SUBMITTED BY Larry Carroll

February 29, 2004 — When Charlize Theron took home the Oscar tonight for Best Actress, here's what she had to say onstage: "This has been such an incredible year. I can't believe this. I don't have a lot of time. I have to thank my incredible director, Patty Jenkins. Thank you, thank you, thank you. All of our producers, Brad, Clark, Meagan, Mark, Donald, Sammy Lee, everybody at Media 8, Bob and everybody at Newmarket, thank you so much for working so hard on this film. My incredible, incredible leading lady Christina Ricci, who I couldn't have done this film without. You are truly the unsung hero of this film. I have to thank our entire crew, Toni G. For transforming me, so incredibly. Every single person who worked on this film. I couldn't have done it without you guys. My incredible manager J.J. Harris, who has represented me for so long now and you've always believed in me. I can't thank you enough. My friend, Steve Warren, my lawyer, thank you so much. Yes, I know. He's my friend. Heidi Schaeffer and Amanda Silverman from PMK. My guardian angel Beth Kono. My producing partner Meagan Riley-Grant and if I'm forgetting anybody, please don't kill me. And I know everybody in New Zealand has been thanked so I'm going to thank everybody in South Africa, my home country. They're all watching tonight. And I'm bringing this home next week. And I have to thank my incredible partner in crime, you're one hell of a partner to have. Thank you so much for standing by me. And my mom. You've sacrificed so much for me to be able to live here and make my dreams come true. And there are no words to describe how much I love you. And I'm not gonna cry. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"