'Sopranos' Sweeps TV Drama Prizes

Jan 28, 11:26 AM

By David Germain

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

"No Country for Old Men" solidified its Academy Awards prospects as Javier Bardem won as supporting-actor and the film was honored for overall cast at Sunday's Screen Actors Guild Awards, which may stand as the highlight of Hollywood's film-honors season if the writers strike undermines the Oscars.

Past Oscar winners Daniel Day-Lewis of "There Will Be Blood" and Julie Christie of "Away From Her" won the lead-acting honors, also giving them a boost to win the same trophies at the Oscars.

Day-Lewis dedicated his win to Heath Ledger, found dead in his Manhattan loft last week.

"In 'Brokeback Mountain,' he was unique, he was perfect," said Day-Lewis, already an Oscar winner for "My Left Foot." "That scene in the trailer at the end of the film is as moving as anything I think I've ever seen."

The SAG show itself was generally free of labor talk, with only Christie addressing the matter openly among the winners.

"It's lovely to receive an award from your own union," Christie said, "especially at a time when we're being so forcefully reminded how important unions are."

Bardem had kind words for Joel and Ethan Coen, who directed "No Country" and adapted the screenplay from Cormac McCarthy's novel.

"Thank you, guys, for hiring me, and thank you for taking the hard work of choosing the good takes instead of the ones where I really sucked," said Bardem, who won for his chilling role as a relentless killer tracking a fortune in missing drug money.

Ruby Dee won supporting actress for "American Gangster." She shared fond thoughts of her late husband and frequent acting partner, Ossie Davis, who died in 2005.

Though its last episode aired several months ago, "The Sopranos" grabbed all three TV drama categories to open the ceremony, with James Gandolfini and Edie Falco taking both lead-acting prizes and the entire ensemble joining them to accept the award for overall cast performance.

"You're not supposed to get this attached because it's a transient business," Falco said. "I have fallen in love with these people and I don't know how you walk away from that."

Minutes before, Gandolfini took the first trophy of the night.

"This is our last official act as Sopranos together," Gandolfini said. "Here's to you guys. Thank you very much. It's been 10 years. It's been an honor. That's all I can say."

For comedy series, Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey were the lead- acting winners for "30 Rock," while "The Office" won for best ensemble.

Normally a lesser cousin to the Golden Globes and Oscars, the SAG Awards could end up being the biggest celebration this time around: The swanky Globes were canceled because of a strike by the Writers Guild of America, which refused to let its members work on the show, and the fate of the Oscars on Feb. 24 is in question because of the same labor quarrel.

the winners

A complete list of winners of the 14th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards:

Movies

Actor Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood."

Actress Julie Christie, "Away From Her."

Supporting actor Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men."

Supporting actress Ruby Dee, "American Gangster."

Cast "No Country for Old Men."

Television

Actor in a movie or miniseries Kevin Kline, "As You Like It."

Actress in a movie or miniseries Queen Latifah, "Life Support."

Actor in a drama series James Gandolfini, "The Sopranos."

Actress in a drama series Edie Falco, "The Sopranos."

Actor in a comedy series Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock."

Actress in a comedy series Tina Fey, "30 Rock."

Drama series cast "The Sopranos."

Comedy series cast "The Office."

Lifetime Achievement Charles Durning

(c) 2008 Virginian - Pilot. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved. 'Sopranos' Sweeps TV Drama Prizes
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