The Help sweeps up awards

The Help, a big-screen drama focusing on race relations in America, was the big winner at the Screen Actors Guild awards ceremony, sweeping the top prizes for best actress, best supporting actress and best ensemble.

... the movie is not just about coloured people or women, it’s about all of us

The film, which tells the story of an aspiring journalist who decides to write a book exposing racism faced by domestic help in the 1960s, beat black-and-white silent movie The Artist, Bridesmaids, The Descendants and other films that had been expected to win top honours.

The Screen Actors Guild are seen as one of the key preludes to the Oscars ceremony, the culmination of the Hollywood awards season, that will be held on February 26.

“It’s been such a labour of love,” said Viola Davis, the winner of the best actress award, as she reminisced about her work in The Help.

“I just want to say that the movie is not just about coloured people or women, it’s about all of us,” she added. “We all can inspire change, every single one of us.”

Octavia Spencer, who won the prize for best supporting actress, said the movie was a light for women who haven’t been given a voice in American history.

“I’m thrilled to hold this honour,” Ms Spencer pointed out.

Ms Spencer outdid Argentine-born French actress Berenice Bejo, of the silent film The Artist. The two will meet and compete again in the same category at the Oscars.

French actor Jean Dujardin was honoured as the best leading actor for his role in The Artist, which is seen by movie critics as a favourite for winning an Oscar next month.

“It’s a love story, a simple story, but it’s not just a black-and-white and silent movie,” said the Frenchman, thanking his colleagues. “It’s a new visual and emotional experience for the audience.”

Mr Dujardin competed for the top actor’s prize against some of the biggest Hollywood names, including George Clooney (The Descendants), Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar) and Brad Pitt (Moneyball). Veteran Canadian actor Christopher Plummer won the award for best supporting actor. Mr Plummer, 82, starred in Beginners, where he played a man who comes to terms with his homosexuality late in life.

The 18th SAG ceremony got under way in Los Angeles with a star-studded group in attendance, including Mr Clooney, Mr Dujardin, Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams and Mr Pitt, who was accompanied by his companion, Angelina Jolie.

In the television category, the comedy Modern Family won the SAG award for best cast in a comedy.

Colombian bombshell Sofia Vergara, who was nominated for her role as Gloria in Modern Family, walked away empty-handed as veteran Betty White, 90, took the award for her role in the comedy Hot in Cleveland.

It was not all bad news for Modern Family, however. It took the best comedy cast defeating Glee, The Big Bang Theory, 30 Rock and The Office.

On Saturday, French film-maker Michel Hazanavicius won the top honour from the Directors Guild of America for The Artist, an award that has traditionally been a strong indicator of Oscar glory.

Mr Hazanavicius captured the DGA’s outstanding achievement in feature film award, beating out competition from Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese for Midnight in Paris and Hugo respectively, and David Fincher and Alexander Payne for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Descendants.

The Artist had already won the top prize from the Producers Guild of America (PGA) earlier this month – another key pre-Oscar bellwether – and picked up three Golden Globes.

The film, is up for 10 Oscars, including best picture and best director.

Complete list of winners

Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Actress: Viola Davis, The Help
Supporting actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Supporting actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Cast: The Help
Stunt ensemble: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Television

Actor in a movie or miniseries: Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail
Actress in a movie or miniseries: Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce
Actor in a drama series: Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Actress in a drama series: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Actor in a comedy series: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Actress in a comedy series: Betty White, Hot in Cleveland
Drama series cast: Boardwalk Empire
Comedy series cast: Modern Family
Stunt ensemble: Game of Thrones

Special award

Life achievement: Mary Tyler Moore