Actor-producer Tom Cruise has accepted his first-ever recognition, an Honorary Award, from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the Governors Awards the other day. Alejandro G Inarritu, the director of Cruise's next film, presented him with the award. In his acceptance speech, Cruise paid tribute to the filmmaking community and vouched that he would remain committed to producing quality films in the future. "Making films is not what I do, it is who I am," said Cruise. The actor also revealed that he performed all the jobs possible for him "to earn the price of admission". He also quipped, referring to his stardom, "When did not have enough, I just figured out a damn other way to get in that theatre." The actor underscored the power of films to bring audiences from different backgrounds at one place and said that he keeps them in mind whenever he makes a film.

"I will always do everything I can to support and champion new voices, to protect what makes cinema powerful, hopefully without too many more broken bones," quipped Cruise, eliciting big laughs from the audience. The actor went on to add, "I promise to do what I can, I don't know maybe to inspire the next kid, who might be working their a** off right now by that admission or figure out some other damn way, to get get in the theatre."

The audience gave Cruise a standing ovation at the end of his honorary Oscar acceptance speech.

Tom Cruise has four Academy Award nominations but now wins. Besides earning nominations in the acting categories for Born on the Fourth of July, Magnolia, and Jerry Maguire, Cruise won an Oscar nod for what he did as a Top Gun: Maverick producer.

Besides Cruise, Wynn Thomas, Dolly Parton, and Debbie Allen also won honorary Oscars from the Academy. The award is an acknowledgement from the organisation for "extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or outstanding service to the Academy."