The Screen Actors Guild Awards on Feb. 27 had a diverse list of winners. Actors with disabilities and marginalized actors being awarded were some of the historic milestones marked during the Guild’s 28th annual show.
Deserving actors were recognized and awarded. Films and shows with predominantly marginalized cast members took home awards. A handful of speeches were given in languages other than English. The general responses from the winning cast and crew were emotional and grateful.
Will Smith was awarded Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his work in “King Richard.” He delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech about the recognition he was given for the story he helped tell.
“That may have been one of my greatest moments of my career,” Smith said.
Ariana DeBose made her place in the record books for “West Side Story.” She is the first Afro-Latina to win a film SAG award, as well the first queer woman of color to be recognized for acting by the Screen Actors Guild.
Actors with disabilities were represented as well.
“CODA” became the first film with a predominantly deaf cast to receive Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Troy Kotsur is now the first deaf actor to win a SAG Award for best supporting actor for his part in the film. He delivered his speech in American Sign Language.
“I’m so grateful to Apple TV+ for all their support and access like burned-in closed captioning, providing ASL interpreting services and believing in us deaf actors and casting us authentically as actors who happen to be deaf,” Kotsur signed.
Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon were shocked when they won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, respectively, for “Squid Game.” The show is now the first non-English language television show to take home an award.
Lee and Jung delivered their speeches in Korean with an English translator by their side. Jung is the first female actor from Asia to win an award for television at a SAG ceremony.
“I have sat many a times watching you on the big screen, dreaming of one day becoming an actor,” Jung said.
“CODA” co-star Marlee Matlin gave an acceptance speech for outstanding cast in a motion picture to end the night. She sums up the feeling of optimism this left many actors with.
“This validates the fact that we deaf actors can work just like anybody else,” Matlin signed. “We look forward to more opportunities for deaf actors.”
Hopefully, we can all look forward to more opportunities for all marginalized actors to be recognized by the Guild.
