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‘Spotlight’ and diversity winners at SAG Awards

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"Spotlight," a drama about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, landed the top prize at the 22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards that also saw black actors score major wins.

The awards, seen as a bellwether of the all-important Academy Awards, were being closely watched as they were taking place amid a controversy over the lack of diversity in this year's list of Oscar nominees.

"Spotlight" took the prize for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture, the SAG equivalent of an Oscar.

Actor Idris Elba poses in the press room after winning the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor i...
Actor Idris Elba poses in the press room after winning the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role award for 'Beasts of No Nation' during the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Frederic J Brown, AFP

It bested "Beasts of No Nation," a drama about a child soldier, "The Big Short," about the sub-prime mortgage crisis, "Straight Outta Compton," a biopic about the N.W.A rap group, and "Trumbo," about the life of acclaimed screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who was the target of a witch hunt during the McCarthy era.

In the acting honors, Leonardo DiCaprio won the best actor award for his portrayal of fur trapper Hugh Glass in the revenge thriller "The Revenant."

DiCaprio, 41, an Oscar favorite for the gritty survival story, beat competition from Bryan Cranston (Trumbo), Johnny Depp (Black Mass), Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs) and Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl).

In the best actress category, Brie Larson won for "Room," in which she plays a kidnapped young woman living in captivity with her son.

Leonardo Dicaprio (L)  winner of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role; and Brie...
Leonardo Dicaprio (L), winner of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role; and Brie Larson, winner of Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role pose in the press room at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Frederic J Brown, AFP

But perhaps most notable at the star-studded ceremony were the number of black actors honored as Hollywood reels from a fierce backlash over the lack of diversity in the Oscar nominations.

Idris Elba scooped two awards, one for best supporting actor for Netflix's "Beasts of No Nation," and one for best actor in a TV series for his role as a detective in the British crime drama "Luther."

- 'Different race, color, creed' -

"Welcome to diverse TV," joked Elba, who was passed over for an Oscar nomination, as he presented an award during the ceremony at Los Angeles's Shrine Auditorium.

Uzo Aduba took home the award for outstanding actress in a comedy series for her role as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren in Netflix's prison comedy-drama "Orange is the New Black." The TV series also won for the second consecutive year for best comedy ensemble.

Actress Queen Latifah accepts Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Televisio...
Actress Queen Latifah accepts Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie for 'Bessie' onstage during the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Kevork Djansezian, Getty/AFP

"Look at this stage, this is what we talk about when we talk about diversity -- different race, color, creed, sexual orientation," actress Laura Prepon, who plays Alex Vause in the series, told the audience, referring to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy.

Viola Davis meanwhile won best actress for legal drama series "How to Get Away With Murder," while Queen Latifah won for outstanding actress in a television movie or miniseries for her role in HBO's "Bessie," a biopic of the blues singer Bessie Smith.

"We've become a society of trending topics," Davis told reporters backstage after her win, addressing the diversity controversy.

"Diversity is not a trending topic... Regardless of what's going on at the Academy, we will always find a way to be excellent."

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler prepare to give Carol burnett the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Scree...
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler prepare to give Carol burnett the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actor's Guild
Kevork Djansezian, Getty/AFP

A number of actors, including Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, have said they will not attend the Oscars ceremony on February 28 over the diversity issue.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which picks the Oscar winners, has responded to the criticism by vowing to make major changes to promote diversity.

“Spotlight,” a drama about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, landed the top prize at the 22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards that also saw black actors score major wins.

The awards, seen as a bellwether of the all-important Academy Awards, were being closely watched as they were taking place amid a controversy over the lack of diversity in this year’s list of Oscar nominees.

“Spotlight” took the prize for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture, the SAG equivalent of an Oscar.

Actor Idris Elba poses in the press room after winning the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor i...

Actor Idris Elba poses in the press room after winning the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role award for 'Beasts of No Nation' during the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Frederic J Brown, AFP

It bested “Beasts of No Nation,” a drama about a child soldier, “The Big Short,” about the sub-prime mortgage crisis, “Straight Outta Compton,” a biopic about the N.W.A rap group, and “Trumbo,” about the life of acclaimed screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who was the target of a witch hunt during the McCarthy era.

In the acting honors, Leonardo DiCaprio won the best actor award for his portrayal of fur trapper Hugh Glass in the revenge thriller “The Revenant.”

DiCaprio, 41, an Oscar favorite for the gritty survival story, beat competition from Bryan Cranston (Trumbo), Johnny Depp (Black Mass), Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs) and Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl).

In the best actress category, Brie Larson won for “Room,” in which she plays a kidnapped young woman living in captivity with her son.

Leonardo Dicaprio (L)  winner of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role; and Brie...

Leonardo Dicaprio (L), winner of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role; and Brie Larson, winner of Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role pose in the press room at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Frederic J Brown, AFP

But perhaps most notable at the star-studded ceremony were the number of black actors honored as Hollywood reels from a fierce backlash over the lack of diversity in the Oscar nominations.

Idris Elba scooped two awards, one for best supporting actor for Netflix’s “Beasts of No Nation,” and one for best actor in a TV series for his role as a detective in the British crime drama “Luther.”

– ‘Different race, color, creed’ –

“Welcome to diverse TV,” joked Elba, who was passed over for an Oscar nomination, as he presented an award during the ceremony at Los Angeles’s Shrine Auditorium.

Uzo Aduba took home the award for outstanding actress in a comedy series for her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in Netflix’s prison comedy-drama “Orange is the New Black.” The TV series also won for the second consecutive year for best comedy ensemble.

Actress Queen Latifah accepts Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Televisio...

Actress Queen Latifah accepts Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie for 'Bessie' onstage during the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Kevork Djansezian, Getty/AFP

“Look at this stage, this is what we talk about when we talk about diversity — different race, color, creed, sexual orientation,” actress Laura Prepon, who plays Alex Vause in the series, told the audience, referring to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy.

Viola Davis meanwhile won best actress for legal drama series “How to Get Away With Murder,” while Queen Latifah won for outstanding actress in a television movie or miniseries for her role in HBO’s “Bessie,” a biopic of the blues singer Bessie Smith.

“We’ve become a society of trending topics,” Davis told reporters backstage after her win, addressing the diversity controversy.

“Diversity is not a trending topic… Regardless of what’s going on at the Academy, we will always find a way to be excellent.”

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler prepare to give Carol burnett the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Scree...

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler prepare to give Carol burnett the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actor’s Guild
Kevork Djansezian, Getty/AFP

A number of actors, including Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, have said they will not attend the Oscars ceremony on February 28 over the diversity issue.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which picks the Oscar winners, has responded to the criticism by vowing to make major changes to promote diversity.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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