Read Brad Pitt’s political Oscars speech saluting stunt workers

Brad Pitt is feeling very grateful.

The Hollywood heavyweight went home with his first Oscar for acting on Sunday night for his performance in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” as Cliff Booth.

Entertainment & Arts

Oscars 2020: Highlights from the red carpet and broadcast of the Academy Awards

Get the latest on the Oscar winners, the best-dressed and behind-the-scenes action from L.A. Times journalists inside and outside the Academy Awards.

Feb. 9, 2020

Pitt previously won an Oscar as producer on the best picture winner “12 Years a Slave,” and has been nominated in an acting category for “Twelve Monkeys,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “Moneyball.”

Here’s the full transcript of his speech:

“Thank you. This is incredible, really incredible. Thank you to the academy for this honor of honors. They told me I only have 45 seconds up here, which is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave John Bolton this week. I’m thinking maybe Quentin does a movie about it, and in the end, the adults do the right thing.

“This really is about Quentin Jerome Tarantino. You are original. You are one of a kind. The film industry would be a much drier place without you. And I love the ethos you gave Cliff Booth: Look for the best in people. Expect the worst, but look for the best. Leo, I’ll ride on your coattails any day, man. The view’s fantastic.

“And to the rest of the cast and crew, big bad Bob Richardson, Robert Garcia, Richie, my man Mike Moh. You know, I also want to say, you know while we’re doing all this I think it’s time we give a little love to our stunt coordinators and our stunt crews.

“Listen, I’m a bit gobsmacked. I’m not, I’m not one to look back, but this has made me do so and I think of my folks taking me to the drive-in to see ‘Butch and Sundance’ and loading up my car and moving out here and Geena and Ridley giving me my first shot, to all the wonderful people I’ve met along the way to stand here now.

“Once upon a time in Hollywood ... ain’t that the truth. This is for my kids, who color everything I do. I adore you.”