"If I'm not on my team why should anybody else be?"

So, I'm very very pleased to be here tonight in my latest role as Robert Downey Jr's straight man slash loyal wingman. And it's become an actual real life role of a lifetime for me over the last few months. Honestly. And I love it. No, honestly, I'm thrilled to be here, because I want to take this opportunity to say publicly that I've never worked with or met anyone like Robert Downey Jr. Truly. And aside from his staggering talent, and his otherworldly range, he has managed to awe us with both his character and his leading man performances, searing dramatic performances, and his gut-busting comedic performances. He's taken on and triumphed in every imaginable kind of role, whether it be an endearing romantic, a dogged reporter, a punch drunk to a private eye and even the quintessential action here. And, I mean, it's just mind-bending, what this man has done. In my opinion, he is the most versatile actor of his generation.

Most likely of many generations. I hadn't met Robert until we were brought together by Chris Nolan on Oppenheimer, but, you know, anyone that loves film, and that loves great acting, I've been a fan forever. And I was always tying to figure out from a distance, you know, how he actually does what he does. And working alongside of him on Oppenheimer, watching him turn every day into Lewis Strauss, uh.... I'm still not sure how he does it. I think it might be a marriage of pure pure talent, and this kind of preternatural insight into human nature. And what I've also learned is that Robert works incredibly hard to make it look so easy, as all the great ones do.

But he's not jut a great actor. He's a kind of a unicorn, because he's a great actor who's also risen to the level of superstardom that few of us can kind of comprehend. And, why do I think that is? I think that is because he is one of the kindest, funniest, most generous actors I have ever worked with. And all of that comes out on the screen and you see it in every single performance. And all of his performances, no matter how unlike himself they are, they're always authentic, like Robert.

And every minute that I spent with him on camera was pure bliss, even though his character wanted me to disappear into a black hole and never come back.

But off camera we've bonded in a way that truly I've rarely done.

And I am so so very proud to be here tonight as a Downey straight man slash wingman. And I'm even prouder to call him a friend.

˗ˏˋ Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist ! ˊˎ˗