11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

By: Sue Schneider and Marcia Groft
Date: Monday, February 14, 2005

The 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were held on Saturday, February 5th at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and aired the same night on TNT.

The words on the red carpet that kept radiating were... "It's a thrill and an honor to be nominated by your peers," reflected John Spencer of WEST WING. "Being nominated means a great deal, but even if we don't win, we win in the ratings every Wednesday,' stated Robert David Hall of CSI. "It feels great and I'm treated more like an adult," quipped Freddie Highmore of FINDING NEVERLAND, who had just finished his school exams. "Amazing and exciting," remarked Keke Palmer on her first nomination for THE WOOL CAP. Imelda Staunton, nominated for VERA DRAKE commented, "It makes you want to keep going and do good work."

Stopping to give autographs were nominees Megan Mullally of WILL AND GRACE and Cate Blanchette of THE AVIATOR. Crowd favorites were Johnny Depp, FINDING NEVERLAND, Leonard DiCaprio, THE AVIATOR, and Lifetime Achievement winner James Garner, who walked down the red carpet waving to the fans.

The first award of the evening for 'Female Actor in a TV Movie or

Miniseries,' presented by Annette Bening and Morgan Freeman, went to Glenn Close for her portrayal of Eleanor of Aquitaine in Showtime's THE LION IN WINTER. Looking radiant in her yellow Armani gown, she relayed a story of how Katherine Hepburn, who won an Oscar for the same role, had inspired her to become an actress. Years later at the Kennedy Center Honors she got to meet Hepburn and relayed her story. Several days later in a letter, Hepburn responded, "I'm glad I persuaded you when you were a mere child to join this terrible profession, this terrifying profession, and let's face it, this delicious way to spend your life." In the pressroom, Close noted that, "The magnificent writing of the work is a great love story." Her advice to young actors is, "Stay curious, the more you know about the world, the better off you are."

Up next was 'Male Actor in TV Movie or Miniseries' announced by Kyra Sedgwick and Topher Grace. The winner for HBO's THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS was Geoffrey Rush. Looking at the award he mused, "I delude myself into thinking that when I'm naked, I look like this guy." In the pressroom he commented, "Acting is getting more global as everyone moves around." When asked what he would say to Sellers, if he were still alive, his comment was, "Are you okay?"

Freddie Highmore began the 'Nominations for Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture' with FINDING NEVERLAND, interspersed with Kerry Washington and Jamie Foxx introducing RAY, Paul Giamatti presenting SIDEWAYS, Don Cheadle announcing HOTEL RWANDA, Clint Eastwood prefacing MILLION DOLLAR BABY and Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchette taking the stage for THE AVIATOR.

'Female Actor in a Supporting Role,' presented by Rosario Dawson and Keifer Sutherland went to Cate Blanchette for her portrayal of Katherine Hepburn in Miramax's THE AVIATOR. Commenting on stage, the nervous actress paid tribute to her fellow coworkers and what SAG does for actors in this country, she went on to say that she was "overhelmed" by the honor. Backstage, continuing the global theme of the evening, she said that she was "liberated from mimicking Hepburn, (who this journalist thinks must have been in spirit somewhere in the auditorium) and that she found "Howard Hughes life span a fascinating time...I didn't know about their clandestine relationship...it was teased out of the material." Upon leaving the pressroom she was asked, "Are you worried about the Oscars?" Her coy reply, over her shoulder was, "Not yet."

Dennis Franz then paid homage to all of the members of SAG who vote for the awards, these folks include everyone from stunt people, dancers, background actors, voiceover specialists, singers and puppeteers, among others.

Teri Polo and John Stamos then announced the nominees for 'Male Actor in a Comedy Series,' with the award going to Tony Shalhoub of MONK for the second year in a row. In the pressroom, Shalhoub said that his character and the show are evolving, "The show from its inception has to do with risks...and needs to have room to expand. Monk when he wakes up in the morning...uncorks the bottle and reacts to everything, just as I with the character."

Sandra Oh and Anthony LaPaglia gave out the 'Female Actor in a Comedy Series' to Teri Hatcher for DESPARATE HOUSEWIVES, who gushed, "Wow...I sort of didn't expect this...look at all these amazing actors...It's a most wonderful job, and thank you very much."

The award for 'Ensemble in a Comedy Series' was introduced by

Ellen DeGeneres and went to DESPERATE HOUSWIVES. Doug Savant taking the stage proclaimed, "We'd like to use this award to ring the death knoll to reality television." In the pressroom dead housewife Brenda Strong said, "The fun is the award by your peers." Jesse Metcalf, John the Gardner, said "It's great to have an for award acting and not a soap hottie!" Mark Moses iterated that "The best thing going is to work with the crew, set and atmosphere." Additional comments included, "There are no star egos, we all have arcs in the show...men tune in to see the hot women with their partners and hopefully they have discussions after the show. Ricardo Antonio Chavira commented that, "ABC has our backs, were not under pressure and couldn't ask for more support."

Lifetime Achievement Winner James Garner said in the pressroom, "I never went after any award. I'm working on the second half of my career. I happy to keep working, it's the best job and I'm having fun with the cast of EIGHT SIMPLE RULES, they're good people. I'm proud to have been nominated for THE NOTEBOOK. I've never won an award that I've been seeking."

SAG President Melissa Gilbert paid tribute to our military and aid for the Tsunami victims, additionally she paid homage to veteran actor Charles Lane who at 100 years of age became a member in 1933.

Laura Linney paid homage to those in Memoriam, famous faced included Ronald Reagan, Alan King, Carrie Snoodgrass, John Randolph, Fay Wray, John Drew Barrymore, Virginia Mayo, Rodney Dangerfield, Ossie Davis, Ruth Warwick, Paul Winfield, Virginia Grey, Mercedes McCambridge, Isabel Sanford, Tony Randall, Janet Leigh, Ray Charles, Marlon Brando, Johnny Carson and Jerry Orbach, winner of Male Actor in a Drama Series.

His wife, Elaine, upon taking the stage for acceptance for Detective Lennie Briscoe in LAW AND ORDER, proclaimed, "How bittersweet, buy it's still sweet." Backstage with producer Dick Wolf, she iterated Jerry's motto of, "Never leave a hit show." Wolf commented, "He was a great gent. He would have loved this."

Male Actor in a Supporting Role, announced by Kate Winslet, went to Morgan Freeman for MILLION DOLLAR BABY, who graciously acknowledged Clint Eastwood, and his entire family, as well as Hillary Swank and Al Ruddy for his incredible script. In the pressroom he said, "This is magic. It was my dream from childhood to be here talking to you." When quizzed about award selection and the upcoming Oscar ceremonies he commented, "What is best...how do you come to that conclusion? I know what good is, but best?"

Glenn Close returned to the stage to intro Ensemble in a Drama Series that went to CSI and was the show's first win after four consecutive nominations. William Petersen, after acknowledging "Well, this is a shock," joked, "The only explanation for this is that somehow in the last year, every one of you tried to act with rubber gloves and tweezers" He went on to say that the Screen Actors Guild is..."The best private club in the world, and we would like to thank our fellowship of gypsies for this lovely award." Backstage Petersen, referring to copycat shows noted that "We were the first, we created this show together." Marg Helgenberger, when asked about tough storylines commented that, "One of them was so intense the crew had to leave, but were lucky that we don't have the autopsy smells to deal with (on the set.)

Johnny Depp then took the stage and gave the award for Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture which went to Hilary Swank for MILLION DOLLAR BABY. Taking the stage she said, "I am amazed, lucky, thankful, speechless and quite frankly stunned to be a working actor." She then went on to thank her fellow nominees, Annette Bening, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Imelda Staunton and Kate Winslet, "who inspire me to be a better actor." She also thanked Clint Eastwood for his "unwavering belief" in her and "the amazing Morgan Freeman," among others.

Jaime Foxx won Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture for RAY, presented by Charlize Theron. Foxx thanked the members of SAG for voting for him, Ray Charles, for just living a complex life, and director Taylor Hackford for "taking the chance with an African-American film," as well as his fellow cast members, with whom he offered, referring to the award, " to split this up and I share it with you right there at the that table."

In the pressroom he reflected how incredible Taylor Hackford is and what passion he has and how Foxx was pressed during the film making to match his passion. He was also impressed with how much Hackford knew about Charles' life and how nice it was to do an independent project and be able to tell a story and not worry so much about the commercialism and sales for the movie before it's released. Later he stated, "I'm a comic, if anything's not right, I'll be back in the clubs."

The last award of the evening, presented by Tim Robbins was for

Cast of a Motion Picture and the winner was SIDEWAYS. Taking the stage were Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh. Giamatti stated that ,"There is no better award or acknowledgement, and that there is a fine line between comedy and tragedy." Sandra Oh, commented backstage that her career in Canada is a lot different and who does much more drama that is, "...not visible here." But that she likes to "keep the palette going." Virginia Madsen noted that it was great to, "...have a job that got me on board." Thomas Haden Church commented, when asked about his television show WINGS that, " it was great and I'm also happy that Tony Shalhoub, (a fellow cast mate) won this evening."

This years Screen Actors Guild Awards had a great turnout of celebrities and we hope that you enjoy all the pictures, which by the way were taken from the third row in a very crowded photo pen.