The 60-year-old actress took her moment to shine a light on all the female nominees at this year's ceremony, in a rousing speech that left viewers at home and in the audience yelling with joy. The moment comes at the height of the Time's Up movement.
FRANCES McDormand took the opportunity to celebrate all the women nominated tonight at the Oscars 2018 as she bagged her second Oscar gong.
The 60-year-old actress earned her first award for her leading role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, and pre-warned she “had something to say” as she took to the stage.
In a true moment of solidarity, the star took a brief moment as she aimed to give “perspective” on the females in the cinematic industry, encouraging them all to stand up with her.
As she took to the stage, Frances, who had previously won the same award for her role in Coen film Fargo, feigned being nervous and told the crowd: “OK, so I’m hyperventilating so if I fall over pick me up…”
She then went stony cold in an epic moment and warned: “…Because I’ve got some things to say.”
As Jodie Foster and Jennifer Lawrence stood beside her after handing her award, Frances declared: “So I think this is what Chloe Kim must’ve felt like after doing back-to-back ten-eighty’s and Olympic half-pipe, did you see that? Well that’s what it feels like.
“I want to thank Martin McDonagh [Three Billboards’ director] – look what you did! We are a bunch of hooligans and anarchists, but we do clean up nice!
“I want to thank every single person in this building and my sister Dorothy – I love you Dot – and I especially want to thank my clan. Joel and Pedro Mick Coen – these two stalwart individuals were well raised by their feminist mothers .
“They value themselves, each other and those around them. I know you are proud of me and that fills me with ever-lasting joy.
She then turned the tables and said “Now, I want to get some perspective.”
Putting down her award on the floor, Frances declared: “If I may be so honoured to have all the female nominees in every category stand with me in this room tonight.
Seeking the help of multi-nominee Meryl Streep, Frances asked every female nominee from this year’s ceremony – regardless of what they were nominated for – to stand up and be counted in a special moment at the end of her speech.
“The actors – Meryl [Streep] if you do it everyone else will, come on! – the filmmakers, the producers, the directors, the cinematographers, the composers, the songwriters, the designers…Come on!”
She then added: “Now, look around ladies and gentlemen, 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 can tell you all about them.”
Frances then ended her speech by saying: “I leave you with two words tonight, ladies and gentlemen: Inclusion. Rider.”
The epic moment went down a storm in the Dolby Theatre, with nominees including Margot Robbie, Alison Janney, Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan standing in unison at Frances' request.
Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 0207 782 4220
We pay for videos too Click here to upload yours.
