Jamie Foxx hit a high note on Sunday, winning the best actor Oscar for his electrifying turn as blind soul legend Ray Charles in the biopic
Ray
.
Foxx, who made his dramatic acting debut only six years ago, had been heavily favored to win for his portrayal of the US musician's rise from a poor and tragic childhood to fame and fortune and a life of heroin addiction and womanizing.
An emotional Foxx was greeted by a standing ovation as he started to sing in homage to Charles.
"Give it up for Ray Charles and his beautiful legacy, thank you for living," he said.
Foxx, choking backing tears, thanked his late grandmother who raised him.
"She was my first acting teacher," he said. "She said, 'Act like you got some sense. Act like you been somewhere."
"She still talks to me, only now she talks to me in my dreams," he said. "And I can't wait to go to sleep tonight because we've got a lot to talk about."