Mo'Nique: Winning an Oscar Won't Change My Life
Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Will Mo'Nique's life change now that she's won a best supporting actress Oscar for Precious?
"I am a stand up comedian who won an Oscar!" she joked in the press room of Sunday's show Sunday night. "Ha, baby, I tickle me!"
See some of the worst Oscar dresses of all time!
"You know, this role was so not about my acting career," she added. "This role has shaped my life and allowed me not to judge and to love unconditionally. If that goes into my career, great, but if it doesn't and I'm just the dynamic person that I strive to be every day, then I've won, baby!"
The actress, 42, laughed and kidded around with reporters after winning the award. When asked what would happen in Hollywood if more actresses didn't shave their legs like her, she quipped, "They would win Oscars!"
Flashback! See future stars (like Angelina) at their very first Oscars
Mo'Nique -- who earned a standing ovation after her name was called -- grew serious when discussing her speech.
"Everything I wanted to say, and everything I needed to say, I said," she told reporters. The actress -- who played an abusive mother in the drama -- also addressed criticism that she didn't play into politics of campaigning for an Oscar. "I'm very proud to be part of an academy that says we will not play that game. We will judge her on her performance, not how many dinners she attended."
She chose her royal blue silk jersey Tadashi Shoji gown for a reason: it was the color Hattie McDaniel, the first black performer to win an Academy Award (for Gone With the Wind), donned to the show in the '40s. Of the flower in her hair, she said, "This is the flower Hattie McDaniel wore when she accepted her Oscars. So for you, Miss Hattie McDaniel, it's about time the world feels you all over them."
What the stars should have worn: see what stylists suggested
After hearing her name announced, Mo'Nique said she recalled a moment she had with husband Sidney Hicks in 10th grade. "I said, 'One day, we're gonna be stars,' and he said, 'You first!'"
Tell Us What You Think
25Did i miss something about HALLE? Then again, i don't follow her like that!
I love Mo'NIQUE
Congrats Mo'Nique! Wishing her more success and love on her upcoming tour.
You People Are Crazy - Why wouldn't Mo'Nique play a welfare mom? There are a ton of black welfare moms...it's not playing into a stereotype, it's a fact. As a white person, don't you even try to speak for me - don't assume what I believe, and don't assume what I think. Speak for yourself. You are not white, you will never be white, and you will never understand what it is to be white. Just like I will never understand what it is to be black. Don't you DARE speak for "White America."
To "Trust Me, I Know What I'm Talking About....." kudos to you also. Very well said! I thought it was a great loss when Angela Bassett lost. Here you have a wonderful strong actress playing a wonderful strong singer. Why was there any doubt?!?!? I just hope Mo'nique keeps getting the roles she was meant to play. Where is Halle Berry's career now? She hasn't made a "good" movie in a looooong time.
Halle was a disgrace in her over the top sexed up role. Monique was a BIGGER disgrace as welfare mom, child abusing disgusto. Even Denzel was a disgrace in the role he got the Oscar for. Dont you see? When we lower ourselves to play these TRASHY roles, White America gives us a little pat on the back that says, oh yes, this is how we see you Black America. Stay down, stay down. The only good role associated with the Oscar was Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Hudson-she got it because she was flat out talented.
Melinda I'm angry that you mispelled "SPEECH"
Melinda I'm angry that you mispelled "SPEECH"
Melinda I'm angry that you mispelled "SPEECH"
I wish more actors/actresses would be brave enough to wait for a story that will serve therapuetic to others, and try a lot harder to make these characters believable. Mo'Nique who lives her life showering people with joy and laughter had to transform into this horrible mother that she had to have known people would hate. But because MO' is who she says she is and we witness that daily...we love her after we leave the theatre! That's oscar worthy. Look and Learn amatuers!!!
I feel that black women are put into the position where they have to pick their poison in order to receive recognition in film. How many academy awards or grammys has Meryl Streep won? How many times did she have to disgrace herself?
Let's not forget that other AA women have won Oscars who didn't stripe or perform sex acts to get it as did Ms. Berry. I very proud and happy for Mo'Nique. Just remember, Hattie McDaniel, Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Hudson won in this category as well and none of them compromised their morals to do so. Black people never gave Ms. McDaniel her due because she played a southern slave/maid. Her response was "I'd rather play a maid then to be a maid." I totally agree... Congrats Mo'Nique.
Simply: WELL DONE!
I thought she gave an ANGRY SPEACH!!!!!! which was a disappointment!!!
Halle was awesome and deserved the Oscar-her acting was great and she made me cry when her boy died---in the movie. Monique was so good and I have followed her for years and been a fan for years, I didn't even know it was her in precious when I saw the previews. Both ladies are great and I admire them both. Monique not shaving her legs is a bit gross but so is getting botox and face lifts and boob jobs-so fake. Monique is real and in your face-luv her and Halle.
vsherry...No offense, but I think you just answered your own question. These actresses don't write their roles, they perform them. In the way you describe it, Mo'nique became that character, you actually believed it WAS her. That is what a true actor does.
I agree completely with you guys. I always felt that Halle did not deserve that oscar as much as Mo'nique deserves it NOW. I think that at that time they wanted to be PC about the whole deal because Denzel was nominated as well. I don't think you would want to win an oscar for that kind of role. Which wasn't as mind blowing as Mo'niques role. When I saw Mo'nique in that role, I wanted to strangle her. That is how good she was! If you look at both roles, Mo'nique blows Halle out of the water. These are 2 completely different women. I'm not saying Halle does't know how to act. But let's be frank....Halle is pretty, has a nice body and most of her roles involve that and that is what has defined her. Mo'nique on the other hand is pretty as well but physically bigger and more "in your face" you can say, but she has showed she can be diverse. The only thing that Halle did in that movie was get naked, get naked and get naked and the acting was average.
Good for her that her Oscar won't change her life!
husband looks like a sissy, guess he cheats with boys
Congrats to her! I haven't seen the movie, but will catch it on dvd. just shave the hairy legs, ugh