00:00Hey guys!
00:03Thank you Aldis. It's always good to see him.
00:06So wait a minute, let me see where I'm looking at. Where's my girl?
00:09Cynthia.
00:13Cynthia Erivo.
00:15Okay, I'm not sure that there's much that I can say that I haven't already said, but you know, here it goes.
00:21While most of the world was dazzled by you first in the Broadway musical, The Color Purple,
00:27for me, it was Harriet.
00:31Man, I was with a girlfriend of mine and she lives for a we will overcome moment.
00:35So I was a little bit concerned because I was not in the mood to be mad at America again.
00:40But she insisted that this wasn't that.
00:43So I was like, okay, okay, let me watch the movie.
00:45And she was right.
00:48The depth of emotion displayed while still portraying Harriet with so much pride.
00:54It gave me chills.
00:56So much so that I had to DM you on Instagram to let you know how much I was moved by your ability to be both strong, vulnerable, and honorable.
01:06Then, my father told me he loved you in Aretha.
01:10Then my dear friend Naomi Ackie told me you had been killing it since you attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
01:17Back in England, of course.
01:21As one of the very few black women that have gotten in, something I know that you are currently working on the board to change.
01:27So bravo to that.
01:32So, there was so much chatter about Wicked, right?
01:36My girls and I were all talking about the press tour.
01:38And with all the crying you and Ariana was doing, I didn't know if I was going to see a musical or a drama.
01:43But little did I know, it was both.
01:49Girl, why was I sobbing in the theater?
01:53Why do you have me sobbing and holding my head up high?
01:57This is why you are one of my favorite actresses, because I see me in you.
02:03I do get my feelings hurt.
02:05I do want to be liked.
02:07But I'm nobody's victim.
02:09And I will never let anyone change the lightness in my step and the crack in my smile.
02:15And you possess and inject that fire into all your characters.
02:20I held my mother's hand in that scene where Alphaba is falling out the sky and she sees that little her.
02:27The innocence that's lost so early in womanhood or feeling invisible or just being the minority.
02:36We must always fight to protect that little person that knows they are more than what the world has told them they could be.
02:44You do this, Cynthia.
02:49You do this in life.
02:50And you have done this in art.
02:52And I, you know, I was one of those children that believed because of art.
02:57And you keep me believing.
02:59And so many others.
03:01Please never stop.
03:03I am so proud of you.
03:04And I am so happy to be here to honor you and give you this much deserved award.
03:10As I have said once, and I'll say it again, Cynthia Erivo, you are truly remarkable.
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