SAG Awards Are More Diverse Than Oscars

Netflix and Amazon dominated the wins at the 22nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday night, and the level of diversity among the TV winners was impossible to miss in light of the outcry over this year’s all-white field of Oscar acting nominees.

Actor Idris Elba, winner of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Beasts of No Nation, and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for Luther, poses with his two trophies during The 22nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Wins for Viola Davis, Queen Latifah, Uzo Aduba and Idris Elba – who took home two awards for Beasts of No Nation and Luther — underscored how television programming has fostered roles for actors that reflect the multiculturalism that is transforming popular culture.

Christian Bale, Steve Carrell, Patricia Arquette, Anna Faris, Jon Hamm and Rachel McAdams were among the Hollywood A-listers on hand to present awards to their peers, while Tina Fey and Amy Poehler teamed up to honor legendary actress Carol Burnett with the Life Achievement Award.

Film

Actors Billy Crudup, John Slattery, Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber, Mark Ruffalo, Brian d’Arcy James and Rachel McAdams accept the Cast in a Motion Picture award for Spotlight. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

Spotlight

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Leonardo DiCaprio
The Revanant

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Brie Larson
Room

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Idris Elba
Beasts of No Nation

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Alicia Vikander
The Danish Girl

Television

The cast of Downton Abbey with their statues at the 22nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards after winning for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. (Photo: Eric Ray Davidson)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Downton Abbey

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Orange Is the New Black

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Kevin Spacey
House of Cards

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Viola Davis
How to Get Away with Murder

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Jeffrey Tambor
Transparent

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Uzo Aduba
Orange Is the New Black

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Idris Elba
Luther

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Queen Latifah
Bessie

Stunts

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

Mad Max: Fury Road

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series

Game of Thrones

Life Achievement Award

Carol Burnett accepts the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Carol Burnett

Reuters contributed to this report.

Mark Heckathorn

Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.