Patricia Arquette turned the podium at the 2015 Oscars into a political stage on Sunday (22Feb15) by using her best supporting actress acceptance speech to rally support for equality for women across the U.S.

The Boyhood star recently called out Hollywood executives for inequality in the industry, after the Sony Pictures hack attack last year (14) revealed a number of leading women, including American Hustle actress Jennifer Lawrence, had been paid considerably less than their male co-stars.

Arquette continued her campaign for equal rights at the Academy Awards as she wrapped up her speech for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.

Issuing the rallying call from Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre stage, she said, "To every woman who gave birth, to every tax payer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else's equal rights, it's our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America!"

Her powerful speech won her huge support and applause from the likes of Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lopez, Shirley MACLaine and her Boyhood co-star Ethan Hawke, who all cheered her on from the audience.