Cate Blanchett collected one of the biggest Critics' Choice Awards gongs of the ceremony on Sunday evening but still had time to call for the scrapping of the televised event.
The Australian actor, 53, was one of six nominees for the Best Actress award alongside Viola Davis (The Woman King), Danielle Deadwyler (Till), Margot Robbie (Babylon), Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans) and Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once).
She pipped them to award for her performance as disgraced composer Lydia Tár in Tar for her third Best Actress win of her career at the 28th Critics Choice Awards following victories in 1991 (Elizabeth) and 2014 (Blue Jasmine).
Cate made a jibe about the award when she got on stage, saying: "This is actually the second award of the evening; Julia Roberts, earlier, presented me with a bottle of mouthwash. So thank you, Julia. This is a poor second."
She then divulged into her opinion that awards ceremonies should not be broadcast live and said that the Best Actress award was "extremely arbitrary" due to the strong performances in the category.
She continued: "This best actress, I mean it is extremely arbitrary considering how many extraordinary performances there have been by women not only in this room.
“I would love it if we would just change this whole f*****g structure. It’s like what is this patriarchal pyramid where someone stands up here? Why don’t we just say there was a whole raft of female performances that are in concert and in dialogue with one another?
“And stop the televised horse race of it all. Because, can I tell you, every single woman with a television, film, advertising, tampon commercials — whatever — you’re all out there doing amazing work that is inspiring me continually. So thank you. I share this with you all."
Her opinion was well received by viewers at home, who praised her for her comments. One user on Twitter wrote: "Cate Blanchett said to stop pitting women against each other and she's so right!"
Another added: "This critics choice awards speech is added to the growing list of amazing cate blanchett speeches istg she keeps outdoing herself."
Elsewhere, Brendan Fraser was awarded the Best Actor gong and also chose to use his time to give a passionate speech.
Clearly emotional, the actor thanked all those who helped bring him back in from "the wilderness" and he also told those battling issues to keep at it.
