Screen Actors Guild rewards LGBT performances
By Ben Kelly
LGBT performances were among those rewarded at last night’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, in a night that became marked for its recognition of diversity on screen.
The cast of Netflix hit Orange Is The New Black won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series and Uzo Aduba was recognised with the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for playing lesbian character Suzanne ‘Crazy Eyes’ Warren.
Accepting the cast award, Laura Prepon (who plays lesbian character Alex) said, “Look at this stage, this is what we talk about when we talk about diversity. Different race, color, creed, sexual orientation.”
Queen Latifah was honoured for her role as bisexual blues legend Bessie Smith in the HBO TV film Bessie and Jeffrey Tambor took the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Transparent.
Speaking to Attitude in December, Tambor discussed his role in the hit Amazon Prime series. “I’m a cisgender man who’s been given a huge responsibility,” he said, “as well as a very toothsome, laboursome, great role.”
The Screen Actors Guild Awards have been praised – not least by winners and nominees – for their recognition of diversity which has been so lacking in this year’s Academy Award nominations.
Idris Elba won two awards, one for Best Supporting Actor in the first made for Netflix movie Beasts of No Nation, and one for his role in the TV show Luther. “Welcome to diversity,” he joked when he took to the stage – to rapturous applause from the audience.
Viola Davis won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her turn as feisty, bisexual lawyer Annalise Keating in How To Get Away With Murder. Accepting her award she said, “Diversity is not a trending topic…I’ve always considered myself an actor since I got my equity card in 1988. I’ve never put any limitations on myself.
“I see myself as an actor,” she continued. “No matter what is going on in the business, I will find a way to practice my art, and all of the actors of color who I know don’t place any limitations on themselves either. So regardless of what is going on with the Academy, regardless of what is going on in Hollywood, they will find a way to be excellent. We always have and we always will.”
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