Diversity was the big winner at the 22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards. A majority of the 15 trophies presented Saturday night honored actors of color, or those in shows or films promoting diversity. Idris Elba won two awards, as did “Orange Is The New Black.” Viola Davis and Queen Latifah won awards, as did Jeffrey Tambor for playing a transsexual in “Transparent” and Alicia Vikander for playing the wife of a transsexual in “The Danish Girl”. Usually, the TV Drama awards are a main focus but with repeat winners in all three categories, “Downton Abbey,” Kevin Spacey for “House of Cards,” and Davis, attention went instead to such winners as Uzo Aduba from “Orange Is The New Black” and Netflix, which swamped its competitors with four awards.
“Spotlight” took the limelight at the 22nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday night, winning the top prize for outstanding cast in a motion picture. Mark Ruffalo thanked the creative team, particularly writer-director Tom McCarthy and writer Josh Singer for not taking shortcuts and honoring the survivors of the Catholic church sexual abuse scandal. The film concerned the Boston Globe reporters who investigated sexual abuse in the church.
Flint, Michigan even made mention at the ceremonies. Co-star Michael Keaton said, “This is for everyone in Flint, Michigan … This is for the powerless. It comes down to two things. There’s fair and unfair. And I’m always going to vote for fair. I’m always going to vote for the good guys.” The victory cements “Spotlight’s” status as the front-runner for the best picture Academy Award.
Leonardo DiCaprio won best actor for his performance in “The Revenant.” He received a standing ovation as he accepted his award. Brie Larson won best actress for her performance in “Room.” Elba is the first person to win two individual awards in one night. Comedian Carol Burnett won the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement honor. Burnett was greeted by a standing ovation and sent off to one as well. In between, she told the story of how “The Carol Burnett Show” almost didn’t happen. The network told her, “All the comedy-variety shows are hosted by men. It’s really not for a gal. Comedy-variety is a man’s game.” Burnett proved them wrong with an 11-year run with the top variety show on TV.
On TV, “Orange’s” Uzo Aduba won the first award of the evening for actress in a comedy series. Jeffrey Tambor won actor in a comedy series for “Transparent.” “Downton Abbey” won for drama ensemble. The 22nd annual SAG Awards ceremony aired from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium.