After winning the Outstanding Contribution to Cinema award, Noel Clarke gave an inspiring and exceptional speech to mark the occasion.
During his speech, Clarke said, “This is for the underrepresented – anyone who sits at home believing that they can achieve more. This is particularly for my young black boys and girls out there who never believe that this could happen to them.
“13 years ago, when I won the rising star award, I bounced off my chair and I popped my collar as I went up. For years I never really understood why I did that. I couldn’t articulate it. For years people have told me how arrogant it was, that I shouldn’t have done it.
“I’ve always said to myself, if I ever got back on the stage again, I’d apologise for it. I’m not going to do that.
“Recently, I realised why I did it. I felt vindicated. I won something, at the time, that someone like me was never supposed to. Something that I’d been told I couldn’t.”
Noel Clarke made his film debut in the 2003 release I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.
The star is also responsible for several classics including the Kidulthood series and 4.3.2.1.
Take in the full speech above.