Golden Globes 2020: The Best Speeches From Kate McKinnon to Michelle Williams

"I think we have only one language, the cinema."

Golden Globes 2020 brought together hundreds of Hollywood creators to celebrate excellence in TV and movies. As the winners took the stage to accept their awards, many used the moment for expressions of power, gratitude, social justice advocacy, and humor.

In more serious messages, people such as Cate Blanchett and Patricia Arquette spoke out about the devastating fires in Australia to encourage people to help; Patricia also argued against a U.S. war with Iran, and Michelle Williams argued for a woman's right to choose.

Meanwhile, there was no shortage of teary speeches, from Kate McKinnon's thank you to Carol Burnett Award-winner Ellen DeGeneres to Tom Hanks's nod to his family's support. In case you missed the Sunday ceremony, here are the best speeches from Golden Globes 2020.

Parasite Director Bong Joon Ho Calling Out People Who Won't Watch Foreign Films

Bong Joon Ho's critically-acclaimed film Parasite won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture — Foreign Language. In his speech, he spoke in both English and Korean (with a translator) about the power of film to transcend language.

"Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films," he said. "Just being nominated along with fellow international filmmakers was an honor. I think we have only one language, the cinema."

Kate McKinnon's Tribute to Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres received the Carol Burnett Award at the 2020 ceremony, and none other than Saturday Night Live star Kate McKinnon presented her with the honor. In an emotional speech (which earned a standing ovation from Beyoncé), Kate reflected on Ellen's career impact, and how Ellen was a form of representation as an LGBTQ comedian for Kate's own future career path.

“In 1997, when Ellen’s sitcom was at the height of its popularity, I was in my mother’s basement lifting weights in front of the mirror and thinking, ‘Am I…gay?’ And I was,” Kate joked. "And I still am. But that’s a very scary thing to suddenly know about yourself. It’s sort of like doing 23andMe and discovering that you have alien DNA. And the only thing that made it less scary was seeing Ellen on TV.

"And if I hadn’t seen her on TV, I would have thought, ‘I could never be on TV. They don’t let LGBTQ people be on TV,'" she continued. "And more than that, I would have gone on thinking that I was an alien and that I maybe even didn’t have a right to be here. So thank you, Ellen, for giving me a shot at a good life.”

Tom Hanks's Teary Acting Master Class

The Cecil B. DeMille Award honors "outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment,” and this year's recipient Tom Hanks definitely fit the bill. In his speech, he acknowledged his family for their love and support that allowed him to have his career, shedding a few tears while doing so. "A man is blessed with family," he said.

He also reflected on his career and provided some helpful tips for how to be hardworking and successful. “Showing up on time is one of the greatest and most liberating acts you can give yourself in a movie,” he said, thanking the dozens of people he's worked with over the course of his long career. "It's those moments as an actor where everyone I've worked with has helped me get to that place, sometimes it's three in the morning and sometimes it's at 11 o'clock at night, where you have to somehow put it all together."

Michelle Williams Advocating for Women

In typical inspiring Michelle Williams fashion, the actor gave a rousing speech in support of women's rights when she won a Golden Globe for her work in Fosse/Verdon.

"I'm grateful for the acknowledgment of the choices I've made and I'm also grateful to have lived in a moment in our society where choice exists because as women and as girls, things can happen to our bodies that are not our choice," she said.

"To choose when to have my children and with whom, when I felt supported and able to balance our lives as all mothers know that the scales must and will tip towards our children. Now I know my choices might look different than yours, but thank God or whoever you pray to that we live in a country founded on the principles that I am free to live by my faith and you are free to live by yours. So, women 18 to 118, when it is time to vote please do so in your self-interest. It's what men have been doing for years, which is why the world looks so much like them but don't forget we are the largest voting body in this country. Let's make it look more like us."

Ramy Youssef Saying "Allahu Akbar"

Actor Ramy Youssef took home the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy, and in his speech, joked about how no one in the room had watched his Hulu show, Ramy.

But the speech also resonated on Twitter, in part thanks to his use of an Arabic phrase often used by Muslims in prayer. "I would like to thank my God. Allahu akbar. Thank you, God," he said, adding, "We made a very specific show about an Arab Muslim family living in New Jersey and this means a lot to be recognized on this level."

Patricia Arquette Calling on People to Vote in 2020

When Patricia Arquette took home the Golden Globe for supporting actress, TV series, limited series or TV movie for her work in The Act, she thanked the usual suspects: her fellow nominees, her children, her costar Joey King. But she also used her moment to advocate against the U.S. entering into a war with Iran, to encourage people to vote against Trump in November, and to raise awareness about the destructive fires raging on in Australia.

“We’re not going to look back on this night in the history books," she said in her speech. "We will see a country on the brink of war, the United States of America; a president tweeting out a threat of 52 bombs, including cultural sites; young people risking their lives, traveling across the world; people not knowing if bombs are going to drop on their kids’ heads. And the continent of Australia on fire. So while I love my kids so much, I beg all of us to give them a better world. For our kids and their kids, we have to vote in 2020. And we have to beg and plead for everyone we know to vote in 2020.”

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