Winner's acceptance speech by Frances McDormand for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri in the Leading Actress category.
FRANCES MCDORMAND: Thank you, British film people. As Martin said, I have a little trouble with compliance. But I want you to know that I stand in full solidarity with my sisters tonight in black; but I also want to say that I appreciate a well organised act of civil disobedience, and I am thrilled that activists all over the world have been inspired by the set decoration of the three billboards in Martin's film, and have taken to the streets, and let it be a part of the positive public discourse that's happening.
And I want to thank Blueprint Productions and Film4 and Fox Searchlight for carefully shepherding Martin's films, Guillermo's films, because not only are they entertaining, but they encourage a longer and broader cultural conversation.
So, you know, when I was a young actor in drama school, I was told that I was not naturally gifted and I would have to work at it. And so I did. And along the way I was very fortunate to collaborate with filmmakers who started writing roles with me in mind. Joel and Ethan Coen, Jane Anderson and now Martin McDonagh, and I'm grateful to them for helping me realise my hidden potential. Who would have thought that Marge Gunderson would grow up to be Mildred Hayes? Power to the people.
