Tom Cruise accepted an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards, delivering an emotional speech that underscored his lifelong devotion to cinema. The 63-year-old actor declared that filmmaking is not merely a profession but 'who I am'.
The Academy Honorary Award was presented by director Alejandro G Iñárritu, who is set to helm Cruise's next film. Cruise, a four-time Oscar nominee, explained how his craft has taken him 'around the world', fostering an appreciation for diverse cultures while revealing 'our shared humanity'.
'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 said.
He recalled his love for cinema beginning at a young age, describing a childhood memory of sitting in a darkened theatre and watching a beam of light 'exploding on the screen'. Academy president Janet Yang hailed Cruise's 'incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community'.
Other honorees included singer Dolly Parton, who received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her charitable work but was unable to attend due to health concerns. Choreographer Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas were also recognised at the ceremony.
