Hollywood legend Tom Cruise accepted an Academy Honorary Award on Sunday night during the 16th Annual Governors Awards.
The American actor had been nominated for three acting Oscars in the past, including Best Actor nods for Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and Jerry Maguire (1996), but this was his first Academy Award win.
Cruise also received an Oscar nomination for his work as a producer on 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, the latest installment of the Top Gun franchise.
‘Making films is who I am’
During a heartfelt and emotional speech, Cruise paid tribute to all the people working in the industry, his love for cinema, and the art of filmmaking.
“The cinema – it takes me around the world, it helps me to appreciate and respect differences,” he said.
“It shows me also our shared humanity, how alike we are in so, so many ways.
“And no matter where we come from, in that theatre, we laugh together, we feel together, we hope together, and that is the power of this art form.
“And that is why it matters, that is why it matters to me. So making films is not what I do, it is who I am.”
Cruise received the award from Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, who directed him in an upcoming project with the working title Judy.
“Writing a four-minute speech to celebrate Tom Cruise’s 45-year career is what is known, in this town, as a mission impossible,” Iñárritu teased as he introduced the star.
Cruise then made his way onto the stage after hugging long-term collaborator Steven Spielberg.
The Mission Impossible theme accompanied him as he walked past stars and friends, who erupted in vigorous applause and gave a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.
Always the gentleman, Cruise proceeded to praise his fellow winners of the award, director and choreographer Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas.
At the end of his speech, Cruise assured the audience that receiving the honour did not spell the end of his career.
“I want you to know that I will always do everything I can to support and champion new voices, to protect what makes cinema powerful, and hopefully to do it without too many more broken bones,” he joked.
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