After the 2024 Academy Awards aired earlier in March, many film enthusiasts felt satisfied with the results and are now considering the Award season to be over. While there are still a few smaller award shows still to be aired, most of the hoopla has come to an end.

We’re also closing out on another important time in the year – Women’s History Month. Before we move on from awards season and Women’s History Month, I want to take a moment to celebrate both occasions by highlighting some of the most memorable moments for women in Oscar history.

Who doesn’t love an iconic Oscar acceptance speech? Some of the best ones have been made by talented women who didn’t take their moment on stage for granted and ones who made history the moment they held that tiny gold statue in their hands.

If you want to take a little trip down memory lane with me, here are some of women’s best Oscar acceptance speeches.

Halle Berry winning ‘Best Actress’ in 2002

Halle Berry’s amazing performance in “Monster’s Ball” earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002. This was a huge moment for Halle and in history, as she became the first Black woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress. 

Yup, that didn’t happen until 2002.

“This moment is so much bigger than me,” says a very emotional Halle, tears streaming down her face during her acceptance speech.

Later in her speech, Halle states that her award was for “every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.”

Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.

Chloé Zhao winning ‘Best Director’ in 2021

Anyone interested in the film industry and award shows knows that women have been severely overlooked and robbed regarding the Best Director category at the Academy Awards.

In 2021, Chloé Zhao made history by becoming the first woman of color to receive the Best Director award for her film “Nomadland,” which she also adapted, edited, and produced.

In her sweet acceptance speech, Chloé shared a story about growing up in China with her father and how they’d memorize Chinese poems and stories. A line in one of those stories that meant a lot to Chloé translates to, “People at birth are inherently good.”

“Those six letters had such a great impact on me when I was a kid, and I still truly believe them today, even though sometimes, it might seem like the opposite is true,” says Chloé.

“I have always found goodness in the people I’ve met, everywhere I went in the world. So, this is for anyone who has the faith and the courage to hold on to the goodness in themselves and to hold on to the goodness in each other, no matter how difficult it is to do that.”

Sally Field winning ‘Best Actress’ in 1985

The beloved Sally Field’s iconic acceptance speech after she won Best Actress for her performance in “Places in the Heart” is still quoted by many pop culture lovers to this day. This was Sally’s second Academy Award win. 

A joyful Sally began her speech by thanking her team and the cast of “Places in the Heart.” She then acknowledges how her career didn’t start as “orthodox” and how wonderful it was to be taken seriously as a hardworking actress by others in the film industry.

“I’ve wanted more than anything to have your respect,” says a smiling Sally.

“The first time, I didn’t feel it, but this time, I feel it, and I can’t deny the fact that you like me. Right now, you like me!”

Frances McDormand winning ‘Best Actress’ in 2018

Frances McDormand had a lot of pressure on her shoulders when she accepted the Best Actress award for her performance in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” in 2018. She was the woman of the evening, and that night, many Hollywood stars supported the Time’s Up and #MeToo movement.

Injustice and under-representation of women in film were a big part of the conversation that night, and Frances made sure to include it in her speech in the coolest way.

“Okay, so I’m hyperventilating a little bit,” began Frances.

“If I fall over, pick me up ’cause I’ve got some things to say.”

Later in her speech, Frances asked that every single woman nominated for an Academy Award stand up so everyone in that room could celebrate them and give them the recognition they deserved.

“Okay, look around, everybody. Look around, ladies and gentlemen, because we all have stories to tell and projects we need financed. Don’t talk to us about it at the parties tonight. Invite us into your office in a couple of days, or you can come to ours, whatever suits you best, and we’ll tell you all about them.”

It was a moment that had ladies in the audience and those sitting watching the show at home in tears.

Sacheen Littlefeather accepting the ‘Best Actor’ award for Marlon Brando in 1973

One of Marlon Brando’s most iconic roles was Don Vito Corleone in “The Godfather.” While many people anticipated his acceptance speech for the role, he chose not to attend the ceremony. He had Native American activist and actress Sacheen Littlefeather accept the award on his behalf.

Sacheen used the moment to speak out against the misrepresentation and mistreatment of Native people in Hollywood, a cause that led Marlon not to accept his Oscar.

“He very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award, and the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry and on television in movie reruns, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee,” says Sacheen.

“I beg at this time that I have not intruded upon this evening and that we will in the future, our hearts and our understandings will meet with love and generosity.”

The audience at the Oscars shamefully ridiculed Sacheen and tried to ‘boo’ her off the stage, but she kept her composure and finished her speech gracefully. It was a major moment in Oscars history.

Looking back on it, what was your favorite Oscar acceptance speech? Was it a recent one or one from years ago?