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Kate and 'Slumdog' crew edge closer to Oscar glory after SAGs

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Click here to see the colourful gowns from the red carpet

Kate Winslet should be getting accustomed to a winning scenario by now. Yet at Sunday's Screen Actors Guild Award the British actress seemed almost as overwhelmed as she was during her Golden Globes acceptance speech.

The Reading-born leading lady, who was resplendent in a figure-hugging blue dress, received the best supporting female actor trophy for her role in The Reader. "I'm a little bit lost for words, I'm sorry," she admitted.

"I'm too emotional to lose and too emotional to win. I need lessons in awards season," she added later.

The young actors of Slumdog Millionaire could empathise. Dev Patel and Freida Pinto stared wide-eyed in disbelief as their names were read out as the best ensemble cast – ahead of heavyweights such as Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett.

London-born Dev was even more excited on hearing that the children who appear in the movie - two of whom actually live in the slums - would get their own awards. "They're all going to have one of these in Mumbai?" he asked incredulously. "They don't even weigh as much as this!"

Another high-profile win came for Hugh Laurie, taking home his second consecutive SAG award as best actor in a TV show for playing a misanthropic medic in House.

The British star joked he'd lost a bet by winning. "I actually had a hundred dollars on James Spader (of Boston Legal). This is just not my night," he quipped.

Other awards went to Meryl Streep, named best actress for her role as a nun in Doubt, and Sean Penn, awarded best actor for his portrayal of a gay rights activist in Milk.

Meanwhile, Heath Ledger's turn as The Joker in Batman flick The Dark Knight was recognised with a posthumous honour in the supporting actor category.

Photo: Getty Images
The Reader star took home the best supporting actress gong for her part in the WWII flick. Kate's Nazi-era role has been entered in the best actress category at the Oscars, meaning a close race with Doubt's Meryl Streep, who took the top prize at the SAGs
Photo: Getty Images
The actors of Slumdog Millionaire celebrate being recognised as the best ensemble cast
Photo: Getty Images
Hugh Laurie joked his best TV actor win for House had lost him a bet. "I actually had a hundred dollars on James Spader," he deadpanned

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