'Secretariat' star Diane Lane is saving the world, one cow at a time

October 7, 2010 12:07 PM ET

"Secretariat" star John Malkovich praised his Oscar-buzzed costar Diane Lane at the Variety Power of Women awards last week. His moving but hilarious speech detailed her involvement in Heifer International, a charity which gives needy families a cow, a means of livelihood and sustenance for life.

He also suggested a new charitable model: using actors as cattle, as Alfred Hitchcock used to call them that.

"I can see why you might not have considered it as we don't actually produce anything," he said. "But even if are just standing in a field in, say, Botswana, we are getting residuals and we are getting royalties."

Also don't worry about the exorbitant cost of a first class ticket to transport the actors: "On this trip to LA, Disney generously introduced me to the wonders of Economy Plus and I thank you for that," he added.

Diane spoke emotionally and eloquently about Heifer International and what she and her daughter saw when they visited Africa with the charity.

Find out more about Heifer International here.