LOS ANGELES (AP) - Julianne Moore won her first Oscar as best actress for "Still Alice," and she shined a light on Alzheimer's disease in her acceptance speech Sunday night.
The 54-year-old actress added an Academy Award to the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild trophies she won earlier for her role as a college linguistics professor who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's.
"I'm so happy, I'm thrilled that we were able to shine a light on Alzheimer's disease," Moore said. "So many people who have this disease feel marginalized. People who have Alzheimer's disease deserve to be seen so we can find a cure."
Moore did four months of research for her role, talking to women with the disease and doctors, and she visited a long-term care facility.
She has been nominated four previous times; this year, she was the front-runner throughout awards season.
Moore was sent on her way to the stage by husband-director Bart Freundlich, who is 45.
"I read an article that said that winning an Oscar could lead to living five years longer," she said. "If that's true, I'd really like to thank the academy because my husband is younger than me."
Moore won over Marion Cotillard of "Two Days, One Night"; Felicity Jones from "The Theory of Everything"; Rosamund Pike of "Gone Girl"; and Reese Witherspoon of "Wild."
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AP National Writer Jocelyn Noveck contributed to this report.