Singer Sam Smith, who grew up in Great Chisill and went to Thomas More Primary School, beat bookies’ favourite Lady Gaga to an Oscar for best original song for Writing on the Wall, which he wrote from the James Bond film Spectre.
Receiving the honour at the 88th Academy Award ceremony in Hollywood, yesterday (Sunday) he dedicated the win to the “LGBT (lesiban, gay bisexual and transgender) community around the world”.
He said he had heard that actor Sir Ian Mackellen had said no openly gay man had ever won an Oscar.
Smith, 23, said he stood in front of the crowd as a “proud gay man” and he hoped that: “We can all stand as equals one day.”
The singer has already won four Grammy Awards.
He has won the 2014 Brit Critics’ Choice Ward and the BBC’s Sound of 2014. At the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2015, his prizes included Best New Artist, Record of the Year for Stay with Me and Best Pop Vocal Album for In the Lonely Hour.
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