Jared Leto wins oscar for trans role in Dallas Buyers Club
Jared Leto has won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Rayon, a trans woman with AIDS in the 1980s era drama set amidst the HIV/ AIDS crisis.
Dallas Buyers Club was based on the true story around Ron Woodroof (played by fellow Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey), a straight electrician who rebels against the lack of HIV/ AIDS treatments by creating a cooperative to import drugs from overseas. Leto’s role of Rayon was created for the film.
Last night accepting his award he said: “To all the dreamers out there around the world watching this tonight in places like the Ukraine and Venezuela, I want to say we are here and as you struggle to… to make your dreams happen, to live the impossible… We’re thinking of you tonight.”
He added: “And this is for the 36 million people who have lost the battle to AIDS and to those of you out there who have ever felt injustice because of who you are or who you love, tonight I stand here in front of the world with you and for you. Thank you so much and goodnight.”
Leto beat off strong competition for the Oscar from Barkhad Abdi for Captain Phillips, Bradley Cooper for American Hustle, Michael Fassbender for 12 Years a Slave and Jonah Hill for The Wolf of Wall Street.
