Julianne Moore took home the BAFTA for best actress in a leading role for her astonishing portrayal of a language professor diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s in Still Alice. Here’s a full transcript of what she had to say during an emotional winners press conference shortly actor picking up her richly deserved award

How does it feel to be a BAFTA winner?

It’s fantastic and completely surprising. I thought that my pitch kept going up during my acceptance speech because I was so nervous.

Did you have a speech prepared?

Not really, I mean I did want to mention my mother and my great aunts because they’re all from Scotland and that was important for me.

The story of this film and the directors personal relationship is an amazing one isn’t it?

I mean I think it’s very interesting. Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer have been together for 20 years as professional and personal partners. Shortly before I met them he was diagnosed with ALS. So by the time we shot he’d essentially lost function on the upper half of his body and was communicating via IPad. So they were essentially making a movie about what they were facing. It’s about facing a huge change in your life and an imminent loss of it. WE all know that’s going to happen but for them it brought a sense of urgency to the movie, but also a real celebration of who we love and what we want to do. When Richard was diagnosed they talked about it and he said what he wanted to do was make movies, that was valuable for him.

Did that bring an extra sense of responsibility?

I think so. I think we were tackling something that a lot of people are dealing with. I think we all wanted to do the subject matter justice. The great thing has been the response of the Alzheimers community who say they feel seen and represented.

How does it feel to have that work recognised by the academy?

I have to say it was completely unexpected. I think at the end of the day the work is its own reward, that’s why we do it, but for people to bother, for your peers to bother to write your name down or tick a box. For them to go out of their way to vote for you is very special.

What does the response of the Alzheimers community mean to you?

I’ll say that when I came here I went to the Curzon cinema the other day for a screening. I went into the lobby there and I met these three individuals who were all dealing with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. They were all so articulate and eloquent about what their experience has been. They were so enthusiastic about the film and it was great. It was great to meet people one on one and have them say yes that happened to me or I understand that and it’s great to finally see it in a movie. I think people feel marginalized, ashamed and isolated. They feel like they’re not seen and there’s still so much that’s not know about Alzheimer’s. I’m an actor and films are an entertainment, but it’s also a place where we value who we are and what we love in our life.

Were you pleased with the other winners tonight?

I think it’s great and I’m so happy to share this with Eddie Redmayne who I worked with many years ago in Savage Grace. He’s someone who came in and he’s spoken about me fighting for him. I was really just doing myself a favour not him. He came in and he was the best one. It’s wonderful to see him acknowledged in this way.

You know the thing about recognising talent in people is that you just kind of know that it’s there. I mean I look at Eddie and I’m not surprised at the trajectory of his career. I look at Kristen Stewart and I’m not surprised. My husband cast her in a move when she was 12 years old and it was pretty evident. He would come home and say this girl is going to be a star because she’s amazing. And she is! So it’s funny how you see that. Sometimes it’s as if actors are fully born and that’s just how Eddie was.

How much fun is awards season?

It’s pretty fun it’s like every weekend you’re going to your own wedding again. It’s like it’s me I’m the bride! You put on a dress and have your hair and makeup done. That element is fun but also odd.

Is it true your daughter made you a BAFTA?

It is. I have a beautiful clay orange BAFTA. It’s smaller than the real one but there is a whole face and stuff. The last time I was here I was nominated for A Single Man and when I came home my daughter was so disappointed for me she made me one in art class. So she’ll be happy to see this. And my son’s girlfriend who lived in London or a while said when I went to the party to make sure to bring home a chocolate BAFTA. Evidently they have chocolate ones at the party.

How do you feel about your fellow nominees?

These performances are extraordinary. Ladies like Reese, Felicity and Rosamund I admire all of them so much. We spend a lot of time together because we’re going to all the same parties. Once again we’re always the brides. So yeah I’ve spoken to every single one of them about their performances and it’s a really lovely and generous bunch of women I must say.