“Hidden Figures”, “Stranger Things” win big at SAG Awards

PanARMENIAN.Net - Fox’s historical drama “Hidden Figures” won the SAG Award for top ensemble cast on Sunday, January 29 in an awards show that also saw “Fences,” “Moonlight,” and “La La Land” receive recognition.

“This film is about unity; this is what happens when we put our differences aside,” said Taraji P. Henson — who plays mathematician Katherine Johnson — in accepting for “Hidden Figures.”

Henson dedicated the award to the trio of female African-American mathematicians at NASA who played a vital role in John Glenn’s orbital flight in 1962 — Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, along with Glenn. “They are hidden figures no more.”

“Hidden Figures” won over “Manchester by the Sea,” “Captain Fantastic,” “Fences,” and “Moonlight.” Awards season frontrunner “La La Land” was shut out of the category as voters apparently considered it more of a two-hander than ensemble piece.

The winner of the SAG ensemble trophy has matched the Oscar best picture winner 11 times in 21 years. “Spotlight” and “Birdman” have won the SAG cast award and the Oscar for best picture in the past two years, while “American Hustle” won the SAG cast award in 2014 and was shut out at the Oscars.

Denzel Washington won the best actor award for “Fences” and castmate Viola Davis took the supporting award. Emma Stone took the best actress award for her role as a struggling actress in “La La Land” and Mahershala Ali took the supporting actor trophy for “Moonlight.”

Stone topped Amy Adams for “Arrival,” Emily Blunt for “The Girl on the Train,” Natalie Portman for “Jackie,” and Meryl Streep for “Florence Foster Jenkins.” Davis won the award over Naomie Harris for “Midnight,” Nicole Kidman for “Lion,” Octavia Spencer for “Hidden Figures,” and Michelle Williams for “Manchester by the Sea.”

Ali topped Jeff Bridges for “Hell or High Water,” Hugh Grant for “Florence Foster Jenkins,” Lucas Hedges for “Manchester by the Sea,” and Dev Patel for “Lion.”

Netflix’s freshman series “Stranger Things” won the drama series trophy, repeating Saturday’s triumph at the Producers Guild of America Awards.

John Lithgow and Claire Foy won the drama series actor awards for Netflix’s “The Crown” for their portrayals of Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth, respectively. Lithgow credited Meryl Streep for her Jan. 8 Golden Globes speech blistering President Donald Trump. “My exact thoughts,” he added.

“Orange Is the New Black” won the comedy ensemble trophy for the third straight year. The series topped “The Big Bang Theory,” “Black-ish,” “Veep,” and “Modern Family,” which won for four years before “Orange Is the New Black” started its streak.

The evening was punctuated with an array of verbal attacks on President Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and citizens from seven predominately Muslim countries from entering the United States. “What unites us is stronger that what divides us,” said “Orange Is the New Black” actress Taylor Schilling in her acceptance.

“This immigrant ban is a blemish and it is un-American,” said Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who won the actress trophy for comedy series for “Veep” for the second time.

Louis-Dreyfus defeated Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda for Netflix’s “Grace and Frankie,” Ellie Kemper for “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and Uzo Aduba for “Orange Is the New Black,” who won the last two trophies. Louis-Dreyfus won in 2014.

William H. Macy won the actor in a comedy series for “Shameless” and offered thanks to Trump for making his portrayal of lead character Frank Gallagher “seem normal.”

Sarah Paulson won the best actress for TV movie or limited series for “The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.” In her acceptance, she asked that people donate to the American Civil Liberties Union, calling it a “vital” organization.

Bryan Cranston took the best actor award in the TV movie or limited series category for his portrayal of Lyndon Baines Johnson in “All the Way.” In his acceptance, he said that he’s often asked what advice Johnson would provide Trump and said he’d be supportive, then add something that he often said: “Just don’t piss in the soup that all of us gotta eat.”

Lily Tomlin received the SAG Life Achievement Award, presented by Dolly Parton, and cited Ruth Gordon’s acceptance speech for winning an Oscar at age 72 with, “I can’t tell you how encouraging a thing like this is.”

She offered advice such as “Don’t leave the house when you’re drunk” and “Beware of any enterprise that requires new clothing.”

“I feel I am just getting started. What sign should I make for the next march?” she said.