Mirren, Murphy win SAG awards

29/01/2007 03:04

By Arthur Spiegelman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian Eddie Murphy was named best supporting actor for his performance as a singer in decline in "Dreamgirls" at the 13th annual Screen Actors Guild awards on Sunday.

Murphy plays a James Brown-like singer who falls on hard times in the film based on the rise of a Supremes-like group.

Helen Mirren was named best actress in a television movie or mini-series for her work as the monarch in "Elizabeth I." Mirren was favoured to win one of the night’s biggest prizes, best actress in a movie, for her portrayal of the current monarch, Elizabeth II, in "The Queen."

"I am so proud," she said. "I love this award more than any other, especially being a Brit. American acting has always inspired me."

Answering questions back stage, she said it was shameful that "Elizabeth I" received no award nominations in Britain.

Jeremy Irons won for best actor in a television movie or mini-series for his work in "Elizabeth I," which was broadcast by cable television network HBO.

In television awards, two "doctors" scored major victories. Chandra Wilson was named best actress in a drama series for her work as a tough-minded doctor in "Grey’s Anatomy" and Hugh Laurie for his work as the brilliant but nasty physician in "House."

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Alec Baldwin was named best actor in a comedy series for his work in "30 Rock" and America Ferrera was named best actress in a comedy for her work in "Ugly Betty."

"The Office" was named best ensemble television comedy.

Ferrera, who plays a homely office worker, said she thought television was becoming more realistic in its acceptance of minorities and less than beautiful people as role models.

GUIDANCE FOR OSCARS

The Guild awards have assumed greater importance than usual this year because the fight for its top award -- best cast ensemble performance -- is up for grabs. Whoever wins it will be considered the front runner for the best picture award at the Oscars.

SAG members this year get to choose between five films for best ensemble performance: "Babel," "Bobby," "The Departed," "Dreamgirls" and "Little Miss Sunshine."

In addition, 19 of the 20 actors nominated for Oscars this year are up for SAG awards -- showing once again that the actors’ choice will be a strong indicator of what happens at the Academy awards on February 25.

Last year SAG voters choose "Crash" over the heavy favourite "Brokeback Mountain." "Crash" then went on to win the Oscar in an upset for best picture.

Actors make up about 22 percent of Oscar voters, making them the biggest single voting group for the awards.

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