7th Annual SAG Awards™ Acceptance Speeches

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Lead Role


Benicio Del Toro / TRAFFIC - Javier Rodriguez

BENICIO DEL TORO: I messed up introducing the film, so now I'm going to get straight to the point. And I want to thank -- it's written here, the typed version -- I left it at home -- Michael Douglas, I'd like to thank Michael Douglas. I'd like to thank the whole cast of this picture [applause] because I'm only as good as these guys.

And I'd like to thank Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Don Cheadle, Luis Guzman, Erika Christensen, Miguel Ferrer, Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, Tomas Milian, Eddie Velez, Amy Irving, Jacob Vargas, Marisol Sanchez, Clifton Collins, Albert Finney, Steven Bauer. This is for you.

Thank you. See you next year. [applause]


Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Lead Role


Julia Roberts / ERIN BROCKOVICH - Erin Brockovich

JULIA ROBERTS: Oh it's padded. [referring to award] Set him down. I love Jeff Bridges. We were talking about him at breakfast. [laughter] This is -- freaky. This is -- you know, if this was a prom this would be like the best school ever to go to. [laughter] But it's not, so I'll be serious -- in my own special way.

Thank you so much. To be a girl and to enjoy anything that has to do with SAG, you know, you have to figure it's pretty important. [laughter] [applause]

God, I'm just shaking. And thank you, actors -- just great, great actors -- and now I really feel so much better about my level of talent than I did this afternoon. [laughter] And I appreciate that so much, because I'm not always sure.

And it's not just me. There's just so many people. You guys know, I'm a fraud to stand here alone because, God, there's so many people that make me look like I know what I'm doing. And so I - I -- there's all these invisible people behind me that I wish you could see, because they're lovely and they're sweet and they work so hard, and they make what I do look like it's easy. And we all know that it's kind of torture. But, you know, they pay us so much. [laughter]

So I just want to thank Steven Soderbergh, my own personal god. And Albert Finney, who's fabulous, and Aaron Eckhart and all the wonderful actors that played -- God bless you, Sam Waterston -- [laughter] who played my children. And in my little homebase, Elaine Goldsmith Thomas and Jeff Berg, my agent, and Marcy Engleman, and everybody that I've ever met in my life.

And my sister, Lisa, who knows so many people in SAG, and she said,"I told everybody to vote for you." So Lisa, thank you because it worked! [laughter] And Benjamin, honey -- thank you just for being my best friend and being just the most handsome date a gal could want. So thank you all! [applause]


Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role
Albert Finney / ERIN BROCKOVICH - Ed Masry

LAURA LINNEY: And the Actor® goes to Albert Finney. [applause] Albert Finney couldn't be here tonight.

KATE WINSLET: [overlapping]

Albert Finney couldn't be here tonight. So we are proudly accepting this award on his behalf.


Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role
Judi Dench / CHOCOLAT - Armande Voizin

WILLEM DAFOE: And the Actor® goes to Judi Dench.

Congratulations to Judi Dench who is on location filming.


Outstanding Performance By The Cast Of A Motion Picture


TRAFFIC

Steven Bauer Carlos Ayala
Benjamin Bratt Juan Obregon
James Brolin General Ralph Landry
Don Cheadle Montel Gordon
Erika Christensen Caroline Wakefield
Clifton Collins, Jr. Francisco Flores
Benicio Del Toro Javier Rodriguez
Michael Douglas Robert Wakefield
Miguel Ferrer Eduardo Ruiz
Albert Finney Chief of Staff
Topher Grace Seth Abrahms
Luis Guzman Ray Castro
Amy Irving Barbara Wakefield
Tomas Milian General Arturo Salazar
D.W. Moffett Jeff Sheridan
Dennis Quaid Arnie Metzger
Peter Riegert Michael Adler
Jacob Vargas Manolo Sanchez
Catherine Zeta-Jones Helena Ayala

DON CHEADLE: I was asked to speak for our cast -- I don't know why. But in this film there were 135 speaking roles, actually. [applause] And I would like to read every single name now. [laughter]

No, but I will hit some highlights: Michael, Catherine, Benicio, Luis, Dennis Quaid, Erika Christensen, Topher Grace, Amy Irving, Jacob Vargas, Cliff Collins, Miguel Ferrer, Steven Bauer, Ben Bratt, D.W. Moffett, Peter Riegert, Tomas Milian, Marisol Sanchez, James Brolin, Albert Finney, Steven Gaghan for giving us the wonderful words. [applause]

And of course, the captain of our ship, Steven Soderbergh for shepherding this whole thing.

Thank you.


Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Television Movie Or Miniseries


Brian Dennehy / ARTHUR MILLER'S DEATH OF A SALESMAN - Willy Loman

BRIAN DENNEHY: Okay, how do you follow Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis? Anybody got any ideas?

I want to say this means a great deal to me because -- well, because of all you people sitting out there . There's Tom there and Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, James Gandolfini, Jimmy Woods -- actors -- all wonderful actors. Brian Cox. [applause]

And actors have given me this award. I couldn't be prouder than I am right now to be a part of this profession. Thank you all.


Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Television Movie Or Miniseries
Vanessa Redgrave / IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2 - Edith

ELLEN BURSTYN: The Actor® goes to Vanessa Redgrave. [applause]

Vanessa Redgrave is onstage in London, but I know how much this honor means to her, and I accept it for her. Thank you very much.


Outstanding Performance By A Male In A Drama Series


Martin Sheen / THE WEST WING - President Josiah Bartlet

MARTIN SHEEN: Oh, my, my, thanks so much. I appreciate this. How do you separate us from each other. It's not possible, Tim and James. And, God, I'm so good, I remembered those two. [laughter] Ed and Anthony, thanks so much. [laughter/applause]

The only thing that really separates us is age. I'm the oldest. I have fewer future opportunities, so I'll accept this with gratitude from SAG, and praise to my fellow actors. Allison gave the whole family, the "West Wing" family, thanks and praise.

I can't remember my own name half the time. [laughter] It's the awards season, and, you know, it's a two-edged sword. We're told to remember that the higher the monkey climbs, the more he shows his ass. [laughter/applause] So you're really seeing the worst part of me. [laughter/applause]

I don't know what else to say! Oh, my, I will thank Tommy Schlamme and John Wells and Llewellyn Wells and particularly Aaron Sorkin. "The West Wing" is the creation of Aaron Sorkin. We all live in the book and volume of his imagination of his brain, and we spring forth from the measure of his heart, his compassion, his humanity.

So he's the guy. When we say "West Wing" on "The West Wing," we mean Aaron Sorkin. He's the reason for our season, both one and two. Personally, I want to thank him more than anyone because of what he has given all of us all the time, every show, every week. And if he doesn't know how much we really love him, stick around, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

Thanks so much. [applause]


Outstanding Performance By A Female In A Drama Series


Allison Janney / THE WEST WING - C.J. Cregg

ALLISON JANNEY: This is truly a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful surprise, and I was just thinking about the fact that it's amazing that I'm standing her tonight because there were so many times back in the early '80s and early '90s when I was in New York trying to be an actress and not succeeding very well, and I quit so many times.

And I finally decided I was quitting for the final time -- this was it -- and I went in to take an aptitude test to find out what else I could possibly do in this world. [laughter] And they told me I would make an excellent systems analyst. [laughter] I still don't know what that is. [laughter] So I'm just to be able to be -- say I'm a working actress.

And I thank Aaron Sorkin for this beautifully part and Tommy Schlamme and -- I've always thought of acting as a team sport and I have one of the best teams to play with: Martin Sheen, Brad Whitford, Richard Schiff, Rob Lowe, Dule Hill, Janel Maloney, Melissa Fitzgerald -- am I forgetting anybody from my table? [laughter] John Spencer -- God bless -- I don't care -- who else did I forget? I thank you all so much.

And I thank David Less [sp] and Chris Hensey [sp] and my parents and my family. And I'm so truly proud to call myself -- to be able to finally say -- and I'm going to say it right here: I'm Alison Janney and I'm an actress. [applause: cheers] Thank you.


Outstanding Performance By A Male In A Comedy Series


Robert Downey, Jr. / ALLY McBEAL - Larry Paul

ROBERT DOWNEY, JR.: Okay, yeah, this is great, and it's my peers, and so many people here that I've learned from over the years, and this is exceptional. I've got to thank my mom, who is in Pennsylvania right now. She's the reason that I wanted to become an actor, watching her, growing up. And it seemed like, in addition to being a great mom, there was this magical thing she did, and that made me ecstatic. This is for you, Mom.

I would like to thank David Kelley, of course, Pam Wisne, Bill D'Elia, Alice and the other Pam.

Calista, as always, I love working with you. The rest of the cast is so great. And Peter MacNicol, my co-nominee -[applause]‹the other nominees as well. [applause]

The truth is, we know this is about dedication. This about - you give your life to this. And we know what we sacrifice in order to give ourselves to this art form. And I know that Peter MacNicol, right now, has his sides for our scenes this week at the table. [laughter] You got my vote, brother. [applause]


Outstanding Performance By A Female In A Comedy Series


Sarah Jessica Parker / SEX AND THE CITY - Carrie

SARAH JESSICA PARKER: Jeez, I got -- I got my SAG card 23 years ago, January 28th, so I've been a proud card-carrying member for so long. And I've -- acting is the only thing I ever wanted to do, and really, it's because my brother, Toby, was the first actor I ever knew, and he was the one I admired most, and I just wanted to make him laugh.

And I never imagined I'd have the sort of opportunities that I've had and work with the wonderful people that I've worked with and been so fortunate. And I'm so grateful that Frank Silvaggi [sp] kept me in good standing with the union. He paid my SAG -- oh time's up! He paid my SAG dues every month. And I'm so grateful because I really wouldn't be here tonight if that hadn't happened.

And this is -- I am -- this is-- I consider this a great honor, and I'm incredibly grateful. And there's all these film actors in here too. So thank you for inviting myself and my cast to be part of tonight because we've enjoyed it so much and have seen so many famous people. [laughter] And thank you for voting for us. Thank you, this is just an extraordinary treat. Thank you so much. [applause]



Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Drama Series


THE WEST WING

Dule Hill Charlie
Allison Janney C.J. Cregg
Moira Kelly Madeline Hampton
Rob Lowe Sam Seaborn
Janel Moloney Donna Moss
Richard Schiff Toby Ziegler
Martin Sheen Pres. Josiah Bartlet
John Spencer Leo McGarry
Bradley Whitford Josh Lyman


JOHN SPENCER: Hello, I'm John Spencer. My group has elected me to talk. [applause] Janel is holding the statue. We really wanted this so badly for two reasons: first of all because it's given by you, our peers. Actors know what actors do. We've all had the same highs, we've all had the same lows. And so, thank you.

And second of all, because we are an ensemble in the true sense of the word. We all carry the load. We're all in there working harder, probably than we ever had in our lives. I want to thank our friends at NBC and Warners. I want to thank our fabulous producer, John Wells, our genius and passionate Tommy Schlamme.

And the real secret here is we're in there working our asses off because we are blessed with such brilliant material -- and that material is given to us by Aaron Sorkin, the true genius. [applause] Thank you Aaron, thank you Aaron, thank you.


Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Comedy Series


WILL & GRACE

Sean Hayes Jack McFarland
Eric McCormack Will Truman
Debra Messing Grace Adler
Megan Mullally Karen Walker

ERIC McCORMACK: If this ensemble shines, it's because of the ensemble behind us: two producers who are best friends first and then bosses second, a room full of brilliant writers that are as close as we are, a crew that loves their jobs. A network that is supportive, a studio that is supportive and a director that kisses us on the mouth every day, it's remarkable. [laughter] Remarkable.

We're very lucky to have them. We're extremely lucky to have each other. And we're very grateful to the Guild for reminding us of that. Thank you.


Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award
OSSIE DAVIS and RUBY DEE

[standing ovation]

RUBY DEE: Oh, thank you, thank you. Well, well, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [applause continues] Thank you.

OSSIE DAVIS: Thank you.

DEE: Thank you.

DAVIS: Here we are in Hollywood.

DEE: Yes.

DAVIS: In heaven.

DEE: As close to laughter as we are to tears.

DAVIS: We thank you.

DEE: Thank you, thank you–

DAVIS AND DEE: We thank you.

DEE: For the plaudits of our union and our peers.

DAVIS: Celebrities, we are, and stars, we actors. Peace workers on the Hollywood plantation. [laughter] But that is not all. We are more than that.

DEE: We are artists also, and workers above all. We are image makers. Why can’t we image makers become peacemakers, too. Why cannot we, in such a time as this, use all the magic of our vaunted powers to lift the pistol from the schoolboy’s backpack? [applause]

And replace it with bright images of peace, with images of hope and faith in humankind. Of life lit by some large vision of goodness and beauty and truth?

DAVIS: Artists, we are, but we are citizens also. And as free men and women living in a democracy, we cannot escape our First Amendment obligation to our children. To elevate by precept and example–

DEE: To lead.

DAVIS: To inspire.

DEE: And to challenge.

DAVIS: To touch their hearts and minds–

DEE: With love’s redeeming fire.

DAVIS: This is our right–

DEE: Our duty.

DAVIS: This is our privilege.

DEE: Tonight, again, we profoundly thank you.

DAVIS: Thank you.

DEE: Again and again.