Doing the double, Idris Elba took home two gongs from Saturday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards on a night when diversity was THE big winner. The black
Doing the double, Idris Elba took home two gongs from Saturday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards on a night when diversity was THE big winner.
The black, British actor won Best Supporting Actor for playing a mercenary commander in Netflix’s West African war drama ‘Beasts of No Nation,’ and best actor in a limited series for BBC’s crime drama “Luther”.
“I really don’t know what to say tonight but two wins in one night is incredible,” Elba said.
He also joked on stage: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to diverse TV”.
You wait for one bus and TWO come along at the same time. Life innit. @SAGawards Thank you. Saaaaaaaagyyyyyy!! pic.twitter.com/XJvtKqJb7B
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) 31 Janvier 2016
Several black performers were honoured including Queen Latifah who was named Best Actress in a TV Movie or Mini-Series for ‘Bessie’.
It marks a big contrast to the all-white acting nominees of this year’s Oscars.
“I think reality is the most important thing that needs to be faced,” Queen Latifah told reporters.
“The world is very diverse. We are global. America is very diverse and the boards that vote for these films and television really should reflect the people who watch the content.”
The top three film awards at the ceremony in Los Angeles still went to white actors – Leonardo DiCaprio, Brie Larson and the cast of “Spotlight” about the Boston Globe’s probe of child abuse in the Catholic Church.
#SAGAwards: Night of "diverse TV’" ends with "Spotlight" victory https://t.co/lYqbcbdKyI pic.twitter.com/FpFCvbbWU5
— Variety (@Variety) 31 Janvier 2016
Larson, who played a woman held hostage with a young son in “Room,” was named Best Actress while DiCaprio will be hoping that his Best Actor prize for playing a fur-trapper in pioneer-era retribution drama “The Revenant” means his first Oscar is just around the corner.