Banderas (Pain & Glory), Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes) and Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood).

“I’m full of so much gratitude right now,” he began. “I do not feel elevated above any of my fellow nominees because we share the same love – the love of film. This form of expression has given me the most extraordinary life. I don’t know what I would be without it.”

He continued: “The greatest gift it’s given me is the opportunity to use your voice for the voiceless. I’ve been thinking a lot about some of the frustrating issues that we are facing collectively and at times we feel or are made to feel that we champion different causes, but for me I see commonality. I think whether we’re talking about gender and inequality or racism or queer rights or indigenous rights or animal rights – we’re talking about the fight against injustice.”

As Phoenix was applauded by the crowd, he said: “Don’t do that,” before continuing.

“I think we’ve become very disconnected from the natural world... We go into the natural world and we plunder it for its resources – we feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow, and when she gives birth, we steal her baby even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable.

“I’ve been a scoundrel in my life,” he added. “I’ve been cruel at times and hard to work with, but so many people in this room have given me a second chance.”

South Korean black comedy Parasite was the evening’s biggest winner, making history by becoming the first ever foreign language film to win Best Picture.

Other winners at the 2020 ceremony included Brad Pitt, who delivered an emotional acceptance speech that saw him praise Leonardo DiCaprio and criticise the verdict of Trump’s impeachment trial, while Laura Dern took home the prize for Best Supporting Actress.

Meanwhile, Olivia Colman had the audience in stitches before presenting Phoenix with his award.

Find a full list of the 2020 Oscar winners here.