Tom Cruise Upon Receiving His First Oscar

Tom Cruise Receives His First Oscar

What Did Tom Cruise Say Upon Receiving His First Oscar?

American star Tom Cruise praised the impact of cinema and its ability to change people's lives while accepting an honorary Oscar at a ceremony organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles. Hollywood celebrated his career spanning more than 45 years and his contributions to the film industry.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded honorary Oscar statuettes to Tom Cruise and three other artists chosen by its Board of Governors. 

Cruise, 63, who has been nominated for an Oscar four times without winning, was chosen in recognition of his career, which has ranged from "Risky Business" to the "Top Gun" and "Mission: Impossible" franchises, and his role in defending cinema against streaming platforms and social media.

During his acceptance speech, Cruise spoke about the impact of going to the movies as a child, telling a star-studded audience including Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ariana Grande, "Suddenly the world seemed so much bigger than the world I knew." 

He added that he worked "every job I could" to earn enough money to buy movie tickets. He also broke his ankle while filming a stunt in 2017. "Filmmaking isn't what I do," he said. "It's who I am."

The ceremony also honored country singer Dolly Parton with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic work, including founding a library that has distributed more than 300 million free books to children over 30 years. 

She accepted the award via video link. Other honorees included actress and choreographer Debbie Allen, who has choreographed the Oscars seven times, and production designer Wayne Thomas.