8 June 2006, Los Angeles, California, USA
Well, wow, [clutches, chest - puffed from dancing] getting on a bit.
I had no idea that this was such a big deal. When Howard, that's Mr. Stringer called me and said, 'the AFI has chosen you for this award.' Well, I just had no idea.
And then I was given a list of the people who'd received this fantastic honour, and I began to get a bit nervous, but not as nervous as I am at this moment. I mean it sincerely.
The Academy Awards is something else because you can hide. There are winners and losers and other people to blame. But the AFI, you're on your own and well, I'm here and I'm very happy you are all here too. And I thank you for bringing my family and friends together for tonight. My family, Micheline, my beautiful wife, some of our children, you are on your own life achievement.
I'm more than pleased that you like my work. I have to admit that it looked pretty damn good from where I was sitting, and it brought back to me lots of terrific memories. Memories of working with people who are fun and industrious, talented and enthusiastic.
These are all the qualities that I find admirable.
The rest of you, well, you know who you are. Making movies is either a utopia or it's like shovelling shit uphill. And tonight, I suppose we put down our shovels and remembered the good times, and well, I've had many.
My start, my childhood was less than auspicious, but when I was young, we didn't know we lacked anything, because we had nothing to compare it to. And there's a freedom in that.
I had a very hard working mother and father. I think of them both a great deal. I got my break, big break when I was five years old, and it's taken me more than 70 years to realise it. You see, at five, I learned to read. It's that simple and it's that profound. I left school at 13, I didn't have a formal education, and I believe I would not be standing here tonight without the books, the plays, the scripts.
It's been a long journey from Fountain Bridge to this evening with you all, Though my feet are tired, my heart is not. A few months ago, I was in London. I was having a great lunch with my very first agent. He's older than me. Suddenly he said to me, 'Sean, life is good, but isn't the third act shit.'
I suppose he has a point, but not tonight! I thank you all, my family, friends for one hell of an evening. Good night.