Sean Penn earned a second Best Actor Oscar for the biopic Milk, directed by Gus Van Sant. His First Actor Oscar was in 2003 for Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River.
Penn, who reference President Barack Obama in his acceptance speech, went into greater detail backstage. “We know that his public position, in terms of the specific issue of gay marriage, has not been, let’s say, officially supportive. I would like to believe that’s a political stand right now, and not necessarily a future one and a felt one,” he said. “I don’t think any of us and, in particular, our president, will long be able to take that position. He’ll
adapt.”
After exchanging a quick kiss with actress winner Kate Winslet, the two-time Oscar winner delivered characteristically sober, serious remarks, some of which were directed at the hateful sign-wavers outside the Kodak Theater. “I’d tell them to turn in their hate card and find their better self. It’s very sad in a way, because it’s a demonstration of such cowardice, emotional cowardice, to be so afraid of extending the same rights to your fellow man as you would want for yourself.”
Penn also extended his tribute to fellow nominee Mickey Rourke. “Everyone in this room has to make a comeback every day. Life’s tough. What I think is sensational about Mickey is that he’s simply one of the great poetic talents in acting.
