Mirren, Whitaker, Hudson and Murphy solidify pole positions with SAG best actor wins
By Jeffrey Jolson –Colburn

 

Carell ready for oscar race with ‘Sunshine’

HOLLYWOOD — Dark horse indie “Little Miss Sunshine” became an Oscar frontrunner last night, beating out “Babel” and “The Departed” to win the Screen Actors Guild Award for best ensemble cast. SAG honors also cemented Academy Awards shoo-in status for Helen Mirren, Forrest Whitaker and Jennifer Hudson, and made Eddie Murphy the one to beat for supporting actor.

The little bus that could, “Little Miss Sunshine,” is about a precocious child who teaches her dysfunctional family what it means to be a winner against the odds. It was a longshot for any major prizes this awards season and even to be produced, taking six years to get made. Now it leads a confused field having won the best picture equivalents from both the actors and producers guilds, whose collective members also make up about one-third of the Oscar voting body.

“Dreamgirls,” once the pundits choice as eventual winner of the top Academy Award for best picture before it was snubbed in that category, had a nice night and guaranteed its prospects for the February 25 Oscarcast in the supporting cast fields. Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy both took supporting actor nods as they did at the Golden Globes.

 

Murphy, the Dreamgirls

Hudson, an “American Idol” contestant, thanked her co-stars. “Because of you, I was able to work and learn from the best. Yes, you are the best,” said Hudson, who added thanks to the actors guild. “Just thank you for noticing little old me and accepting me.”

Dame Helen Mirren, rook a regal bow in both the film and TV categories for playing “The Queen” and her grandmother on HBO in “Elizabeth I.” Likewise, Steve Carell won two statuettes in film and TV for ensemble work in “Sunshine” and “The Office.” Mirren’s co-star in “Elizabeth I,” Jeremy Irons, won his first SAG Award.

“I thought, I can’t play anyone who chooses to wear those clothes. I just can’t do it,” said Mirren of the “The Queen.” “But I learned to love the person who chooses to wear those clothes,” as did audiences.

Upon accepting the first of her two SAG statuettes, Mirren said, “I love this award, more than any other award.” Course she hasn’t before been to the Kodak Theatre in February.

Whitaker also had a royal evening, winning best actor for his work “The Last King of Scotland” referring to one of African dictator Idi Amin’s many ambitions.

Other TV winners were “Grey’s Anatomy” which took nods as both best drama and best actress in a drama, Chandra Wilson. Hugh Laurie won for “House,” while in the comedy vein, winner were Ugly Betty’s” America Ferrer and Alec Baldwin for “30 Rock.”

 

Mirren, uneasy lies the crown

Complete winners list: 13TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS®

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Forest Whitaker / THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND – Idi Amin

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Helen Mirren / THE QUEEN – The Queen

Miramax Films.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Eddie Murphy / DREAMGIRLS – James “Thunder” Early

Paramount Pictures

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Jennifer Hudson / DREAMGIRLS – Effie White

Paramount Pictures

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Alan Arkin Grandpa

Abigail Breslin Olive

Steve Carell Frank

Toni Collette Sheryl

Paul Dano Dwayne

Greg Kinnear Richard

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Jeremy Irons / ELIZABETH I – Earl of Leicester

HBO

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Helen Mirren / ELIZABETH I – Elizabeth I

HBO

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Hugh Laurie / HOUSE – Dr. Gregory House

FOX

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Chandra Wilson / GREY’S ANATOMY – Dr. Miranda Bailey

ABC

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin / 30 ROCK – Jack Donaghy

NBC

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

America Ferrera / UGLY BETTY – Betty Suarez

ABC

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

GREY’S ANATOMY

ABC

Justin Chambers Alex Karev
Eric Dane Mark Sloan
Patrick Dempsey Derek Shepherd
Katherine Heigl Isobel “Izzie” Stevens
T.R. Knight George O’Malley
Sandra Oh Cristina Yang
James Pickens, Jr. Richard Webber
Ellen Pompeo Meredith Grey
Sara Ramirez Callie Torres
Kate Walsh Addison Montgomery Shepherd
Isaiah Washington Preston Burke
Chandra Wilson Miranda Bailey

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

THE OFFICE NBC

Leslie David Baker Stanley Hudson
Brian Baumgartner Kevin Malone
Steve Carell Michael Scott
David Denman Roy Anderson
Jenna Fischer Pam Beesly
Kate Flannery Meredith Palmer
Melora Hardin Jan Levinson
Mindy Kaling Kelly Kapoor
Angela Kinsey Angela Martin
John Krasinski Jim Malpert
Paul Lieberstein Toby Flenderson
B.J. Novak Ryan Howard
Oscar Nunez Oscar Martinez
Phyllis Smith Phyllis Lapin
Rainn Wilson Dwight Schrute

Screen Actors Guild Awards 43rd Annual Life Achievement Award

Julie Andrews