Watch CBS News

Patricia Arquette gives rousing Oscars speech

Patricia Arquette started her Oscars acceptance speech in a typical way: reading from a cue card to thank the cast and crew from "Boyhood."

But she ended it with a rousing push for gender equality that got both Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez cheering for their fellow actress amid thunderous applause.

"To every woman who gave birth to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else's equal rights," the best supporting actress winner said. "It's our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America."

This marked Arquette's first Academy Award nomination and win. She also won Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA, and New York Film Critics Circle honor for her role in "Boyhood."

The film, which co-stars Ethan Hawke, was directed by Richard Linklater and shot in spurts over the course of 12 years.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.