When Patricia Arquette strode on stage to collect her Oscar for best supporting actress in February it was no surprise. She had been the favourite for her performance in Boyhood. Clutching the statuette, reading breathlessly from a crumpled sheet of paper, she lauded fellow nominees, thanked other members of the cast and crew members and paid tribute to friends and relatives, as per tradition. The brief speech ended, however, with a passionate, unexpected call to battle. “To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights,” said Arquette, her voice rising. “It’s time to have wage equality once and for all. And equal rights for women in the United States of America.”

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