Los Angeles:
Idris Elba, Viola Davis, Queen Latifah and Uzo Aduba were among winners at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, amid controversy surrounding the Oscars not nominating actors of colour for the second year in a row.
The big individual winner was Elba, who won two awards, the first time a single performer has won two honours for two different roles in the same night.
The British star won the supporting actor in a motion picture prize for “Beasts of No Nation” and best actor in a TV movie or miniseries award for “Luther”.
His win also makes him the first film actor to take home a SAG award the same year as being snubbed by the Oscars.
Elba was overcome when his name was called for the second time in quick succession.
When he returned to the stage for the third time during the evening as a presenter, he announced: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to diverse TV.”
The diverse cast of the Netflix series “Orange Is The New Black” also won big, with the award for best ensemble in a comedy series and a best actress trophy for star Aduba.
Davis won for her performance in the TV series “How To Get Away With Murder” and Latifah took top honour for her performance in HBO’s “Bessie”.
Tom McCarthy’s journalism drama “Spotlight” won the outstanding cast honour, making it another strong contender for the best picture Oscar.
Other major prizes went to Leonardo DiCaprio for “The Revenant” and Brie Larson for “Room”, who continued their successful march to the end of awards season.
“The Danish Girl” star Alicia Vikander bagged outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role.
The nominations were led by the biopic “Trumbo”, which didn’t win any major prizes.
The awards are handed out to both films and television series. The cast of “Downton Abbey” won best outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.
Jeffrey Tambor won best actor in a comedy for “Transparent”.
Netflix took home three awards this evening, including a surprise win for “House of Cards” star Kevin Spacey (best actor in a drama).
Early awards for stunt performers were handed out to “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Game of Thrones” respectively. The remaining 13 awards were handed out on the televised ceremony.
Amy Poehler and Tina Fey presented Carol Burnett with the Lifetime Achievement SAG Award.
SAG Awards are the only ceremony where actors vote for the year’s best performances in movies and television.
It is often seen as a good predictor for success at the Oscars, which will takes place on February 28. However, a number of Oscar nominees and frontrunners, including “Creed” star Sylvester Stallone, were not nominated here.
