Probably the most uncomplicated award show of the season, the 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards aired simultaneously on TBS and TNT on Sunday, Jan. 29. The SAG Awards showcased some of the best acting of the past year seen on the big screen and the small screen. Actors enjoy this award because actors vote for their peers, often recognizing performances forgotten by bigger awards. In a year with so many good films and television series, it was hard to determine who would prevail.
While “The Artist” seemed to be the pick for most of this year’s awards, it was overtaken by “The Help” at the SAG Awards. “The Help” won three awards, including female actor in a supporting role for Octavia Spencer, best female actor in a lead role for Viola Davis, and best ensemble in a motion picture. Everyone was genuinely surprised. It seemed that even Spencer, who has garnered the most praise and multiple awards, didn’t think they’d beat the competition.
The cast of “The Help” showed appreciation for the receiving their SAG Awards. Spencer thanked the women who actually worked as maids and weren’t able to tell their stories. She said these were women who displayed dignity at a time when they had no voices. Davis talked about how veteran actress and costar Cicely Tyson and fellow nominee Meryl Streep inspired her at different times in her life.
“Boardwalk Empire,” the television series set during Prohibition, took home the most trophies in the television categories. Steve Buscemi earned a SAG for leading actor in a drama, while the series won in the television drama ensemble category. “Boardwalk Empire” won the SAG in the ensemble category in 2011.
Besides Spencer and Davis, the SAG presented awards to a number of first-time winners. Veteran actor Christopher Plummer earned his first SAG for his supporting role in the motion picture “Beginners.” Jean Dujardin brought home the only award for “The Artist,” winning for his leading role in the film. Jessica Lange took home her first SAG for best female actress in the drama series “American Horror Story.” Lange proved you can still get roles after your sex symbol days are over.
The Screen Actors Guild presented the Life Achievement Award to Mary Tyler Moore. Her former costar Dick Van Dyke praised her work, when she and he worked together on “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” At only 23, she managed to match him in getting laughs while remaining adorably cute. They had such good chemistry that people thought they were married in real life. She went on to lead the groundbreaking comedy “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” The award-winning actress proved she could bring tears when she earned an Oscar nomination for “Ordinary People.”
Unlike the other award shows, SAG keeps it simple — no hosts and no fillers. In a year when “The Artist” seems to be getting every award, it was nice to see “The Help” gain recognition for the acting and the cast. The show also proved that cable television still has a stranglehold on the small screen. Really, any of the nominees deserved the awards this past year, especially with so many different kinds of movies and television shows covering an array of subject matter.
SAG Nominations and Winners:
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh – “My Week with Marilyn”
Armie Hammer – “J. Edgar”
Jonah Hill – “Moneyball”
Nick Nolte – “Warrior”
Christopher Plummer – “Beginners” (winner)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Berenice Bejo – “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain – “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy – “Bridesmaids”
Janet McTeer – “Albert McTeer”
Octavia Spencer – “The Help” (winner)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin – “30 Rock” (winner)
Ty Burrell – “Modern Family”
Steve Carell – “The Office”
Jon Cryer – “Two and a Half Men”
Eric Stonestreet – “Modern Family”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Julie Bowen – “Modern Family”
Edie Falco – “Nurse Jackie”
Tina Fey – “30 Rock”
Sofia Vergara – “Modern Family”
Betty White – “Hot in Cleveland” (winner)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
“30 Rock”
“The Big Bang Theory”
“Glee”
“Modern Family” (winner)
“The Office”
Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Diane Lane – “Cinema Verite”
Maggie Smith – “Downton Abbey”
Emily Watson – “Appropriate Adult”
Betty White – “Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Lost Valentine”
Kate Winslet – “Mildred Pierce” (winner)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Laurence Fishburne – “Thurgood”
Paul Giamatti – “Too Big to Fail” (winner)
Greg Kinnear – “The Kennedys”
Guy Pearce – “Mildred Pierce”
James Woods – “Too Big to Fail”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Kathy Bates – “Harry’s Law”
Glenn Close – “Damages”
Jessica Lange – “American Horror Story” (winner)
Julianna Margulies – “The Good Wife”
Kyra Sedgwick – “The Closer”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Patrick J. Adams – “Suits”
Steve Buscemi – “Boardwalk Empire” (winner)
Kyle Chandler – “Friday Night Lights”
Bryan Cranston – “Breaking Bad”
Michael C. Hall – “Dexter”
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
“Boardwalk Empire” (winner)
“Breaking Bad”
“Dexter”
“Game of Thrones”
“The Good Wife”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Demian Bichir – “A Better Life”
George Clooney – “The Descendants”
Leonardo DiCaprio – “J. Edgar”
Jean Dujardin – “The Artist” (winner)
Brad Pitt – “Moneyball”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Glenn Close – “Albert Nobbs”
Viola Davis – “The Help” (winner)
Meryl Streep – “The Iron Lady”
Tilda Swinton – “We Need to Talk About Kevin”
Michelle Williams – “My Week with Marilyn”
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
“The Artist”
“Bridesmaids”
“The Descendents”
“The Help” (winner)
“Midnight in Paris”
SAG Honors for Stunt Ensembles
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
“The Adjustment Bureau”
“Cowboys & Aliens”
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″ (winner)
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
“X-Men: First Class”
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
“Dexter”
“Game of Thrones” (winner)
“Southland”
“Spartacus: Gods of the Arena”
“True Blood”