Wins Oscar

Bates wins the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Annie Wilkes, the crazed “number one fan,” in Rob Reiner’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery. Daniel Day-Lewis presents the award.

I’d like to thank the Academy. I’ve been waiting a long time to say that . . . . I would like to thank everyone associated with “Misery”: Columbia Pictures, Castle Rock, Andy Scheinman, Rob Reiner for giving me a chance. I’d like to thank William Goldman for bringing the wonderful, crazy “Annie Wilkes” to the screen and Stephen King for thinking of her in the first place . . . . I would like to say thank you. Thank you very much.