Black Panther wins top Screen Actors Guild award ahead of Oscars
Rami Malek and Glenn Close also picked up prizes at the SAG Awards, which are seen as a possible indicator of Oscars success.
Monday 28 January 2019 07:30, UK
Black Panther has triumphed at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, picking up the ceremony's top prize for best film cast.
A superhero box-office smash featuring a predominantly black cast, the Marvel film has been hailed as a turning point in cinema and could make history if it repeats the win at the Oscars next month.
In a powerful acceptance speech alongside co-stars including Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o and Danai Gurira, Chadwick Boseman told how "all of us up here know what it's like to be told there is not a place for you to be featured even though you are young, gifted and black".
He also spoke about the film's effect on the industry, saying the cast knew they had "something special that we wanted to give the world".
Black Panther beat BlacKkKlansman, Crazy Rich Asians, Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star Is Born to win the prize at the SAG ceremony, which is seen as a possible indicator of how the Academy Awards could pan out.
Following on from wins at the Golden Globes earlier this month, Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek, and Glenn Close, who stars in The Wife, were named best film actor and actress, while Mahershala Ali won the best supporting actor gong for Green Book.
Emily Blunt was the surprise winner of the best supporting actress award, for horror film A Quiet Place, over The Favourite stars Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, as well as Margot Robbie, for Mary Queen Of Scots, and Amy Adams, for Vice.
:: Oscars 2019: The Favourite and Roma lead the way
However, fellow British stars Olivia Colman and Christian Bale, who were both honoured at the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice Awards, missed out on awards this time round.
In other notable disappointments, A Star Is Born, Bradley Cooper's directorial debut in which he stars opposite Lady Gaga, was also left empty-handed, despite leading the nominations with four nods.
Blunt paid tribute to her co-star and director husband John Krasinski and their children as she accepted her statuette.
Clearly shocked as her name was announced, she said: "Oh my goodness me. Guys, that truly has completely blown my slicked hair back.
"I am going to share this completely with my husband, John Krasinski, because the entire experience of doing this with you has completely pierced by heart directly, you are a stunning filmmaker.
"I am so lucky to work with you and to have done this film with you, thank you for giving me the part, you would have been in major trouble if you hadn't so you didn't really have an option."
The SAG Awards also feature TV categories, which were dominated by The Marvellous Mrs Maisel - picking up the prizes for best comedy actress (Rachel Brosnahan) and comedy actor (Tony Shalhoub), as well as for comedy cast ensemble.
The best TV drama actress award was awarded to Sandra Oh, for Killing Eve, while Jason Bateman received the best TV drama actor statuette for his performance in Ozark.
This Is Us was awarded the prize for best ensemble in a TV drama.
Black Panther also picked up the award for best stunt ensemble, while Tom Hanks presented the lifetime achievement award to M*A*S*H star Alan Alda.