Skip to main contentSkip to footer

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


On 25 January 2009
Share this:

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.

Sign up to HELLO Daily! for the best royal, celebrity and lifestyle coverage

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

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