His highly personal portrayal of the Joker earned him a Golden Globe. During his acceptance speech, however, American actor Joaquin Phoenix spoke little about cinema, instead making a plea in defence of the planet.
If 2019 was a glittering year for Joaquin Phoenix — who, in addition to earning the praise of audiences and critics for his perfectly immersive portrayal of the Joker, was named person of the year by the animal rights organisation he has long campaigned alongside (the Peta) — 2020 looks set to be no less remarkable. The American star received a Golden Globe on 5 January — one of the most prestigious accolades in the film world — for best actor in a dramatic film. For his role in Todd Phillips's film, no less.
Read also: Thanks to his love of animals, actor Joaquin Phoenix is Peta's person of the year 2019
At the awards ceremony, held in the city of Beverly Hills, California, he did not deliver a run-of-the-mill acceptance speech. Instead, he seized the opportunity to speak to the audience and his fellow actors about some of the issues closest to his heart. Phoenix has been vegan since childhood and has spent his entire life fighting speciesism — that is, the attribution of a superior value to human beings over other animals.
"First and foremost, I want to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for recognising the connection between factory farming and climate change," the star began on stage, referring to the organisers' decision to serve a vegan dinner during the evening. "It's a bold move, and it sends a powerful message."
Phoenix then touched on the dramatic situation Australia has been enduring for months, where wildfires have burned more than five million hectares of land across five states, including the ancient forests of New South Wales, releasing approximately 250 million tonnes of CO2. "It's great that so many people have expressed solidarity with this country, but we have to do more," the actor urged. "I think we can all come together to make real changes — voting matters, but we have to take responsibility for our own actions and make some sacrifices in our own lives. For instance, we could try not to take private jets to Palm Springs [a couple of hours' drive from Beverly Hills — ed.]."
There is nothing to be lost in being kind to other animals.Joaquin Phoenix
On that note, Jennifer Aniston read out a message from her New Zealand colleague Russell Crowe, who had not attended the California event in order to remain close to his fellow countrymen during such a difficult time. "Let's not kid ourselves: the tragedy unfolding in Australia is the result of climate change. We must act on the science, direct our efforts towards the energy transition and respect our planet for the unique and magnificent place it is."
These Golden Globes, then, were remarkable not only for the victory of Nora Lum, the first woman of Asian descent to receive the award for best actress in a comedy or musical. They will also be remembered for the forcefulness with which environmental issues gatecrashed Hollywood — a place that, with all its excess, might seem far removed from any need to adopt a sustainable way of life. Yet it is also a kind of megaphone, capable of amplifying ideas. The hope is that the voices of figures from the entertainment world can join those of scientists and activists and finally reach the ears of politicians — who may perhaps be more inclined to listen to individuals who enjoy a certain level of visibility. Like Joaquin Phoenix.