Los Angeles – Reese Witherspoon as singer June Carter in “Walk the Line” and Philip Seymour Hoffman as author Truman Capote in “Capote” won lead-acting awards Sunday from the Screen Actors Guild, while the ensemble drama “Crash” pulled off an upset win over “Brokeback Mountain” for the overall cast award.
Rachel Weisz of the murder thriller “The Constant Gardener” and Paul Giamatti of the boxing drama “Cinderella Man” received supporting-actor honors.
“Oh, my God, y’all. Sometimes, I can’t just shake the feeling that I’m just a little girl from Tennessee,” said Witherspoon, who plays Carter during her long, stormy courtship with country legend Johnny Cash. “I want to say my biggest inspiration for this movie obviously was June Carter. She was an incredible woman.”
Hoffman, considered the favorite for the best-actor Oscar as Capote amid the author’s struggles to research and write the true-crime novel “In Cold Blood,” had gushing thanks for his “Capote” co-stars.
“It’s important to say that actors can’t act alone; it’s impossible. What we have to do is support each other,” Hoffman said. “Actors have to have each other’s backs. It’s the only way to act well is when you know the other actor has your back, and these actors had my back, and I hope they know I had theirs.”
“Brokeback Mountain” has been considered the best-picture front-runner at the Oscars, whose nominations come out Tuesday, with awards presented March 5. Its loss to “Crash” could prove a speed bump on the film’s path toward becoming the first explicitly gay-themed movie to win a best-picture award at the Oscars, but “Brokeback Mountain” dominated earlier Hollywood honors so it will likely continue to be the favorite.
It led the Jan. 16 Golden Globes with four wins, among them best dramatic film and director for Ang Lee, who took the same prize Saturday from the Directors Guild of America.
Sean Hayes won best actor in a TV comedy for his role in “Will & Grace.” Felicity Huffman won best actress in a TV comedy for “Desperate Housewives,” which won for best comedy ensemble.
Movie, TV performers honored
A complete list of winners of the 12th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards:
Movies:
Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Capote.”
Actress: Reese Witherspoon, “Walk the Line.”
Supporting actor: Paul Giamatti, “Cinderella Man.”
Supporting actress: Rachel Weisz, “The Constant Gardener.”
Ensemble cast: “Crash.”
Television:
Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: Paul Newman, “Empire Falls.”
Actress in a Television Movie or Miniseries: S. Epatha Merkerson, “Lackawanna Blues.”
Actor in a Drama Series: Kiefer Sutherland, “24.”
Actress in a Drama Series: Sandra Oh, “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Actor in a Comedy Series: Sean Hayes, “Will & Grace.”
Actress in a Comedy Series: Felicity Huffman, “Desperate Housewives.”
Drama ensemble: “Lost.”
Comedy ensemble: “Desperate Housewives.”
Lifetime Achievement: Shirley Temple Black.
