We reported in September that iconic actress Cicely Tyson would be honored with a honorary Oscar, and on Sunday, November 18th, Ms. Tyson finally held the award she has deserved for years. 

US actress Cicely Tyson accepts an honorary Oscar at the 10th Annual Governors Awards gala hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the the Dolby Theater at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California on November 18, 2018. (Photo by Robyn BECK / AFP) (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Being honored by Ava DuVernay, Quincy Jones, and Tyler Perry, this is Ms. Tyson’s first Oscar since her acting debut in 1951. Ms. Tyson, however, was nominated for an Academy Award in 1973 for her role in Sounder as Rebecca Morgan. She also has a Tony Award, two Emmy Awards, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by former president Barack Obama.

Jones honored Tyson with his kind words, stating: “Her work, grace, dignity, class, humility and profound professionalism firmly placed her on the pedestal of Hollywood royalty, and now, at long last, I could not be more honored to say that tonight, Cicely Tyson receives her more than well-deserved Oscar.”

Noble. Legendary. Flower. These are the words used to describe @IAmCicelyTyson, says @ava. #HonoraryOscars

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) November 19, 2018

Via. Getty Images

In her acceptance speech on HollywoodReporter.com, Ms. Tyson shouted out her mother, and how that made this award more special.

 “Mom, I know you didn’t want me to do this [acting], but I did and here it is,” Tyson said, holding her statuette. “For the longest time, I wanted to hear something positive from her. When I did [the Emmy-winning TV movie] Jane Pittman…she said, ‘I am so proud of you.’ If I had not heard those words from her, none of this would make a difference to me.”