The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) began awarding its distinctive statuette in 1995. Since then it was presented to outstanding actors and actresses in movies and also television. A lifetime achievement award rounds out the program each year with a nomination for an industry legend.
The Screen Actors Guild is actually considered the country’s major labor union that represents the interests of actors in film and television. SAG has been in existence since 1933 and currently represents approximately 125,000 actors. It recognizes myriad performance venues such as video games, commercials, movies, TV and also new media.
Some of the memorable names at the SAG awards will be Donald Sutherland, Dennis Haysbert, Susan Sarandon, Tina Fey and Taye Diggs.
Television audiences should tune in to TNT or TBS on Jan. 30. Showtime is 8 p.m. EST.
Commercial actors will find recognition in 2011. Dennis Haysbert, well-known to television viewers as the authoritative spokesman for Allstate Insurance, will give a nod to other commercial actors during the 2011 SAG awards.
The 47th Life Achievement Recipient is Ernest Borgnine. With receipt of this honor he joins other screen legends such as Jack Lemmon, George Burns, Edward Asner, James Garner and Betty White.
Once again nominated actors will introduce the movies that earned them the recognition of the Screen Actors Guild. A few of this year’s nominees are Geoffrey Rush and Mark Ruffalo for male supporting role; Justin Timberlake for his cast performance in “The Social Network” and Colin Firth for male lead.
Female lead actors to watch during the 2011 broadcast are Annette Bening (“The Kids Are All Right”), Nicole Kidman (“Rabbit Hole”), Jennifer Lawrence (“Winter’s Bone”), Natalie Portman (“Black Swan”) and Hilary Swank (“Conviction”).
All eyes this year are on Amy Adams, who is a four-time nominee but does not actually have a SAG award to her name. Much like a perennial bridesmaid, she was nominated in 2005 for “Junebug” (beaten by Rachel Weisz). In 2008 she received a nomination for “Doubt” (beaten by Kate Winslet). Her 2010 performance in “The Fighter” earned her the latest nominations for female supporting actress and cast member.
Motion picture stunt ensemble performance nominations go to “Green Zone,” “Inception” and “Robin Hood.” Moviegoers who had a chance to see these films are sure to concur that this year’s lineup makes it difficult to pick out the superior stunt performance.
