A SCENE from the film CODA

LOS ANGELES — CODA, a coming-of-age drama about the only hearing member of a deaf family, won the Screen Actors Guild’s (SAG) top film award, raising its chances of success at next month’s Oscars ceremony.

The movie, which Apple TV+ acquired at the Sundance Film Festival for $25 million, follows the story of a small-town girl who pursues her dream of becoming a singer. The film, directed by Sian Heder, cast deaf actors Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur as parents of the young performer, played by Emilia Jones. Mr. Kotsur also won the award for male actor in a supporting role.

“We deaf actors have come a long way,” said Ms. Matlin, speaking through an interpreter.

The SAG awards, chosen by members of the SAG-AFTRA acting union, are closely watched because actors form the largest voting group in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars. Winning the top SAG honor often, but not always, precedes a best picture win.

This year’s Oscar winners will be announced on March 27.

The war in Ukraine did not go unnoticed, with actor Leslie Odom, Jr. acknowledging the violence at the onset of the ceremony, sending “our thoughts, prayers, and hopes for impending peace.” It was a recurring theme throughout the night.

CODA, an acronym for Child of Deaf Adult, landed the top SAG award — for ensemble cast in a motion picture — over drama Belfast, Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical tale about the Northern Ireland conflict; climate change allegory Don’t Look Up; King Richard about the father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams; and House of Gucci, the story of the family behind the famous fashion house.

The Power of the Dog, which led Oscar nominations with 12 nods, was not nominated by SAG for best cast. The gothic Western did not win on Sunday.

Jessica Chastain won best movie actress for The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and Will Smith was named best movie actor for King Richard.

Among the night’s television honors, the fish out of water series about an American football coach hired to coach a British soccer team, Ted Lasso, won for best comedy, and the cast of HBO’s tale of money, power, and politics, Succession won for outstanding ensemble performance in a drama series.

Succession’s Brian Cox used his acceptance speech to address the war, lauding the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a former comic, and offering support for Russian actors, who “under pains of high treason” cannot speak out.

Helen Mirren was honored with a lifetime achievement award.

“I joined our tribe of rogues and vagabonds a long time ago,” said Ms. Mirren. “And it is you, you actors, that I want to thank.” — Reuters

 

 

And the winner is…

The full list of winners of the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards follows:

MOTION PICTURE AWARDS

  • Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Will Smith, King Richard
  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
  • Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Troy Kotsur, CODA
  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
  • Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: CODA
  • Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture: No Time to Die

TELEVISION AWARDS

  • Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: Michael Keaton, Dopesick
  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown
  • Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game
  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Jung Ho-yeon, Squid Game
  • Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart, Hacks
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: Succession
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Ted Lasso
  • Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series: Squid Game

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