'Brockovich,' 'Traffic' Top SAG Winners
'The West Wing' Sweeps TV Drama Categories
Julia Roberts and Albert Finney led the charge for "Erin Brockovich," winning the SAG awards for outstanding female actor and supporting male actor for a feature film, respectively. Finney was not on hand to accept his award, but Roberts made up for his absence with easily the most emotional speech of the night.
"I feel so much better about the level of my talent than I did this afternoon," Roberts told the SAG awards audience in a giddy tone. But then she finished her speech on the verge of tears. "I'm a fraud to stand here alone because there are so many people that make me look like I know what I'm doing."
"Traffic" won two SAG awards as well: For outstanding performance by an ensemble cast, and for outstanding male actor for Benicio Del Toro. Oddly enough, Del Toro's SAG win makes the picture for the best actor Oscar frontrunner even murkier. Del Toro is nominated for an Oscar, but for a supporting role.
Judi Dench rounded out the feature film SAG awards, winning for outstanding supporting female actor for "Chocolat."
The SAG celebration is the last major film awards ceremony before the Oscars. On Saturday, the Directors Guild of America (DGA) honored Ang Lee for helming the martial arts epic, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." The Oscars will be handed out March 25.
Televsion SAG Awards
"The West Wing" was the big winner for the television SAG awards, winning in all three categories it was nominated for. The drama itself won for outstanding ensemble cast, while Martin Sheen and Allison Janney grabbed the awards for outstanding male and female actor, respectively.
Although she won for a dramatic portrayal, Janney provided the best comedy of the night when describing her on-again, off-again acting career during her acceptance speech.
"I quit so many times, and when I finally decided I was quitting for the final time, I went into to take an aptitude test to find out what else I could possibly do in this world," Janney said. "They told me I'd make an excellent systems analyst. I still don't know what that is."
On the comedy side, the television SAG awards were split up among three different series. The cast of "Will and Grace" won for outstanding comedy ensemble, Robert Downey Jr. won for outstanding male actor in a comedy series for "Ally McBeal," and Sarah Jessica Parker won for outstanding female actor in a comedy series for "Sex and the City."
In addition, two awards were given for outstanding portrayals in a TV movie or miniseries. Brian Dennehy won for outstanding male actor for "Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman," while Vanessa Redgrave was honored with the outstanding female actor award for "If These Walls Could Talk 2."
Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis were the recipients of SAG's Life Achievement Award, the 37th such award given in the guild's history. The couple was cited for their philanthropic encouragement of performing artists, and their courage to live their convictions.
List Of Winners, Feature Film:
- Outstanding Female Actor: Julia Roberts, "Erin Brockovich"
- Outstanding Male Actor: Benicio Del Toro, "Traffic"
- Outstanding Female Supporting Actor: Judi Dench, "Chocolat"
- Outstanding Male Supporting Actor: Albert Finney, "Erin Brockovich"
- Outstanding Ensemble Cast, Feature Film: "Traffic"
List Of Winners, Television:
- Outstanding Female Actor ? Drama: Allison Janney, "The West Wing"
- Outstanding Male Actor ? Drama: Martin Sheen, "The West Wing"
- Outstanding Female Actor ? Comedy: Sarah Jessica Parker, "Sex and the City"
- Outstanding Male Actor ? Comedy: Robert Downey Jr., "Ally McBeal"
- Outstanding Ensemble Cast, Drama Series: "The West Wing"
- Outstanding Ensemble Cast, Comedy Series: "Will and Grace"
- Outstanding Female Actor, TV Movie or Miniseries: Vanessa Redgrave, "If These Walls Could Talk 2"
- Outstanding Male Actor, TV Movie or Miniseries: Brian Dennehy, "Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman"
Special Achievement Award
- SAG Life Achievement Award: Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis
