Sir Anthony Hopkins has issued a delayed acceptance speech following his surprise Oscars win on Sunday night.
The 83-year-old star of The Father became the oldest ever winner of the Best Actor award at the prestigious ceremony, taking the honour ahead of the late Chadwick Boseman, who had been considered a certainty for a posthumous triumph.
The award was presented at around 4.15am UK time on Monday morning, meaning that it was several hours later before Hopkins - asleep at his home in Wales at the time of his victory - was able to issue a response.
"Good morning, here I am in my homeland of Wales and at 83-years-of-age I did not expect to get this award. I really didn't," he said in a video message, with the Welsh countryside visible in the background.
"I am grateful to the Academy and thank you. I want to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman who was taken from us far too early, and again, thank you all very much.
"I really did not expect this, so I feel very privileged and honoured. Thank you."
The Father also won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, while Brit actor Daniel Kaluuya was named Best Supporting Actor.
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