14th Annual SAG Awards™ Acceptance Speeches and Photos
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (Miramax Films)
| JAVIER BARDEM / Anton Chigurh GARRET DILLAHUNT / Wendell WOODY HARRELSON / Carson Wells KELLY MACDONALD / Carla Jean Moss |
JOSH BROLIN / Llewelyn Moss TESS HARPER / Loretta Bell TOMMY LEE JONES / Ed Tom Bell |
JOSH BROLIN: I love it, Tess is telling me, 47 actors, don’t forget the little actors. [in “little” actor voice] “I would like to accept this from… ” [laughter] This is Javier Bardem’s 497th award. It’s sad. It’s sad for the rest of us.
I’d like to say, thank you, this was a very big cast and there’s very few of us up here. And like Tess says, there were 47 people in this cast, each and every one making this the movie that it has become.
And it is a risky movie, and it’s nice to have risky movies now, you know? Especially this year, I think it’s a cornucopia of change, and it’s about story now. [applause] And the studio system is backfiring, awfully, and it’s fun for us actors. So, I’d like to say thank you to SAG. I’d like to say thank you to the ever so passionate Scott Rudin, who’s wonderful, [applause] who embraces a film as it should be embraced. To John Lesher. [applause]
WOODY HARRELSON: Coen Brothers.
JOSH BROLIN: Who? The Coen Brothers. I’m taking my time, man. This is my frickin’ moment. [laughter] All right? Back off, Woody. [laughter]
WOODY HARRELSON: Please rant.
JOSH BROLIN: Who else? “Please rant.” Okay. And Miramax, thank you so much .
You know, this is – the Coen Brothers are freaky little people, you know? And we did a freaky little movie, whether you like the ending or not. [laughter] [applause] So, thank you. [applause]
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
JULIE CHRISTIE / Fiona – Away From Her (Lionsgate)
JULIE CHRISTIE: Thank you very much indeed for this. It’s lovely to receive an award from your own union. Especially at a time when they’re being so forcefully reminded how important unions are. [applause/cheers]
I’d like to share this with many people, my fellow actors, Gordon, Olympia, Michael, the whole cast of our film, all of whom were so brilliant, down to the tiniest one. Our three producers, Jennifer, Danny, Simone, our cool Canadian crew – it did snow a lot… Oh, my acting coach, brilliant Australian, Lindy Davies. And, of course, I mustn’t forget Adam, from Lionsgate, who more or less pushed me up onto this stage, which is a minor miracle.
But, of course, the person who this really belongs to is the divine Sarah – Sarah Polley. [applause] Our writer and director. Sarah, without your tenacious direction, and the beautiful words you put into my mouth, in the dialogue, I wouldn’t be holding this here. So, this really does belong to you, and I might allow you a “little” peek. [laughter] And if I’ve forgotten anybody, well, it’s just that I’m still in character. [laughter]
Thank you. [applause]
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS / Daniel Plainview – There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage)
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS: Thank you. I’m very, very proud of this. Thank you so much for giving it to me. And I’m very proud to be included in that group of wonderful actors this year.
You know, for as long as I can remember, the thing that gave me a sense of wonderment, of renewal, the thing that teased me with the question, how is such a thing possible, and then dare you to go back into the arena of one more time, with longing and self-doubt, jostling in the balance, it’s always been the work of other actors. And there are many actors in this room tonight, including my fellow nominees, who have given that sense of regeneration and…
Heath Ledger gave it to me. [applause] In “Monster’s Ball,” that character that he created, it seemed to be almost like an unformed being, retreating from themselves, retreating from his father, from his life, even retreating from us, and yet we wanted to follow him, and yet we’re scared to follow him almost. It was unique. And then, of course, in “Brokeback Mountain,” he was unique, he was perfect. [applause] And that scene in the trailer at the end of the film is as moving as anything that I think I’ve ever seen. And I’d like to dedicate this to Heath Ledger. So, thank you very much. Thank you so much. [applause]
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
RUBY DEE / Mama Lucas – American Gangster (Universal Pictures)
RUBY DEE: Thank you so much.
VIGGO MORTENSEN: Here it is. Congratulations.
RUBY DEE: Oh, thank you. And it’s heavy, too. Well, this is my first time holding one of these boys. Well, what an exciting time to be an actor, in the first place, and also to be in such a film as “American Gangster.” And working with my good friend, Denzel, and with the people I’m seated with here now, like Cuba Gooding, Jr., who’s here with me now. And I saw so many in the company – Roger Guenveur Smith – anyway, and Russell Crowe, and also to work with a director like Ridley Scott. In a film that took place where I was born, with some of the very streets, as part of the picture. [laughs] And I found that intriguing… [laughter] It reminded me of all the things that happened in that time. And the realities that informed that film were astonishing.
And part of me forever came from that place, and that place comes from me, and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to have been part of “American Gangster.” And I thank the Screen Actors Guild so much for this award. It is… [applause] I accept it also for my husband, Ossie, because I think, you know, he’s working on things up there. [laughs] [applause]
And also, I can’t believe that last year we won a Grammy for our autobiography, "In The Spoken Word," and now this marvelous award for an “American Gangster.” And I’ve dug up things of his and published a book of his, and it’s going well. So, I’m feeling very, very, very lucky. Thank you. [applause]
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
QUEEN LATIFAH / Ana – Life Support (HBO)
MICKEY ROONEY: Miss Latifah? Unfortunately, Miss Latifah could not be with us this evening. We accept the Actor on her behalf and thank you all. And goodnight.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
KEVIN KLINE / Jacques – As You Like It (HBO)
JAMES SPADER: Kevin Kline could not be with us here this evening, so we accept the Actor on his behalf, with thanks.
Life Achievement Award
CHARLES DURNING: That’s it? [laughter]
BURT REYNOLDS: This is a mic. I know you’re new in the business, but this is a microphone.
CHARLES DURNING: Hello, Mic. [laughter] My thanks to the Screen Actors Guild. There’s nothing more gratifying than having an Achievement Award from one’s peers. Over 50 years ago, I had the honor of working with some of the best actors, directors, and writers in our industry. It’s been a dream come true. A dream that began when I watched the movies of the great character actors of my time. Actors like: Claude Rains, Lee J. Cobb, Frank Morgan, and King Kong. [laughter] And it’s impossible to thank all of the people who so gratefully wanted me to do what they wanted me to do. But I do want to mention my three children, who I love dearly, and my wife, Mary Ann, who has said on many occasions, when I said I was ready to quit, “Yeah? And then what?” [laughter/applause]
You know, when someone asked the great character, Sir Ralph Richardson, how he did what he did at age 83, and he replied, “I don’t know, I’m just getting the hang of it.” [laughter] And that’s how I feel, I’m just getting the hang of it. Now I no longer chase my dreams – raised my sights a little, maybe. But tonight thanks to all of you, I am living my dream. Thank you so much for this honor. [applause/standing ovation]
I think I better get off before they turn the lamps down – and there’ll be a lot of mischief going on. And me among them. [laughter] I’ll see you later. [applause/cheers]
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
THE OFFICE (NBC)
| LESLIE DAVID BAKER / Stanley Hudson BRIAN BAUMGARTNER / Kevin Malone CREED BRATTON / Creed STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott JENNA FISCHER / Pam Beesly KATE FLANNERY / Meredith Palmer MELORA HARDIN / Jan Levinson ED HELMS / Andrew Bernard |
MINDY KALING / Kelly Kapoor ANGELA KINSEY / Angela Martin JOHN KRASINSKI / Jim Halpert PAUL LIEBERSTEIN / Toby Flenderson B.J. NOVAK / Ryan Howard OSCAR NUÑEZ / Oscar Martinez PHYLLIS SMITH / Phyllis Lapin RAINN WILSON / Dwight Schrut Slater |
JENNA FISCHER: Hi. Thank you. They voted me to speak if we won, so – which we didn’t expect. Thank you so much. We really love working together. We love each other, we love working together and being together. And as an ensemble, a lot of the people in this group struggled for a long time as non-working actors – and by a long time I mean, like, eight, 12, 15, 20 years. So, we’re always grateful, we don’t take it for granted. Thank you so much.
But there’s another part of our ensemble, that’s our crew, and we want to dedicate this to them tonight. We can’t wait to go back to work with them, so, thank you so much. [applause]
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – 30 Rock (NBC)
KATE BECKINSDALE: Alec Baldwin couldn’t be with us this evening, so we’re accepting the Actor on his behalf with thanks. Thank you. [applause]
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon – 30 Rock (NBC)
TINA FEY: Thank you. Oh my goodness. Well, thank you so much. I thank anyone in the Screen Actors Guild for considering me an actor at all. And I share this with everyone in our ensemble; it takes a lot of people to make me look like a good actor. And specifically, I really want to thank my most frequent scene partner, Alec Baldwin. [applause] If you’ve seen me on the show with Alec Baldwin, then you know it’s sort of like watching Fred Astaire dance with a hat rack. And after a while, you’re like, “Oh, that hat rack is pretty good, too.” [laughter] So, you’ve given an award to the hat rack, and I thank you.
And I want to thank everyone in SAG for being so supportive of the Writers Guild of America. Thank you.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
JAVIER BARDEM / Anton Chigurh – No Country For Old Men (Miramax Films)
JAVIER BARDEM: My grandparents were actors in a time when actors were not allowed to be buried on sacred land, because they were homosexuals and prostitutes. So, it’s been a long way to come here, and that’s something we the actors should apply to ourselves. [applause] I’ve been very lucky tonight because somebody thought that I could be included among these extraordinary actors: the great Tommy Lee Jones, Hal Holbrook, Casey Affleck, Tom Wilkinson, whose performances will stay with us forever. But to receive this is totally unbelievable, and I’m a Spanish actor, and we welcome this award with all of you – from all of you. It’s more than I can express in words.
I want to share this with my very good friend, Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee, and Kelly Macdonald, and with a great cast of “No Country For Old Men.” And to dedicate it to the Coen Brothers who ultimately are responsible for all of this. Thank you guys for hiring me, and thank you for taking the hard work of choosing the good takes, instead of the ones that I was really – I mean, where I really sucked. [laughter] Thank you very much for that. And thank you to Scott Rudin, Paramount Vantage, and Miramax for allowing me to be part of this, but especially to Screen Actors Guild for this beautiful privilege.
Thank you. [applause]
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
THE SOPRANOS (HBO)
| GREGORY ANTONACCI / Butch DeConcini EDIE FALCO / Carmela Soprano DAN GRIMALDI / Patsy Parisi MICHAEL IMPERIOLI / Christopher Moltisanti STEVEN R. SCHIRRIPA / Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri JAMIE-LYNN SIGLER / Meadow Soprano AIDA TURTURRO / Janice Soprano FRANK VINCENT / Phil Leotardo |
LORRAINE BRACCO/ Dr. Jennifer Melfi JAMES GANDOLFINI / Tony Soprano ROBERT ILER / Anthony Soprano, Jr. ARTHUR NASCARELLA / Carlo Gervasi MATT SERVITTO / Agent Dwight Harris TONY SIRICO / Paulie “Walnuts” Gaultieri STEVEN VAN ZANDT / Silvio Dante |
JAMES GANDOLFINI: Well, thank you very much. Listen, I’m no good at this, as you just saw; let someone else do this. Here…
TONY SIRICO: I’m really not good at this, but we’ll give it a shot. To the Screen Actors Guild members, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We work real hard on this show and what a helluva way to go. We’re all honored, we’re all humbled, and we’re all happy. Thank you, thank you, thank you. [applause] And David Chase, I love ya. [applause]
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
EDIE FALCO / Carmela Soprano – The Sopranos (HBO)
EDIE FALCO: Oh my gosh, this was so not supposed to happen. Oh my goodness. Thank you. Yes, ten years I wish for – everybody in every walk of life – but particularly for actors – to have an opportunity to have a work experience like I have had, with my family here. You’re not supposed to get this attached because it’s a transient business. But I have fallen in love with these people and I don’t know how you walk away from that.
We love each other and support each other, and we made each other want to do good and be better, and work harder, and find new places to go. And I felt loved and protected, and taken care of at all times. Nobody is luckier than me. Nobody. I am so grateful for this I can’t even – I’m shaking – I can’t even speak. It is such an honor to be an actor, it was such an honor to be a part of this show. Thank you so much for this. [applause]
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
JAMES GANDOLFINI / Tony Soprano – The Sopranos (HBO)
JAMES GANDOLFINI: I didn’t know it was the first award. Man, this is kind of freaky. This is our last, of “The Sopranos,” our last official act as “The Sopranos” together. So, here’s to you guys. Thank you very much. [applause] It’s been ten years, it’s an honor. That’s all I can say. Thank you. Thank you for this. Appreciate it.