Nicole Kidman wins SAG Award for role in Big Little Lies

Nicole Kidman's SAG win for Big Little Lies follows Golden Globe and Emmy trophies.

Nicole Kidman accepts the award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a television movie or limited series for "Big Little Lies"

Nicole Kidman accepts the award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a television movie or limited series for "Big Little Lies" Source: AAP

Nicole Kidman has continued her domination of Hollywood awards season for her role in Big Little Lies with a win at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Kidman's award show haul also includes Emmy, Golden Globe, and Broadcast Film Critics wins for playing a physically, sexually and psychologically abused wife in the TV mini-series.

Kidman beat Big Little Lies co-stars Laura Dern and Reese Witherspoon as well as Feud: Bette & Joan stars Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon for the SAG on Sunday at the ceremony underway at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Kidman paid tribute to her fellow nominees and other Hollywood leading actresses including Judi Dench, Jane Fonda and Meryl Streep in an emotional acceptance speech.

The Australian said it was wonderful that actresses' careers could extend beyond their 40th birthday.

"Twenty years ago we were pretty washed up at this stage in our lives," Kidman said.

"That's not the case now.

"We have proven we are potent, powerful and viable."




Stars descended on the red carpet Sunday for the Screen Actors Guild Awards, with Black comedy crime story "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" expected to dominate a ceremony that will honor Hollywood's women.

Reese Witherspoon, Susan Sarandon, Morgan Freeman, Margot Robbie, Sterling K. Brown, and "Stranger Things" star Millie Bobby Brown were among the glamorous arrivals at the Shrine Exposition Center in downtown Los Angeles, hosted by actress Kristen Bell. 

The awards are a bellwether for the Oscars in March, and are  being closely watched this year as they come with Hollywood engulfed in the worst sexual misconduct scandal in its history.

Allegations from harassment to rape have sparked the downfall of numerous powerful industry players, starting with movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and including actors Kevin Spacey, Jeffrey Tambor and Louis C.K. as well as filmmaker Brett Ratner.



In the aftermath of Saturday's second "Women's March" which brought together hundreds of thousands of people in the United States --  between 300,000 and 600,000 in Los Angeles alone -- all SAG statuettes were being presented by actresses, including Halle Berry, Dakota Fanning, Lupita Nyong'o and Emma Stone. 

The actors guild has been keen to back the Time's Up movement created by 300 influential women in Hollywood to fund the defense of victims of sexual abuse, as well as the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct. 

Unlike at the Golden Globes, where all actresses dressed in black, sequins, sparkles, feathers and an air of Tinseltown glam were back on the SAG red carpet.

"We are living in a watershed moment and we march forward with active momentum and open ears, let's make sure we are leading the charge with empathy and diligence, because fear and anger never win the race," said Bell as she opened the show.

William H. Macy picked up the first award of the night -- best actor in a comedy series -- while Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is battling cancer and couldn't attend, won the female equivalent.

"I think it's a glorious way to make a living, especially in this day and age, when so many people can't recognize the truth or don't think it's important," said Macy.

HBO's "Veep," starring Louis-Dreyfus as hapless former president Selina Meyer, won best ensemble in a comedy series.



Influential

"Four Billboards" took four nods in three categories -- best ensemble cast, best lead actress (Frances McDormand), and best supporting actor (Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell).

Joining that movie in the running for best cast -- the SAG's top award -- are romantic comedy "The Big Sick," racial satire "Get Out," offbeat dramedy "Lady Bird" and civil rights drama "Mudbound."

On the TV side, three series were tied at the top with four nominations each: HBO drama "Big Little Lies" and -- including the stunt team nominations -- Netflix sci-fi thriller "Stranger Things" and wrestling comedy "Glow."

SAG nominations are the second major announcement in Tinseltown's glittering awards season, which climaxes with the Academy Awards in March.

Guillermo del Toro's acclaimed 1960s-set fantasy romance "The Shape of Water" led the Golden Globe nominations with seven but picked up just two SAG nods.

"Three Billboards," starring McDormand as a mother seeking to avenge the rape and murder of her daughter, picked up six Globes nods and has been seen as a top Oscars contender since taking the influential audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

While far less flashy than the Globes, the SAG awards are seen as more of an indicator of Oscars glory. 

Members represent about 1,200 of the roughly 6,000 voters for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.





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