Wins Oscar

Matlin wins the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of deaf student Sarah Norman who falls in love with her teacher (William Hurt) in Randa Haines’s Children of a Lesser God. William Hurt presents the award. Matlin gives her acceptance speech in sign language with Jack Jason interpreting.

I just want to thank a lot of people. I, to tell you the truth, I didn’t prepare for this speech. But I definitely want to thank the Academy and its members. And I want to thank all those special people in the film. And I can name them: Randa Haines, Patrick Palmer, the entire cast and crew, and particularly William Hurt for his great support and love in this film. And I want to thank my mother and father, Eric, Marc, Gloria, Zachary and Liz. They are here tonight with me. And I just want to thank all of you. I love you.