The television and movie star Mo’Nique received her first Academy Award nomination for her role in "Precious." In the movie, Mo’Nique portrays Mary, an abusive mother whose cruel behavior has had a devastating effect on her pregnant teenage daughter.
Mo’Nique competed in the "Actress in a Supporting Role" category against Penelope Cruz (Nine), Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Crazy Heart), and Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air).
In accepting her Oscar Mo’Nique said, "I would like to thank the Academy for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics."
She went on to thank Miss Hattie McDaniel for "enduring all that she had to so that I would not have to." Mo’Nique also thanked Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey for their part in the movie. "Because you touched it, the whole world saw it," she said.
Before leaving the stage she took a moment to thank her BET family and her "Precious" family, and perhaps most importantly her husband. "To my amazing husband Sidney, thank you for showing me that sometimes you have to forego doing what’s popular in order to do what’s right. And baby, you were so right."
Precious also took home an Oscar in Writing.
