Oscars 2011: Natalie Portman’s Teary, Beautiful Speech

At the Oscars 2011 last night, actress Natalie Portman was honored by the Academy with the Best Actress statuette for her part as a ballerina in “Black Swan.” Below is a video of her acceptance speech.

The actress, who is now pregnant with her first child, took to the stage to receive the Oscar from Jeff Bridges, himself a nominee for Best Actor (but he lost out to Colin Firth of “King’s Speech”) and was almost instantly overwhelmed with emotion.

Natalie was undoubtedly this awards season’s biggest winner, with her harrowing performance having already received countless awards and critical acclaim.

Nevertheless, nerves still got the best of her and she struggled to find words to thank the people who have helped her come this far, in what was undoubtedly one of the most touching moments of the night.

After kissing fiancé Benjamin Millepied, who also did part of the choreography for “Black Swan,” Natalie stepped up on stage – and, amazingly, remembered everyone in her speech.

She started by thanking the Academy and the other nominees for the same category, Annette Bening (“The Kids Are All Right”), Nicole Kidman (“Rabbit Hole”), Jennifer Lawrence (“Winter's Bone”) and Michelle Williams (“Blue Valentine”).

“I truly wish that the prize tonight was to get to work with my fellow nominees, I’m so in awe of you,” Natalie gushed.

She then thanked her parents for “giving me life,” almost chocking on tears. Natalie then proceeded to name all the people that have worked with her and without whom she believed she couldn’t have made it this far.

She included director Darren Aronofsky (a “fearless leader and visionary”), her fiancé and all those people who put in a lot of work in making a movie but who are hardly named.

“My beautiful love, Benjamin Millepied, who choreographed the film and has now given me my most important role of my life,” Natalie said.

“There are people on films that no one ever talks about who are your heart and soul every day,” she added, before thanking (by name) to her hair, makeup and costume people, and camera guys.

Before leaving, Natalie thanked her family and friends again.