SPEECH BY: Rami Malek
FILM: "Bohemian Rhapsody"
RAMI MALEK
Oh my god. My mom is in here somewhere. Oh, I love you, I love you, lady. My family, thank you for all of this. You know my dad didn’t get to see me do any of this, he’s not… but I think he’s looking down on me right now. This is a monumental moment, one I’m so appreciative to all of you, to everyone who has had a hand in getting me here. To the Academy. To people who took a chance on me every step of the way, Graham King, Denis O’Sullivan, everyone at Fox and New Regency, thank you guys so much. I may not have been the obvious choice, but I guess it worked out. Thank you, Queen. Thank you guys for being, for allowing me to be the tiniest part of your phenomenal, extraordinary legacy. I am forever in your debt. My crew and my cast, I love you. You are my equals, you are my betters. I could have never been here without you. I think about, I think about what it would have been like to tell little Bubba Rami that one day this might happen to him, and I think his curly-haired little mind would be blown. That kid was, he was struggling with his identity, trying to figure himself out. And I think to anyone struggling with theirs and trying to discover their voice, listen we made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life just unapologetically himself. And the fact that I’m celebrating him and this story with you tonight is proof that we’re longing for stories like this. I am the son of immigrants from Egypt. I’m a first generation American and part of my story is being written right now and I could not be more grateful to each and every one of you, and everyone who believed in me for this moment. It is something I will treasure for the rest of my life. Lucy Boynton, you’re the heart of this film, you are beyond immensely talented, you have captured my heart. Thank you so much.
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