It comes as little surprise that Rami Malek was the biggest winner of the 2019 Oscar Awards held on February 24, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.
Rami Malek was picked as the winner of ‘Best Actor’ category for his portrayal of the iconic Rock legend Freddie Mercury of Queen band in Queen biopic movie ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ Rami Malek was among some serious competition from other contenders of the category such as Christian Bale (‘Vice’), Bradley Cooper (‘A Star Is Born’), Willem Dafoe (‘At Eternity’s Gate’) and Viggo Mortensen (‘Green Book’).
Rami Malek kissed his co-star of the movie and real-life girlfriend Lucy Boyton upon the announcement of the winner and was near tears as he delivered the acceptance speech. He first thanked his mother, who was also in the audience.
“Oh my God! My mom is in here somewhere, I love you, lady. My family, thank you for all of this. My dad didn’t get to see me do any of this. But I think he is looking down on me right now. So this is a monumental moment.”
He continued the speech to thank everyone who took a chance on him to play Freddie Mercury.
“One, I’m so appreciative to all of you, to everyone who has had a hand in getting me here, to the Academy, to the people who took a chance on me, every step of the way… I may not have been the obvious choice, but I guess it worked out. Thank you, Queen. Thank you guys for allowing me to be the tiniest part of your phenomenal, extraordinary legacy. I am forever in your debt.”
Rami next talked about how his personal struggles makes this achievement so much more valuable to him than it would appear to anyone else;
“I think about what it would’ve 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, 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 unapologeticly himself, and the fact that I’m celebrating him and with you this story 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 a 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.”
Rami Malek also went on to thank his girlfriend Lucy Boynton who played Mary Austin–the girlfriend of Freddie Mercury in the movie.
“Lucy Boynton, you are the heart of this film. You are beyond immensely talented. You have captured my heart. Thank you so much.
Watch the full speech below
Rami Malek also won ‘Best Actor’ for Bohemian Rhapsody at the 2019 Golden Globes awards ceremony.
The movie ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ won the Oscar for ‘Best Film Editing,’ ‘Best Sound Mixing’ and ‘Best Sound Editing’ at the 2019 Oscar Awards.
Join us to congratulate Rami Malek on this amazing achievement and for Queen for being celebrated on the grandest stage of movie awards.