Independent Spirit Awards 2019: Richard E. Grant Breaks Down

February24

Dailymail.co.uk – 24th February, 2019

Independent Spirit Awards 2019: Richard E. Grant breaks down as he receives Best Supporting Male award from Glenn Close and dedicates gong to AIDS sufferers in heartfelt speech.

By Lily Waddell for MailOnline.

He is tipped for an Academy Award at the upcoming dazzling Oscars ceremony.

And Richard E. Grant started crying when he was named the Best Supporting Male at the 34th Film Independent Spirit Awards, in Santa Monica, California on Saturday.

The grinning actor, 61, gave Glenn Close a heartwarming bear hug when the Fatal Attraction actress presented the award to him.

Independent Spirit Awards 2019: Richard E. Grant broke down in tears as he received Best Supporting Male award (and a hug!) from Glenn Close on Saturday… ahead of Oscars buzz.

Richard was bestowed with the Best Supporting Male title for his part to play as Jack Hock in Can You Forgive Me?

Can You Forgive Me? lays out the true story of celebrity biography Lee Israel who spins stories and lies when her work falls out of favour with the public.

American actress Melissa McCarthy transforms into the A-list biographer while Richard plays her loyal friend Jack.

During his heartfelt speech, screen star Richard dedicated his award to a number of actors, including Chariots of Fire’s Ian Charleson, who died of AIDS at the age of 40 in 1990.

Brilliant man! Richard was bestowed with the Best Supporting Male title for his part to play as Jack Hock in Can You Forgive Me?

What a treat! The grinning actor, 61, gave Glenn Close a heartwarming bear hug when the Fatal Attraction actress presented the award to him.

Richard – whose character Jack suffers from the disease in the film – said: ‘The person that most inspired my performance was an actor called Ian Charleson, who played the lead role in Chariots of Fire in 1981.

‘He died of AIDS at the age of 40 in 1990 and this movie is an homage to that generation of men that were wiped out by that disease.’

Attempting to hold back his tears, the actor went on: ‘I know I have to be really quick but I feel absolutely astonished and emotional about this, thank you very much.

‘I spent my whole career in indie films and there’s six actors who I want to dedicate this film to. The first one is Daniel Day-Lewis, who passed on the role 33 years ago, which is why I’m here now.’