Firth, Portman, ‘Speech’ take prizes
LIST OF WINNERS
Winners of the 17th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards presented Sunday:
MOVIES
Actor: Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech.”
Actress: Natalie Portman, “Black Swan.”
Supporting actor: Christian Bale, “The Fighter.”
Supporting actress: Melissa Leo, “The Fighter.”
Cast: “The King’s Speech.”
Stunt ensemble: “Inception.”
TELEVISION
Actor in a movie or miniseries: Al Pacino, “You Don’t Know Jack.”
Actress in a movie or miniseries: Claire Danes, “Temple Grandin.”
Actor in a drama series: Steve Buscemi, “Boardwalk Empire.”
Actress in a drama series: Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife.”
Actor in a comedy series: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock.”
Actress in a comedy series: Betty White, “Hot in Cleveland.”
Drama series cast: “Boardwalk Empire.”
Comedy series cast: “Modern Family.”
Stunt ensemble: “True Blood.”
OTHER
Life Achievement: Ernest Borgnine.
Source: Associated Press
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES
The British monarchy saga “The King’s Speech” won the best-actor trophy Sunday for Colin Firth and a second honor for its overall cast at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The two prizes capped a weeklong surge of Hollywood honors for the British monarchy saga, which is building momentum for the Feb. 27 Academy Awards, where the Facebook drama “The Social Network” previously had looked like the favorite.
Natalie Portman earned the best-actress award at the Screen Actors ceremony for “Black Swan,” while “The Fighter” co-stars Christian Bale and Melissa Leo swept the supporting-acting honors, boosting their own prospects come Oscar night.
“The King’s Speech” leads Oscar contenders with 12 nominations, among them best picture and actor for Firth, who has been the awards favorite virtually since the film premiered at festivals half a year ago.
“Until today, I would say probably, if ever I felt that I had a trophy which has told me that something’s really happening for me, it was my SAG card,” said Firth, who plays Queen Elizabeth’s dad, George VI, as he takes the throne in the 1930s while struggling to overcome a debilitating stammer.
“Growing up in England, it’s not something you expect to see in your wallet, really,” Firth continued. “And so it has this glow, and I used to flash it around, hoping it would get me female attention, entry into nightclubs and top-level government departments. It didn’t.”
Many winners had gushing words for the protection and fellowship their union offers.
“I’ve been working since I was 11 years old, and SAG has taken care of me,” said Portman, who won for her role as a ballerina losing her grip on reality. “They made sure I wasn’t working too long and made sure I got an education while I was working.”
Bale is a strong favorite for the supporting-actor Oscar as real-life fighter Dicky Eklund, whose career unraveled amid drugs and crime. Eklund briefly joined Bale on stage, the actor telling him he’s “a real gentleman.”
Leo, who plays the domineering matriarch of a boxing family in “The Fighter,” was speechless for a long moment after taking the stage.
Betty White, who is having her own career resurgence in her 80s, won for TV comedy actress for “Hot in Cleveland.”
“I must say this is the biggest surprise I’ve ever had in this business. There wasn’t a prayer. I am so lucky to be ... at 89, to be working ...,” White said, pausing as the crowd interrupted her with effusive applause. “You didn’t applaud when I turned 40.”
Alec Baldwin won his fifth-straight guild award for best actor in a comedy series for “30 Rock.”
“I don’t know what to say. This is ridiculous. I’m so happy,” Baldwin said. “We’ve had a great year with the show.”
“Modern Family” won for overall cast performance in a TV comedy.
Before the show began, the guild presented its award for film stunt ensemble to the sci-fi blockbuster “Inception” and the TV stunt prize to the vampire drama “True Blood.”
The 17th annual SAG Awards, which was at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, included a life-achievement honor for Ernest Borgnine.
“We are a privileged few who have been chosen to work in this field of entertainment,” said the 94-year-old Borgnine. “I hope that we will never let our dedication to our craft fail, that we will always give the best we possibly can to our profession.”