This was for his portrayal of Hugh Glass in The Revenant, which also took the Golden Globe for “Best Drama.”
In his eloquent acceptance speech, DiCaprio remarked, “Wow. Thank you. What an incredible honor. Wow, that meant a lot. Thank you to the HFPA, and to the other fantastic performances in this category. You guys were unbelievable. What a terrific year in film.”
DiCaprio went on to give a moving speech about his film, which was about survival, adaptation, triumph for the human spirit, and most importantly “it was about trust.” He went on thank his director for his leadership and vision, as well as the cast and crew in the film.
He concluded by sharing his award with all the first nation’s people represented in the film and all the indigenous communities around the world. “It is time that we recognize your history and that we protect your indigenous lands from corporate interests and people that are out there to exploit them,” he said. “It is time that we heard your voice and protected this planet for future generations. Thank you very much.”
Other winners included Brie Larson for “Best Actress in a Drama” for Room, as well as Matt Damon and Jennifer Lawrence for “Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy” and “Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy” respectively. Sylvester Stallone was named “Best Supporting Actor” for his role in Creed, while Kate Winslet was honored as “Best Supporting Actress” for Steve Jobs.
