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"Black Panther" from Walt Disney Co's Marvel
Studios was named best movie ensemble in a surprise triumph over
favorite "A Star is Born," the Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga
musical revival, which ended the night without any SAG trophies.
Glenn Close was honored as best film actress for playing a
devoted spouse in Sony Pictures film "The Wife." Rami Malek won
best film actor for his portrayal of Queen lead singer Freddie
Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody," released by 21st Century Fox.
The awards from SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood's largest actors' union,
are closely watched because actors form the largest voting group
in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hands
out the Oscars.
"Black Panther" has been embraced by audiences, becoming the
second highest grossing movie at worldwide box offices in 2018,
and applauded as a milestone for diversity in Hollywood.
"I didn't think I was going to have to speak," shocked star
Chadwick Boseman said on stage, surrounded by his castmates.
Boseman said his co-stars "all know what it's like to be told
that there is not a place for you to be featured, yet you are
young, gifted and black," referring to the 1969 Nina Simone
anthem of racial pride.
But he added that they realized early on that "We had something
special that we wanted to give the world."
Malek, who defeated Cooper and "Vice" star Christian Bale,
praised the character he played. "I get some power from him that
is about stepping up and living your best life and being exactly
who you want to be," Malek said of Mercury.
Close said she wore her grandmother's wedding ring to the SAG
awards after recently learning she had wanted to be an actor.
But the option was unavailable to her, Close added.
The victory for "Black Panther" is a sign that it will enjoy
broad support in this year's Oscars best pictures race, which
has confounded experts with a strong field of contenders and no
clear frontrunner.
Only one film in the last 23 years has won the prestigious best
picture Oscar without being nominated for SAG's ensemble prize.
That was last year's fantasy romance, "The Shape of Water."
That scenario could repeat itself this year as SAG snubbed some
of the best picture candidates in the ensemble category,
including Spanish-language drama "Roma," British period comedy
"The Favourite" and Golden Globe best comedy winner "Green
Book." The Oscars will be awarded Feb. 24.
"Green Book" did take home one SAG award. Mahershala Ali
received the trophy for best supporting actor in a movie for his
role as jazz pianist Don Shirley. Emily Blunt won best
supporting actress in a movie for "A Quiet Place."
In television, Amazon.com Inc series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"
swept the comedy honors, winning best ensemble as well as best
actor and actress for stars Tony Shalhoub and Rachel Brosnahan.
"This is Us," on Comcast Corp's NBC, won best ensemble cast for
a television drama.
SAG also recognized M*A*S*H" TV star Alan Alda with a lifetime
achievement award.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Steve Gorman; Editing by Cynthia
Osterman and Clarence Fernandez)
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