8th Annual SAG Awards™ Acceptance Speeches

IAN McKELLEN OPENING SPEECH

Good evening. Good evening, I am a professional actor and I have been for 40 years now. I wasn’t fit for anything else, frankly. And I’ve generously been given just a moment or two to talk about acting. [laughter]

Well, William Shakespeare, of course, put it well: “All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances and one man in his time plays many parts.”

And if you are not a member of the Screen Actors Guild and you don’t think of yourself as a player or as an actor – well, didn’t you choose what costume or clothes you were going to wear this evening, whether you’re here or at home? And tomorrow morning your “costume” will be something different, depending on what scenes you intend to take part in during the day.

Your whole demeanor will adapt. You know, think of the word “Good morning.” First thing you say, “Good morning,” that’s to the person you wake up next to. Little bit later in the day, you’re on the phone, “Good Morning” -- agent, of course. [laughter] And then if you’re lucky, you might actually meet a casting director (fawning on knees) “Good Morning.” [laughter] This human ability to fit into a variety of situations at home, at work, at play, that’s the basis of professional acting – only doing what comes naturally to everyone.

Actors interpret other people’s dreams. And I doubt I shall ever tire of the fascinating pleasure of inhabiting a character’s life. It feels to me a little like being a craftsman, you know, learning throughout a career how to act better – like a carpenter aspires one day to make a perfect chair. And screen actors join together in a craft guild, and on occasions like this, discover a common cause from our individual experience of acting.

And tonight the Screen Actors Guild looks inward on its craft to honor what, for want of a better word, we call “the best” – or just good examples of work that aims to entrance the eye, to delight the ear and to stimulate the mind -- and to glory in the certainty that men and women -- all of us merely players -- have, each of us, a unique story worth telling.

We actors can’t do it alone, of course – which is why tonight we also celebrate the achievement of ensembles, directors, other colleagues we work with. It should make for an evening of emotion and fun.

And now my four favorite words: “On with the show!”


For Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role


Russell Crowe / A BEAUTIFUL MIND - John Nash Universal Pictures

RUSSELL CROWE: Thanks very much, folks. You know, I’m a storyteller. We are storytellers. And ours is an ancient tradition, contemporized by the cinema and the capturing of light. And we should all be very proud of our place in society. On any given night, millions of people across the world buy a ticket for adventures that only we as storytellers can provide. We release burdens, we galvanize emotions, we make people laugh, we make people talk over breakfast.

This is a great job and I want to encourage every one of you in this room to give everything you can to the story. God bless narrative. God bless originality. Good night.

[applause]


For Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role


Halle Berry / MONSTER’S BALL - Leticia Musgrove Lions Gate Films

HALLE BERRY: Oh, thank you so much. I am so proud to be an actor, I can’t tell you. It has saved my life. Acting has enriched my life, and it has made me learn so much about life, and I’m so proud to be here. Thank you so much to the actors for choosing me this year. Thank you. [cheers and applause]

I want to thank the entire cast. Any actress knows that she is only as good as the cast that surrounds her. I want to thank Coronji Calhoun, a first time acting job; Sean Combs; Heath Ledger; and especially Peter Boyle and Billy Bob Thornton. [applause] They are so good, and every single day they forced me to grow, to learn, and to be better at the craft of acting. And this is so much as much theirs as it is mine.

I want to thank our fearless leader: our director, Marc Forster, who was amazing, and who I loved and I trusted. [applause] And he guided me through this – this work. And Ivana Chubbuck, who helped me get to the heart of who this woman was; my manager, Vincent Cirrincione; CAA; our producer, Lee Daniels; and my life partner, Eric.

Thank you so much for--[applause]--encouraging me to take this risk. And it has paid off big time tonight! Thank you so much!

[applause]


For Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role


Ian McKellen / THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING - Gandalf New Line Cinema

IAN MCKELLEN: I thought I’d had my turn, folks. Thank you very, very much indeed.

Best award I ever got until now was British Actors Equity, who gave me an award for Best Supporting Actor in the West End about 40 years ago. [laughter] There was money involved. They actually gave you a check. [laughter] Come on, Screen Actors Guild! Next year maybe… [laughter]

I owe this to one man, Peter Jackson, the director who invited me to try and impersonate the icon of Gandalf, and his trust. And the wonderful people he got together to support him in New Zealand—the actors, so many of them here tonight, and the crew. And to him and to SAG, many, many thanks.

[applause]


For Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role


Helen Mirren / GOSFORD PARK - Mrs. Wilson USA Films

HELEN MIRREN: Oh, my god! [laughter] [looking at the award] Isn’t he sweet? I wondered when I was down there if he had any pants on. [laughter] He doesn’t! [laughs]

Oh, god, you know, in the medieval Britain, actors were called rogues and vagabonds. And we are all actually rogues and vagabonds—no matter how we look tonight—under the skin. In “Gosford Park,” you know, there were no trailers, there were no trainers, there were no assistants, there were no special hair and make-up people. There was just a group of rogues and vagabonds with a brilliant director, Bob Altman--[applause]--with a wonderful script by Julian Fellowes. And we just all got down to it.

I’m incredibly proud to have been amongst those great actors: rogues and vagabonds to a man and a woman, in spite of the Dames and Sirs. [laughs] We’re all the same under the skin. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, you rogues and vagabonds, for my cute little man. [laughs] Thank you very much.

[applause]


For Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture


GOSFORD PARK USA Films

Eileen Atkins Mrs. Croft
Bob Balaban Morris Weissman
Alan Bates Jennings
Charles Dance Raymond Lord Stockbridge
Stephen Fry Inspector Thompson
Michael Gambon Sir William McCordle
Richard E. Grant George
Tom Hollander Lt. Commander Anthony Meredith
Derek Jacobi Probert
Kelly MacDonald Mary Maceachran
Helen Mirren Mrs. Wilson
Jeremy Northam Ivor Novello
Clive Owen Robert Parks
Ryan Phillippe Henry Denton
Kristin Scott Thomas Lady Sylvia McCordle
Maggie Smith Constance Countess of Trentham
Geraldine Somerville Louisa Lady Stockbridge
Sophie Thompson Dorothy
Emily Watson Elsie
James Wilby The Hon. Freddie Nesbitt

WILL SMITH: Congratulations.

BOB BALABAN: Can we put it down? Is that allowed?

WILL SMITH: You can put it down, yes. He’s naked.

BOB BALABAN: Will it fall? Well, my God, first of all, this is amazing. And due to the constraints of time and the high volume of actors in our movie, I’m going to give a collective “thank you” on behalf of the 47 actors who contain – who are the ensemble that is “Gosford Park.”

And so collectively we thank our agents, our managers, our lawyers, our business managers, [laughter] our high school drama teachers, our dialect coaches, [laughter] our parents’ significant others, children and the babysitters who sat for them and enabled us to attend this ceremony tonight. Thank you. [applause]

Most of all, thanks to our indomitable and intrepid Robert Altman. [applause] Our brilliant writer, Julian Fellowes . [applause] Our fabulous casting director, who assembled all of us and held us together, Mary Selway. [applause] Our friends at Capitol, and especially our friends at USA Films, who handled our delicate movie with enormous care and intelligence, and we’re very grateful for that.

Thank you to SAG and our fellow nominees, and we’re proud to be a part of this inspiring profession. Thank you. [applause]


For Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries


Ben Kingsley / ANNE FRANK - Otto Frank ABC

BEN KINGLSEY: I’m very surprised.

Speaking to actors, I know you’ll understand that all I did was react to our central performance: the central performance of Hannah Taylor Gordon as Anne Frank. [applause] We loved her and we were totally captivated by her commitment, her energy, and her sincerity and honesty.

Otto’s last words, I’m sure—Otto Franks—were, “Listen to my child.” And thanks to Otto and his work with the foundation and with her diaries, the world has heard his child. And if I may, I would like to accept this on behalf of my four children.

I’m deeply grateful to the Screen Actors Guild. I’m deeply grateful. May my gratitude be made manifest over the coming weeks, months, and years. Thank you.

[applause]


For Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Judy Davis / LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND: ME AND MY SHADOWS - Judy Garland ABC

STOCKARD CHANNING: Judy Davis was not able to be present tonight. We accept this award on her behalf.


For Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series


Martin Sheen / THE WEST WING - President Josiah Bartlet NBC

MARTIN SHEEN: My wife asked me to put her wedding band in my pocket this night for luck, and it was a lucky night. I thought about not coming—not a good thought. [laughter]

I think I’m the oldest guy in the room, with the possible exception of Robert Altman.

[laughter]

So this is very, very gratifying, to get to a place in my life and a place in my career where these kinds of things are happening. I’ve been nominated recently for a few awards and I’ve prepare myself for an early Passover. [laughter] And there’s one coming very soon, but I’ll accept this on behalf of a brilliant cast and family that Alison went on and on about—and she knows their names better than I do. [laughter]

And to all of you, the players, my thanks, my sincere thanks.

[applause]


For Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series


Allison Janney / THE WEST WING - C.J. Cregg NBC

ALLISON JANNEY: Thank you. [pause] Thank you. [pause] If the arts are a bridge to enlightenment and understanding, I can’t think of a more important time to be an artist and I can’t think of a show I’m more proud to be on than “The West Wing.” And I thank the people that have faith in me sometimes when I don’t. And that would be obviously Aaron Sorkin, Tommy Schlamme, Alex Graves, Chris Misiano, and my amazing cast who I love so much, and looking in your faces, you inspire me. And I love you all.

And Stockard Channing, you are brilliant and amazing and I wish I – Aaron, I’m asking you to write more scenes with Stockard [laughter] because she is absolutely, she is the most beautiful, wonderful actress and I am so proud to share this with you, and with all of – everyone – if I say your names I’ll . . . I love you, John, Martin, Brad, Richard, [laugher] Janelle, Dulé, Melissa, Richard, Rob, everybody -- I love – thank you so very much. And my friends and family. Thank you. [applause]


For Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series


Sean Hayes / WILL & GRACE - Jack McFarland NBC

SEAN HAYES: This is way too early in the program for me. I wasn’t really prepared.

Wow, thank you very much. You know, it’s one thing when a fan says, “You know, I thought your performance was really great.” That means the world to me, but when an actor says, “You know, I thought maybe you were pushing a little bit”—[laughter]—I have to re-evaluate my entire life.

Thank you very much, you guys, for all the actors who, for whatever reason, decided I should be standing here tonight. Thank you very much. My gratitude.

[applause]


For Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series


Megan Mullally / WILL & GRACE - Karen Walker NBC

MEGAN MULLALLY: [laughs] Thank you. I’m just generally thrilled, and I’m very touched. I respect actors so much. And it’s nice to be representing a comedy category. I feel like, you know -- thank you so much to everybody at “Will & Grace” -- because working on these great comedy scripts week after week, and kind of always having to think in terms of what’s funny, it sort of starts to rub off after a while. And I’ve found that, you know, in real life I – I’ve sort of reaped some good benefits from that.

I’ve been able to step outside of myself and see things in a little bit different way because of it, and I feel like I’ve been able to change a lot for the better in certain ways. And I feel very blessed.

And so, thank you from me, and thank you from everybody at “Will & Grace.” Thank you so much. [applause]


For Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series


THE WEST WING NBC

Stockard Channing First Lady Abigail Bartlet
Dulé Hill CharlieYoung
Allison Janney C.J. Cregg
Rob Lowe Sam Seaborn
Janel Moloney Donna Moss
Richard Schiff Toby Ziegler
Martin Sheen President Josiah Bartlet
John Spencer Leo McGarry
Bradley Whitford Josh Lyman

ROB LOWE: Thank you. To get this award from the Screen Actors Guild – the best actors in the world – is really an honor. We have this tonight because of the protection and the vision of John Wells, Tommy Schlamme, Lou Wells, Chris Misiano and Alex Graves.

We have this tonight because we serve at the pleasure of the breathtaking and brilliant Aaron Sorkin. [applause]

Accomplishments done well in the collective are always so much more amazing because of the working parts that all have to come together. And this award really represents the essence of “The West Wing,” all of us coming together with one single agenda to serve the source, and to do it with the best performance we can do on a day-to-day basis.

Thank you for giving it to us, and thank you for inspiring us. [applause]


For Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series


SEX AND THE CITY HBO

Kim Cattrall Samantha Jones
Kristin Davis Charlotte York
Cynthia Nixon Miranda Hobbes
Sarah Jessica Parker Carrie Bradshaw

CYNTHIA NIXON: Thank you so much. Wow! Sarah Jessica Parker has the flu and she was too sick to get on a plane, and we are so devastated that she is not here with us. She has always said that this ensemble category nomination was the best one to get. And I think that just tells you everything you need to know about her as a person. We would like to share this with our crew, the most hard-working, talented people you would ever want to meet.

This evening is all about actors and how great they are, and that’s wonderful, but every actor knows that she is only as good as the stuff she gets to say, unless she’s Marcel Marceau or Lassie. [laughter] And our writers are the reason our show is such a hit. [applause] Without them, we would just be standing in front of the camera barking.

[applause and cheers]

Finally, working for HBO is like being encouraged by the world’s most supportive parents. They never say, “Darling, you’re not really going to wear that, are you?” [laughter] They say, “Gee, honey, that sounds great. Why don’t you give it a try? Here’s some money.” [laughter]

We are so proud and grateful to be their children and we are so proud and grateful to be receiving this award from you. Thank you so much.

[applause]

MELISSA GILBERT, PRESIDENT, SCREEN ACTORS GUILD

MELISSA GILBERT: This is like a high school reunion for me. I have worked with so many of the wonderfully talented people here and to see everybody gathered in one place is such an inspiration.

Tonight is all about actors: East, West and from around the globe. It is our night to recognize the very best in each other and what we can achieve by working together. That’s our craft at its finest and that is our guild at its best. [applause]

This special evening also gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the generous creative efforts of our off-screen collaborators: the writers, who give us the blueprint of the characters we play; the multi-talented directors, with whom we work so intimately to bring these characters to life; and the musicians, whose work is so often what pulls everything else together. We thank them and their respective guilds: the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America, and the American Federation of Musicians, who along with AFTRA, have generously allowed us to showcase our work on screen tonight.

Tonight’s show is being viewed by millions in 177 countries and, for the first time, by the men and women of America’s Armed Forces at bases throughout the world. [applause] That’s right! And we are delighted that so many people are celebrating with us tonight. I thank you.

[applause]


ED ASNER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

ASNER: Thank you, Tom. [applause] Thank you, Tom. He’s so big. [laughter] It’s really tough talking to his armpit, but I love him.

Charlie, my son, this thing is heavier than you are. [laughter] And this thing almost makes one forget one’s mortality. But as Robert Redford said in “The Candidate,” when he won the election, “What do we do now?”

How grateful I am to my peers who’ve always been there, and particularly to the peers of S.A.G., who chose me for this award. Here’s to all the crews, casting directors, directors, writers, producers, and of course, all those people of good taste who liked my work, [laughter] and made this award possible.

I thank God I’m no longer young enough to know everything. But one of the things I do know is that there are many countries in the world where the life achievement award is just that: achieving life. I’m so glad I won the American life achievement award, which to me means living with purpose and passion.

I love acting, being an actor, and in youth I wandered from play to play as if in a dream. And wonder of wonders, I woke up and found myself to be an actor. Well, actually, it was quite easy. Because firstly, I stunk as a cabdriver. [laughter] And secondly, I was babied and cushioned all along the way by my families, my friends, those peers again and my country -- my country, which forever instills in us the desire to do what we wish, to be what we wish. Our country, which tells us, “Try it, you’ll like it,” or “Why not? What are they going to do, shoot you?” [laughter] Not here.

Not ever.

And so if I ended up being a decent actor, it’s because I didn’t have to worry about getting shot. Those there were some minor critics who recommended it. [laughter]

I pray that we retain that spirit of trying, of experimenting, of challenging, of keeping America fresh, innovative, a work in progress, and that we promise ourselves, above all, to reject the sacrifice of principle for playing it safe. Let’s keep turning those lousy cabdrivers into decent actors, and never, never, never regret saying, “Why not? What are they going to do, shoot you?”

Thank you. [applause]