The 57-year-old television megastar – nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar 25 years ago for her role in “The Color Purple” – received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at a dinner here.
The award has been given out intermittently by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1956. Previous recipients include Bob Hope, Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and Jerry Lewis.
“I never imagined myself receiving an Oscar, especially for what I’m considering my calling,” Winfrey said, visibly moved.
She said she could not imagine that someone who was born in 1954 in the small town of Kosciusko in rural Mississippi state could ever receive an Oscar.
Her grandmother used to tell her that she hoped she would find “some good white folks” to work for in the future, Winfrey recalled.
“Nobody could ever imagine that it would be possible that you could be anything other than a maid, who had some good white folks who would give her clothes and let her take food home for the holiday,” she said. “It’s unimaginable that I would be standing before you tonight.”The second received his honorary Oscar in tears. Smith is known for his makeup work in “The Exorcist,” “The Godfather,” “Taxi Driver” and “Amadeus,” for which he received an Oscar in 1985.
The event was not televised, but segments of its video recording were expected to be shown at the 84th Academy Awards be held on February 26 at the Kodak Theater here.
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