Thanks but no thanks, Halle

Luke Leitch10 April 2012

It was the night of a hundred thanks - but Halle Berry was the clear winner.

Berry not only made history by becoming the first African American actress to win an Oscar - she won the prize for longest, most thank you-ridden acceptance speech of the year.

At four minutes and 12 seconds, Berry's tearful speech featured an impressive 24 thank yous, many of them impossible to hear over her sobs.

Berry's effort, however, does not rank as the longest Oscar speech ever. In 1943 Greer Garson took seven minutes to accept her Best Actress award for Mrs Miniver. She began by saying "I'm practically unprepared" before going on and on - and on.

In the cringe-making stakes, Ms Berry ranks up there with Julia Roberts's Best Actress speech for Erin Brockovich in 2000 and Gwyneth Paltrow's tearful speech in 1999 after winning Best Actress for Shakespeare in Love.

In the major acceptance speeches, Best Director Winner Ron Howard lagged way behind Ms Berry by thanking only 16 people in just under twoand-a-half minutes.

Best Actor Denzel Washington heaped gratitude upon a relatively modest 11 people - but over a minute and 58 seconds.

Both Jim Broadbent and Jennifer Connelly, winners respectively of Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards, clocked in at just under a minute - and both thanked 10 people.

However all the major winners listed here should take pride in running over the specified 45 second speech time limit.

Halle Berry
Number of thanks: 24 Duration: 4 mins 12 secs

Ron Howard
Number of thanks: 17 Duration: 2:23

Denzel Washington
Number of thanks: 11 Duration: 1:58

Jim Broadbent
Number of thanks: 10 Duration: 58 seconds

Jennifer Connelly
Number of thanks: 10 Time: 56 seconds

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