Hollywood iconHarrison Fordwas awarded the Career Achievement Award at the29th Critics' Choice Awardslast night. Ford, who has become known over the years for his endearing ‘grumpy' persona and no-nonsense responses in interviews, was visibly emotional when he took to the stage to accept the award, paying tribute to the industry and thanking all those who have helped him throughout his decades-spanning career.
“First of all, I’m really happy to be here and just see what our business is turning into. And all of the talented people who are getting opportunities that probably would not have existed in the early part of my career. I’m very happy about that.”
Looking back at his career, theIndiana JonesandStar Warsstar said he owed his success to a mixture of “luck” and “wonderful directors, writers and filmmakers.”
“I’m here because of a combination of luck and the work of wonderful directors, writers and filmmakers. I feel enormously lucky.”
The emotion growing, Ford thanked his wife, Calista Flockhart, who, he said, “supports me when I need a lot of support — and I need a lot of support.” He then went on to pay tribute to his co-stars, many of whom were in the room.
“I’m grateful to all the fine actors … I’ve worked with and I’m deeply happy to have had the opportunities that I’ve had and I’m grateful.”
Ford wrapped things up saying, “I won’t take any more of your time,” with the room then erupting with cheers and applause.
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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Director James Mangold Calls Harrison Ford ‘A Variable Hypergiant’
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Ford was presented the Career Achievement Award byIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinydirector James Mangold, who heaped praise on the actor and his status in the industry, calling him “a variable hypergiant.”
“The largest stars in the known universe are called variable hypergiants … Of course Harrison Ford is a star. However, I submit tonight that he is a variable hypergiant. A star so big he contains multitudes. A star so unique he attracts other stars. He has warmed each of our lives.”
Namingseveral of Ford’s biggest movies, includingWitness,The Fugitive, andBlade Runner, Mangold described the actor’s iconic back catalog as representing “the voice of a singular artist.”
“The fact that I spit out that incredible, enviable list of films and performances without even mentioning ‘Star Wars,' Harrison’s body of work is breathtaking. It is utterly timeless. It is authentic, deeply felt, masculine but vulnerable, often moving and frequently hilarious. His work has been wildly popular and critically revered, and it represents the voice of a singular artist.”
In other Harrison Ford news, the actor was also seen enjoying the moment that hisShrinkingco-star Jasan Segel took to the stage during the Critics’ Choice Awards.
A second season ofShrinkinghas now been ordered by Apple TV+, with Harrison Ford next due to continue his legacy as one of Hollywood’s biggest starsby joining the Marvel Cinematic Universeas Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross inCaptain America: Brave New World. You can check out Ford’s speech below.
