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| Jamie Foxx, who played Ray Charles in "Ray," accepts the Oscar for
best actor |
Jamie Foxx won the Academy Award as best actor on Sunday for his celebrated performance as legendary soul singer Ray
Charles in the biographical film "Ray."
The Oscar victory, though widely expected, is likely to propel Foxx,
37, to the ranks of Hollywood's most sought-after stars after a career
dominated by television comedy and roles in such films as "Booty Call" and
"Any Given Sunday."
In a rare Oscar twist, Foxx also was nominated as best supporting actor
for his role opposite Tom Cruise in "Collateral," becoming the first black
to garner two Oscar bids in a single year. The prize for supporting actor
went to Morgan Freeman for his work in "Million Dollar Baby."
Foxx now stands as only the third black to win the
Oscar for best actor, following in the footsteps
of Sidney Poitier for the 1963 film
"Lilies of the Field" and Denzel Washington three years ago for "Training
Day."
"Let's live this African-American dream," a triumphant Foxx said after
pumping the statuette in his hand. "Give it up for Ray Charles and his
beautiful legacy."
Foxx also paid tribute to Poitier by doing a brief
impersonation of the
celebrated actor he said once told him: "'I saw you once, and I looked in
your eyes and there was a connection.' And he says. 'I give to you
responsibility."'
"So, I'm taking that responsibility, tonight, Thank you, Sidney," Foxx
added.
He also saluted his late grandmother, Estelle Talley, who raised him.
He called her his "first acting teacher" for telling him to stand up
straight and "to act like you've got some sense."
And he thanked his young daughter, Marie, for telling him moments
earlier, "If you don't win, Dad, don't worry. You're still good."
Foxx arrived at the Oscars as a front-runner for best actor, having won
many of this season's leading movie awards for his performance in "Ray,"
including a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and top honors from
the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the National Society
of Film Critics.
A classically trained pianist himself, Foxx won rave reviews for his
turn in "Ray" as the pioneering musician who overcame blindness, bigotry
and drug addiction to become one of America's most beloved entertainers.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2005-02-28 13:59