SAG Awards 2017

The presenters and the awardees brought a strong message of justice and inclusion to this year’s SAG awards, which were given out at the end of a long, combative weekend following the new restrictions on people entering the country.

The awards were satisfyingly spread out, honoring a range of productions and sources. Long-time awards favorites and newcomers were recognized, from Denzel Washington (“Fences”) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep”) to Claire Foy (“The Crown”) and the cast of “Stranger Things.” The SAG Award show is always straightforward and elegant. It does not waste time on musical numbers or elaborately produced opening sequences. There are no high-profile hosts. Members of the Screen Actors Guild spoke simply and sincerely about what being an actor meant to them, and then it was just a matter of introducing the nominees and presenting the awards, plus the in memoriam segment and the Lifetime Achievement Award to Lily Tomlin, presented by her “Nine to Five” co-star Dolly Parton (a bit nervous and giggly because her co-presenter, Jane Fonda, had to cancel due to illness).

The awardees:

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Hidden Figures

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Denzel Washington, Fences

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Emma Stone, La La Land

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Viola Davis, Fences

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Hacksaw Ridge

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Stranger Things

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Orange Is the New Black

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
John Lithgow, The Crown

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Claire Foy, The Crown

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
William H. Macy, Shameless

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
Bryan Cranston, All the Way

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
Game of Thrones