The LGBT brigade had a lot to cheer at the Screen Actors Guild, with two awards for Orange Is The New Black with Orange Is The New Black walking away with two awards and Mark Ruffalo winning Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie for his impressive turn in The Normal Heart.
Ruffalo played gay man Ned Weeks in the film, who ends up on the frontline of the fights against AIDS after the initially mysterious disease first started affecting the gay male community, and was met with antipathy, fear and outright hostility from many in healthcare and the government.
Orange Is The New Black meanwhile walked away with Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, while the wonderful Udo Uduba got some individual love winning Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series. It’s particularly impressive for Aduba as the award usually goes to someone who’s a lead in a show, while Uzo won despite playing a supporting character. She can now add it to her Emmy and Critics’ Choice Award.
As the awards are voted for by actors, who make up the largest voting block for the Oscars, many see the Screen Actors Guild as one of the best bell-weathers for the Academy Awards. As such Birdman got a boost by winning Best Motion Picture ensemble, while Eddie Redmayne and Julianne Moore cemented their Oscar frontrunner position by winning the SAG Film Lead Acting gongs.
Rather entertaininly though, Ruffalo wasn’t on hand to pick up his award, so he ending up tweeting an impromptu acceptance speech from his bed in London, where he’s working on Avengers 2 reshoots. You can take a look at what he said below.
Ha ha ha! Sunny and my kids just woke me up to tell me I won a SAG award. Have to be at work in 4 hours. Thank you! @SAGawards
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015
Thanks @MattBomer my dear friend and partner in #TheNormalHeart you were an inspiration and friend every day.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015
Thank you @HBO and Dante Di Lereto, Dede Gardner and Plan B for Producing such a beautiful movie. You did the impossible.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015
To all the people who lived through the AIDS crisis and lost the ones you loved. This award is yours. @SAGawards You are heros.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015
Thank you @alfredMolina, Julia Roberts, Joe Mantello, Jim Parsons, Taylor Kitsch, Sean Meehan, Jonathan Groff, BD Wong, and the rest of Cast
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015
Special thank you to all my brother and sister actors for this incredible distinction. It's really the one that matters. @SAGAwards
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015
Thank You Reps! Shani Rosenzweig, Billy Lazarus, Tracy Jacobs, Scott Wexler, Aleen Keshisian, Margret Riley, Keith Kleven, Stuart Gelwarg.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015
A very special thanks to the love of my life, my pal, and my partner Sunrise Ruffalo. And Keen, Bella, and Odette.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015
Last but not least. Thanks to all you folks who have supported the movie and me all these years. Good night. Again.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015
Thank you @MrRPMurphy for giving me the role of a lifetime and leading me through it with grace and courage. You are great director.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015
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