Steve McQueen says becoming the first black director to win a Best Picture Oscar was "of no consequence" to him.
The '12 Years a Slave' director made the admission in an interview with BBC's 'Desert Island Discs' host Kirsty Young, in which he claimed his accolade shouldn't be considered a major landmark for the black community.
He explained: "It's not important to me at all.
"There's nothing I don't think black people can't do so that's of no consequence to me. I mean so what?"
The 2013 film - which stars Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender and Bennedict Cumberbatch - tells the story of an African-American man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery.
McQueen, who lives and works in Amsterdam, also said he does not obsess about trying to please critics in Hollywood.
The 44-year-old explained: "I don't need money. If you don't need money, you are free. You do want you want.
"The only thing they can offer you is money and if you don't need it, there is no enticement."
The London-born director is currently working on a drama based on the lives of black people in the city, which is set to air on the BBC.

Kerry Katona asked her wedding guests for money.
The Atomic Kitten singer - who has kids Molly, 13, Lilly Sue, 11, Heidi, seven, and Max, six, from previous relationships and five-month-old Dylan-George with new husband George Kay - was happy to accept small donations from those attending her recent nuptials because she is struggling financially.
Asked if she asked for wedding gifts, she said: "No, I have asked for money. Just a fiver in a card will do. I'm bankrupt and I've got five kids to feed."
The 'Whole Again' star also admitted she had seen a ring she wanted to wear for her nuptials but was unable to afford its £300 price tag.
She said: "There was a ring my nan wore which was blue in a white gold band. It was beautiful. I was going to buy a similar ring but it was so expensive. It was £300 and I can't afford that."
Despite her money woes, Kerry is looking forward to a lavish honeymoon with George.
She told Britain's OK! magazine: "I'm going to the Caribbean for 10 days first class! It was a wedding present from [friends] Rob Jarrett and his partner Analita, which I thought was a wind up at first."

Liberty Ross thinks it is important to "live in truth".
The 36-year-old model - who divorced director husband Rupert Sanders in 2013 following a revelation he had been unfaithful with his 'Snow White and the Huntsman' star Kristen Stewart - doesn't regret any decisions she has made in the past as she always gone with her instincts.
She said: "I've always been very sure of my choices and wouldn't change anything.
"The most valuable thing I can share is the importance of living in truth.
"Sometimes, facing those truths can be your worst fear. Trusting your gut is always the best thing - no matter what people around you insist you should be doing or saying or thinking.
"Only you know, and once you live in truth your heart is completely free."
One of the mother-of-two's favourite things about living alone now is the amount of closet space she has.
She laughed to Britain's Grazia magazine: "I've just moved and have this crazy-big closet. It used to be a his'n'hers - now it's just hers.
"My little girl is so funny. Whenever she brings a friend over, it's the first room she shows them. She's like, 'This is gonna be mine, that is gonna be mine.' She comes out dressed in my studded jackets and theatrically announces, 'Hi, I'm Liberty Ross.' "

Nick Lachey thinks the arrival of his unborn daughter will be a "mind-blowing moment."
The 40-year-old star, who already has son Camden, two, with wife Vanessa Lachey, can't wait for her to give birth to their second child next year.
The 'Big Morning Buzz Live' presenter said: "We're expecting a little girl, beginning of next year. I get the best of both worlds: I get a son and now I'm going to have the experience of a little daughter, which will be a completely different, mind-blowing moment for dad. On a personal side, things could not be in a better place and I could not be more excited. It's great."
The former 98 Degrees singer thinks it's "crazy" how quickly his son is growing up.
He said: "He's growing like a weed and he seems like he's changing literally by the day.
"It's just a cool time. It's them finding their personality and really starting to get their vocabulary... talk in these full sentences and [you're like] 'Where did this come from?' It's just crazy."
Nick is currently working on finishing his upcoming album of covers, 'Soundtrack of My Life.'
He told UsMagazine.com: "The good thing about music is you can kind of do it whenever you find time to do it. This project actually started a few years ago... [I'm] thrilled that it's finally gonna come out on November 11. It's called 'Soundtrack of My Life' and it's a cover album -- it's all songs from movie soundtracks that were impactful to me and meaningful to me. That right song can bring out such a great moment in a film, and I really wanted to try to pay tribute to that through this album."

Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Martin were all over each other at the iHeartRadio Music Festival.
The couple, who started dating in late June following the Coldplay frontman's split from Gwyneth Paltrow in March after 10 years of marriage, reportedly couldn't keep their hands off each other backstage at the event over the weekend.
A source told gossip website RadarOnline.com: "At around 7pm on Friday night, Jennifer and Chris were making out backstage in an area that only allows security and a select group of celebrities in."
The insider added: "She had her arms around his neck. They were kissing passionately before he took the stage!"
The 'Hunger Games' beauty cheered on the British rocker, 37, when he eventually took to the stage at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas with his bandmates.
The eyewitness said: "Jennifer was watching from backstage and looked like the proudest girlfriend in the world!"
After three months of dating, the duo finally appear to be ready to go public with their romance.
The insider added: "They spent the entire weekend together. They were not trying to hide it at all."
The 24-year-old actress split from her long-term boyfriend Nicholas Hoult earlier this year.

Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes' newborn daughter is keeping them up all night.
The couple, who welcomed their first child into the world earlier this month, are "exhausted" but "infatuated" with their new arrival.
A source close to the duo told E! News: "They're both great, but exhausted. They know it's going to be a little while before the baby adjusts to a schedule."
The 33-year-old actor and the 40-year-old 'Hitch' star, who started dating in September 2011, were initially getting a lot of help and support from their mothers, and the insider said they "are still in and out, but less so," adding: "Ryan and Eva are getting more confident in doing things themselves."
'Drive' star Ryan, who previously dated his 'The Notebook' co-star Rachel McAdams, "is infatuated with the baby" and spends as much time with her as possible.
The couple have yet to reveal the name of their little one nor officially confirm the birth of their daughter.
Following the birth at a Los Angeles hospital, both stars burst into tears when they saw their little girl for the first time.
A source previously said: "It was very emotional for Eva and Ryan. They were both in tears when they saw their daughter for the first time!"

Sarah Hyland has secured a temporary restraining order against ex-boyfriend Matthew Prokop.
The 'Modern Family' star, who recently ended her five-year romance with the actor, was granted a protection order against him, requiring him to stay 100 yards away from her and her dog, Barkley Bixby, at all times, after claiming he assaulted her and threatened her life.
The 23-year-old actress, who plays Haley Dunphy on the comedy series, has accused the actor, 24, of terrorising her both verbally and physically during the last four years of their relationship.
According to court documents, obtained by gossip website TMZ.com, Matthew also allegedly pinned her against a car during an argument about her outfit in May before repeatedly calling her a "c**t" and choking her.
The Emmy Award-winner states: "His grip was so tight that I could not breathe or speak. I was scared and in fear for my life."
Sarah asked her co-star Julie Bowen, who plays her mother, to come to her house to help her "peacefully end the relationship," but claims Matthew freaked out when he arrived home to an intervention.
After he threw a lighter at her, Sarah claims Julie stepped in and told her to leave the house, as she wasn't safe around the actor.
She also says Matthew threatened to set one of her homes on fire and told her she would never see her dog again.
Following their split, Sarah says her former boyfriend "relentlessly bombarded me with vile, threatening and emotionally disturbing texts and voice mails including his own suicide threats."
The former couple started dating after meeting while auditioning for 'High School Musical 3: Senior Year' in 2008. They later starred together in the Disney Channel film 'Geek Charming' in 2011.

John Stamos is grieving the death of his mother.
The heartbroken actor, 51, paid tribute to Loretta Phillips Stamos on Instagram on Tuesday (23.09.14) after she passed away at her home at the age of 75 on Monday (22.09.14).
The 'Necessary Roughness' star shared a picture of them together when he was baby, with the caption: "The love of my life passed away yesterday in her home surrounded by her children and grandchildren."
He added: "My mother had enough love to fuel a small country. She was truly one of a kind and will live forever in the hearts of all who knew her.
"A few weeks ago, I asked my mom if she remembered an inconsequential event - she simply replied, 'I only remember the love.' #Brokenhearted #Iloveyouthemost"
The former 'ER' star urged any followers eager to show their support to make donations to The Vanguard Cancer Foundation, the charity founded by his mother and described on its website as a not-for-profit, volunteer organisation advocating for more personalized and intelligent cancer care.
Loretta was inspired to start the charity after her brother was diagnosed with terminal cancer many years ago.
In a statement on the organisation's website, she wrote: "Thirteen years ago, I held my brother's hand as a doctor told him that his cancer was untreatable. As I think back to that moment, I realize just how many people would have accepted that diagnosis and given up. Thankfully, Jake knew better ... the Vanguard Cancer Foundation will be here, empowering patients to take the fight against cancer into their own hands."

Sarah Silverman thinks Michael Sheen's ex-girlfriend Kate Beckinsale is "so beautiful."
The 43-year-old comedienne insists she isn't jealous of her boyfriend's close friendship with the British actress, whom he dated for eight years until 2003 and shares daughter Lily, 15, and claims all of his former love interests, including Rachel McAdams, make her feel even luckier to be with him.
When asked about being compared to one of the world's "most physically beautiful women" Kate, who is now married to director Len Wiseman, the 'Masters of Sex' star told Howard Stern on his Sirius XM radio show: "No it's more like, 'Look at all these beautiful women and he loves me. It's more like that, like 'Wow!' "
Sarah has no problem with Michael's ongoing friendship with Kate, 41, and she added: "I love her. She's hilarious...She's really really cool. They're really funny together."
The former 'Saturday Night Live' star is besotted with Michael, but has no desire to become his wife.
She said: "Why do we have to get the government involved in our love? It's weird!"
But she added: "I have always been baby crazy...I'm going through such a crisis in that way because my whole life I've been like, 'Ah, I'm not ready, I'm not ready, I love kids but someday' and now it's like, 'I'm 43' and I still don't feel ready!
"It's such a huge decision. How do people make this decision so fast like it's nothing? It's your whole life!"

Gwyneth Paltrow has drawn up a rota for Chris Martin and their children.
The 'Iron Man 3' actress, who split from the Coldplay frontman in March after 10 years of marriage, reportedly wants to make sure he doesn't neglect spending quality time with their daughter, Apple, 10, and son Moses, eight, in favour of being with his new girlfriend, Jennifer Lawrence.
A source told the UK's Grazia magazine: "She's drawn up a rota to balance his time living life as a bachelor and seeing Jennifer with honouring their many family commitments.
"[She's] uncompromising with the amount of time she expects him to spend with their family."
The 'Magic' hitmaker, 37, is said to be "torn" and is uncomfortable with the amount of control the 41-year-old actress has over him, as he worries it will upset 'The Hunger Games' star Jennifer, 24.
The insider added: "Gwyneth still has a lot of control over him, which isn't exactly desirable to prospective girlfriends.
"The way things are are the moment, no sane person would want to be an accessory to their conscious uncoupling."
Jennifer and Chris quietly started dating in June after meeting at one of his concerts in London over the summer.

Kris and Bruce Jenner have divided their $60 million fortune equally.
The former couple, who filed for divorce this week after announcing their split last October after 23 years of marriage, reportedly had no problem dividing up their financial assets, as all of their earnings, including their TV profits, Bruce's speaking engagements and their ownership in various businesses, have always been lodged into a joint bank account.
A source close to the duo told gossip website TMZ.com that the 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' stars negotiations were "easy and amicable."
Kris, 58, is now the sole owner of their Hidden Hills estate in Los Angeles, while Bruce, 64, who lives in his own bachelor pad in Malibu, gets to hold on to his exclusive Sherwood Country Club membership.
The insider revealed that their lawyers were not involved in their property settlement, but they were assisted by their business managers.
The Kardashian family matriarch also gets to keep her 20.5 carat diamond engagement ring.
In court documents, Bruce and Kris stated they plan to share joint physical and legal custody of their youngest daughter Kylie, 17.
The duo, who also have daughter, Kendall, 18, together and four other children each from previous marriages, also asked to keep their "jewellery and other personal effects," and "earnings and accumulations...from and after the date of separation,' and stated they do not want spousal support.

Former 'Emmerdale' actress Claire King is joining the cast of 'Coronation Street.'
The 51-year-old star has landed the part of former barmaid Erika, who is set to arrive on the cobbles in December as an old friend of Liz McDonald and will cause some trouble for businessman Nick Tilsley, as she immediately sets her sights on him, leading to a fling between the pair.
Speaking about the role, Claire, who also appeared in 'Bad Girls' and was forced to leave the most recent series of 'Celebrity Big Brother' due to illness, said: "I am beyond thrilled to be joining the cast of 'Coronation Street' playing the funny and feisty Erika, who looks certain to ruffle a few feathers once her high heels hit those world famous cobbles!
"A stint in Corrie is one of those ticks on most actor's bucket list of jobs you dream of doing, so I can't wait to start filming in a few weeks time."
Producer Stuart Blackburn added: "Erika is a woman who lives life to the full, Nick doesn't stand a chance once she has set her sights on him, but he's not complaining!
"We are delighted to have Claire on board to play Erika, she is a fabulous actress who will be a great addition to the cast."
Claire is due to appear on the soap for a few weeks in December before her character flies back to Spain at the end of the year.