Nominations for the SAG Awards, which cover both film and TV, were announced in December, ahead of the Oscars’ January 14 nominations announcement, which provoked protest when all the Oscar acting nominationss went to white performers. He shouldn’t have to sweat too much over the next month: 17 of the 21 SAG lead actor winners have gone on to win the Oscar, including the last 11. Elba was one of the most notable black actors overlooked by the Academy Awards, which instead fielded all-white acting nominees.
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“Spotlight“, a film based on the true story of investigative journalism on sexual abuse by Catholic priests, won the top prize of best ensemble cast at the 22nd Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards on Saturday.
That is in stark contrast to the Oscars, where no actors of colour have been nominated this year.
Discussing backstage how cinema can match the diversity seen on television, she said: “The public has to continue to demand that, we are in a capitalist society so hopefully supply and demand will kick in”.
The actress gave an emotional speech and said: “I would like to take an opportunity to acknowledge the actors who are at home, not here in this room with us, but hoping to one day be in this room with us”, she said as she gave her emotional thank you speech.
Idris Elba took home two awards, celebrating his first win as best supporting actor for Netflix’s Beasts of No Nation, in which he plays an African warlord.
LOS ANGELES | “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to diverse TV”, Idris Elba joked on stage after winning twice at Saturday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, where actors of color claimed a slew of wins amid a furor in Hollywood over the lack of on-screen diversity.
Uzo Aduba won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor for her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on “Orange is the New Black“.
Solidifying his front-runner status, Leonardo DiCaprio has won the SAG Award for Best Actor for “The Revenant” for his role as a fur trapper bent on revenge.
Other winners included Downton Abbey’s third win for best drama series, Viola Davis’s second for female actor in a drama, and Kevin Spacey’s second win for male actor in a drama.
Brie Larson accepts the award for outstanding female actor in a leading role for “Room” at the 22nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Best actor in a TV comedy went to Jeffery Tambor for the acclaimed Amazon series ‘Transparent‘. Carol Burnett shared a moving anecdote about standing up for The Carol Burnett Show in a time where comedy variety was a man’s world as she accepted a lifetime achievement award. “Diversity is not a trending topic”. They will find a way to be excellent.
