2013 SAG Awards: Argo strengthens Oscar hopes while Downton Abbey and Modern Family top TV winners

The stars of film and television were out in force last night as the 19th Screen Actors Guild Awards took place in Hollywood.

On the film front, Argo bolstered its hopes of Oscar success by clinching the coveted Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture accolade ahead of other major contenders like Les Misérables, Lincoln and Silver Linings Playbook.

Directed by Ben Affleck, the fact-based political thriller chronicles the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Tehran, Iran, under the guise of filming a science-fiction film during the 1979–1981 Iran hostage crisis.

Argo’s triumph comes after it achieved key victories at the Critic Choice Awards and the Producers Guild Awards earlier this month.

Having been surprisingly snubbed by the Oscars for his directing on the film, Affleck paid tribute to his cast during the acceptance speech:

“The people you see on stage, you have more than 150 actors… the one thing they had in common was that… they wanted to kill it to make the movie better. Because that’s what actors do all over the world every day… we are in your debt.”

Elsewhere, Daniel Day-Lewis closed in on a potential third Oscar victory after claiming Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of President Abraham Lincoln in the historical drama Lincoln.

His victory came at the expense of other notable stars like Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook), Hugh Jackman (Les Misérables) and Denzel Washington (Flight).

Lincoln also secured a second acting prize of the night, as an absent Tommy Lee Jones was awarded Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of U.S. congressman Thaddeus Stevens in the Steven Spielberg-directed film.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Lawrence gained significant momentum in the Best Actress Oscar race, as she took home Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role for her performance as troubled widow Tiffany Maxwell in the romantic dramedy Silver Linings Playbook.

Despite being diagnosed with pneumonia, 22-year-old Lawrence was able to pick up her award and give a touching speech:

“I remember getting my SAG card in the mail and it being the best day of my entire life, because it officially made me a professional actor, which put me in the category with all of you. And now I have this naked statue, that means that some of you even voted for me, and that is an indescribable feeling. Thank you.”

Unsurprisingly, Anne Hathaway was awarded Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role for her stunning role as the ill-fated factory worker Fantine in the musical epic Les Misérables.

Earlier in the evening, the Outstanding Stunt Ensemble statuette was presented to the James Bond blockbuster Skyfall with victory coming ahead of comic-book duo The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises.

The full list of SAG (film) winners are…

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
ARGO

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Jennifer Lawrence, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Daniel Day-Lewis, LINCOLN

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Anne Hathaway, LES MISÉRABLES

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Tommy Lee Jones, LINCOLN

OUTSTANDING ACTION PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
SKYFALL


Over in the television section, the love was spread between a variety of hit programmes.

In an upset to some, the ITV period drama Downton Abbey overcame fierce competition from the likes of Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad and Homeland to win the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series accolade.

Meanwhile, Bryan Cranston finally landed his first Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series gong for his acclaimed role as former chemistry teacher-turned-drug dealer Walter White in the latest series of AMC’s Breaking Bad.

The Hollywood native prevailed in a powerhouse line-up that included two-time winner Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom) and recent Golden Globe victor Damian Lewis (Homeland).

Coincidentally, Cranston would later taste success in the cinematic categories after seeing his film Argo claim a key victory in the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category.

Elsewhere, Claire Danes followed up her Emmy-winning triumph from last summer by taking home Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series for her performance as CIA officer Carrie Mathison in Showtime’s Homeland.

On the humorous side of things, ABC’s Modern Family scooped the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series award for the third year in a row, with victory coming ahead of the likes of 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory, and The Office.

Despite losing out on the top honour, NBC’s 30 Rock secured double prizes for stars Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, as they won Outstanding Female Actor and Outstanding Male Actor respectively for their hit roles as Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy.

Elsewhere, Julianne Moore added yet another major gong to her awards cabinet by taking home Outstanding Female Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series for her lauded portrayal of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in the HBO television film Game Change.

Fellow Hollywood star Kevin Costner also added to his successes at the Emmys and Golden Globes by clinching the Outstanding Male Actor accolade for his role as seasoned patriarch Devil Anse Hatfield in the western miniseries Hatfields & McCoys.

Having been ignored in the main categories, HBO’s Game of Thrones did enjoy a consolation win after bagging the Outstanding Stunt Ensemble prize ahead of the likes of Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead.

Finally, Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke was the recipient of this year’s SAG Life Achievement Award for his contributions to film and television over the past fifty years with memorable roles including The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-66), Bye Bye Birdie (1963), Mary Poppins (1964), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and Diagnosis: Murder (1993-2001).

Upon receiving a standing ovation, the comedian star admitted to his good fortune by saying:

“You know, I knocked around in this business for 70 years, and I still haven’t figured out what it is I do.

Aren’t we lucky to have found a line of work that doesn’t require growing up?”

The full list of SAG (television) winners are…

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
DOWNTON ABBEY

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Claire Danes, HOMELAND

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Bryan Cranston, BREAKING BAD


OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES

MODERN FAMILY

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tina Fey, 30 ROCK

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 ROCK

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINI-SERIES
Julianne Moore, GAME CHANGE

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINI-SERIES
Kevin Costner, HATFIELDS & MCCOYS

OUTSTANDING ACTION PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A TELEVISION SERIES
GAME OF THRONES

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