Triple Academy Award-winning actor and activist Meryl Streep has delivered a spectacular tribute to the work of journalists in an address at the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 2017 International Press Freedom Awards.

In her November 15 speech in New York, Streep said: “I really came here tonight to thank you. That's all. Just to thank you, all of you.

“Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you, the fourth estate, our first line of defence against tyranny and the establishment of state-sanctioned news.

“Thank you, you intrepid, underpaid, overextended, trolled and un-extolled, young and old, battered and bold, bought and sold, hyper-alert, crack caffeine fiends. You gorgeous, ambitious, contrarian, fiery, dogged and determined bullshit detectives. You persevering, cool, objective, indefatigable, chronically fatigued, pharmaceutically soothed, chocolate-comforted twitter clickers! You, the Enemy of the People (Yeah, but just the Bad People!).

“May I, on behalf of a grateful nation, thank you.” 

Read the full transcript of the speech at the CPJ website.