By Lauren Heskin
28th Feb 2022
28th Feb 2022
The SAG Awards were on last night and while there was understandably very little song and dance considering the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, there were a few nice moments.
I’m not going to mince my words and say that last night’s SAG Awards were the opening performance we’ve been waiting for after a long award season hiatus. Sadly, it was not. Between the horrific events unfolding in real-time in Ukraine and a noticeably rusty set of actors returning to the stage, it wasn’t exactly a charm offensive.
However, there were a few moments to note (only a few, mind) and we’ve rounded them up here for you. Here’s hoping that the Oscar’s hosting trio of Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes can give us something to feel at the end of March from this otherwise dower post-Covid award season.
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Martin Short and Selena Gomez’s banter
The Only Murders in the Building duo took the stage to hand out the award for Female Actor in a Supporting Role (won by West Side Story’s Ariana DeBose), and it was clear that they neither had much of a plan for their one-minute intro but were determined to enjoy it. Sometimes, the loose, I’m just trying to make one person laugh kind of humour makes for the best banter on an otherwise fairly rigid night.
CODA wins big
The Apple TV Original film about a child of deaf adults, the cast of CODA and best-supporting actor Troy Kotsur made history last night. Kotsur became the first deaf actor to be nominated and win in the acting categories, playing dad to daughter Ruby. “I have been a member of SAG since 2001 and now I feel like I am part of the family.” He also highlighted how Apple Tv did for supporting the deaf actors on set and “authentically” casting deaf actors to play deaf characters.
We’re smiling from ear to ear ? CODA receives the Actor® for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture! #sagawards pic.twitter.com/bjy8LlVQiy
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— SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) February 28, 2022
He was back on stage a short time later as he, Emilie Jones, Marlee Matlin, Eugenio Derbez and Daniel Durant took home the biggest acting award of the night, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. After a GIF-worthy reaction to their win, Matlin got in front of the microphone only to open her speech by signing “well I don’t need this!”. Hers was a beautiful and moving speech that clearly meant so much to the whole cast.
Helen Mirren just being iconic Helen Mirren
It’s one of those sad cliches that women over a certain ages shouldn’t wear baby pink. But Dame Helen Mirren, in her typical bolshy yet simultaneously charming self, knows that these don’t apply to her or anyone really. She thanked “ S.A.G.” for her Lifetime Achievement Award, telling the audience that it has to be S-A-G, she “hates to say the word “sag” at my age”.
You absolutely DO deserve this ? Helen Mirren receives the #sagawards Lifetime Achievement Award pic.twitter.com/SauWG5ynwh
— SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) February 28, 2022
She explains that while she doesn’t feel she doesn’t really deserve it, but any of her success is down to her mantra – ”be on time and don’t be an ass”.
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Michael Keaton honours his late nephew
While he made quite the entrance to the stage after nipping to the loo and almost missing his wine for Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series, Keaton literally tumbled onto the stage to accept the award for his performance in Dopesick from a clearly stressed Salma Hayek.
.@MichaelKeaton receives Actor® for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series! #sagawards pic.twitter.com/oay0o96iX8
— SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) February 28, 2022
However, this bit of light relief was played against his moving speech. Highlighting his distinct privilege, he referenced the sheer bravery of “ fellow actor tonight in Zelensky, who deserves credit for fighting the fight”. Getting choked up, he closed his speech by dedicating it to his nephew Michael and his sister Pam. Consider the subject matter [of dopesick]… I lost Michael to drugs, and it hurts and this is for my sister Pam.”
Thank God for Leslie Odom Jr
Honestly, men’s fashion on the celebrity red carpet is being single-handedly dragged forward by the Hamilton star, who always brings the style in a sea of drab tuxes punctuated by the odd loud dickie bow.
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In a draped Balmain suit of monochrome polka dots, he gives me hope for the future of men’s red carpet fashion. Now if only we could get a few more men on board.
Brian Cox doesn’t mince his words
Taking the stage for winning Best Ensemble cast for Succession, Brain Cow flew through the obligatories and wasted no time in getting stuck into what matters to him, praising the Russians who are rebelled against the Russian invasion and speaking out against it even with the threat of “high treason hanging over them.
The cast of @succession takes home the Actor® for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series ? #sagawards pic.twitter.com/frW546KySF
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— SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) February 28, 2022
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