The eye-candy gowns might be the stars of the red carpet come Oscar night, but it’s the speeches that take centre stage once guests have been ushered inside and that iconic soundtrack fills the air. SO, in homage to the 82nd Academy Awards that airs tonight, presents a few of our favourite lines taken from those oh so memorable acceptance speeches.

Million Dollar Moment

Clint Eastwood rep’d for the vets during his acceptance speech for Best Director, Million Dollar Baby in 2003 when he said: “There’s a lot of young guys coming along, but I’d like to say to the various financiers, don’t forget the senior guys. The senior guys and gals are here too, willing to do their best work.”

You Like Me!

Sally Field arguably made one of the most famous acceptance speeches in 1985 when she received the Best Actress nod for Places In The Heart: “I haven’t had an orthodox career, and I’ve wanted more than anything to have your respect. The first time I didn’t feel it, but this time I feel it, and I can’t deny that you like me. Right now, you like me!”

A Ray of Sunshine

Jamie Foxx reawakened Ray Charles in 2004 and who could forget his heartwarming homage to the late singer during his acceptance speech for Best Actor in Ray?

“Give it up for Ray Charles and his beautiful legacy. And thank you Ray Charles for living.”

Scary Hunting

“Losing would suck and winning would be really scary…right now, it’s really, really scary,” said Ben Affleck (left) who in 1998 won a golden statue for Best Original Screenplay Good Will Hunting.

Show Me The Money!

An ecstatic Cuba Gooding Jr on hearing the announcement that he’d won the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in Jerry McGuire perhaps channelled his loud and obnoxious Rod Tidwell character, screaming: I love you, Tom Cruise! I love you, brother! I love you, man! Everybody, I love you. I love you all.”

Short of Words

Who could forget the shortest acceptance speech in Oscars history? Joe Pesci in 1990 when he won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Goodfellas: “It was my privilege. Thank you.”

America’s Sweetheart

Julia Roberts forgot to thank the real-life Erin Brockovich in 2001 when she won the Best Actress award for Erin Brockovich. Roberts did, however, give a memorable speech as she chided the technicians who had begun to cue the music after she had long passed her 45-second time limit. “A girl’s got to have her moment. Everybody tries to get me to shut up. It didn’t work with my parents and it didn’t work now.”

‘Berry’ Emotional

The gorgeous burgundy Elie Saab gown Halle Berry wore to the 2002 Oscars is still fresh in our minds, but it was her history-making moment – as the first black woman to win a Best Actress Academy Award (for her role in Monster’s Ball) – that we won’t forget anytime soon. It wasn’t so much what she said, but rather the emotions she conveyed as the stunning actress scoffed at vanity and rendered a good cry mixed with body convulsions.

Cover All Bases

“I’d like to thank everybody I’ve ever met in my entire life,” said Kim Basinger in 1998 as she collected her Best Supporting Actress award for her role in LA Confidential. Our conclusion? That lines pretty much takes care of everyone.

Long Live The King!

In 1997 Titanic director James Cameron briefly turned into the lead character Jack Dawson from the film when he, during his acceptance speech for best director, blurted: “I’m the king of the world.”