The Help won big at last night’s SAG Awards, with Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer taking home statues for leading and supporting actress. The film also won for motion picture cast, beating out The Artist and Bridesmaids among others. Viola gave some inspirational speeches as we’ve come to expect from her. I think she’s got the Oscar on lock down. She got me all choked up yet again when she talked about being inspired as a little girl to become an actress. Here’s part of her acceptance speech for lead actress and I’m including a photo of her posing with Cecily Tyson:
“I was eight years old when I decided to be an actress. I am am so privileged to be gazing on the beautiful face of the woman who inspired me that beautiful day, and that’s Cecily Tyson. When I woke up and realized how difficult it was to be an actor and how rejection was so high – another beautiful face graced the screen when I was in college, and that’s Meryl who always inspires me… What is there but a dream? You can’t trade in a dream for another dream.” She also gave a shout out to the kids in Central Falls, Rhode Island “to dream big, and dream fierce.”
When The Help won for lead cast, Viola again stepped up and brought the room to tears. She said, in part, “It’s been such a joy to just be a part of this cast… I just want to say that the stain of racism and sexism is not just for people of color or women. It’s all of our burden, all of us. I don’t care how orfinary you may feel, we all of us can inspire change.” It was a nice way to end the night.
I loved Viola’s white sleeveless Marchesa dress with the asymmetric gold sequin pattern along the bodice. I thought it was flattering and atypically pretty for Marchesa. Kaiser told me that it looked like Viola was wearing a boob sling, though, and I definitely noticed how bouncy she was. The dress didn’t look as lovely in motion as it did in photos. I thought her gold cuff bracelet was amazing. She told a cute story to Giuliana Rancic on the red carpet about how her daughter, adopted 3 months ago, tried on her jewelry while she was getting ready and kept saying “Nice, momma.”
Octavia Spencer went with a draped gray Tadashi Shoji with a sequin bodice that was similar to a lot of the other dresses she wore this season. She looked very elegant and I’ve enjoyed seeing her style this season. She also gave a rousing acceptance speech that paid homage to the women who came before her, and thanked civil rights activist Medgar Evers as an “unsung hero” of the film. She dedicated her SAG “to the downtrodden, the underserved, underpriviledged, overtaxed whether emotionally, physically or financially.”
Octavia is getting some press for some comments she made backstage about how she needs to lose weight. This makes me sad, because it should really be about her acting ability, not her size. She was asked a question and she answered it in a self deprecating way. She also joked that “If more women ate, they would be a lot happier. Let me tell you, I am a lot grumpier when I don’t eat.” I can definitely relate.
This was Octavia’s date, her friend Josh Hopkins from “Cougar Town,” aka the guy that Courteney Cox probably cheated with. He really gushed about her to Giuliana, and said “To see a friends’ dreams come true, there’s nothing that can make you happier.” That’s sweet!
Lovely just lovely 🙂
Viola Davis and Michelle Williams were my best dressed of the night.
I’m glad the cast of The Help are getting so much recognition, they were the only good part of that sub-par movie in my opinion.
I loved Michele Williams dress and shoes!
Same for me. I would add Julianna Margulies on my list too.
stunning viola!
Very happy for both of them, great actresses.
I liked both gowns, but liked their Golden Globes gowns more.
Classy. Sophisticated. Elegant. And well deserved. Bot of them were amazing, I liked both of the dresses but I feel their GG gowns were a lot prettier.
Absolutely agree!
On a side note, Lainey must be eating her words a bit today, most best dressed were wearing Marchesa yesterday. A brand she abhors. But Marchesa did tone it down though, not as many frou-frou as usual.
I think this is the first time I don’t actively hate a Marchesa dress.
Viola looked great in it and I am happy she won, and Octavia too.
I liked Viola’s dress, but I hated the hair. It looked like mom hair to me.
Octavia has been stunning all awards season…except last night. Really disliked her look.
It seemed like Viola was wearing some sort of body-glitter. Or she was sweating. She just seemed a bit too shiny.
They both look stunning. Old School Hollywood Movie Star style. Classy, age and figure appropriate dresses.
The grey dress might look better with a different neckline, but other than that I think they both nailed it.
I was wondering what the CougarTown guy was doing at their table! Seems like a nice guy – minus the cheating.
I thought Viola looked great on the red carpet but during her speeches I was so distracted by the GLITTER! I don’t know if it was some kind of shimmer lotion or make-up, but it looked like she was wearing glitter.
Truthfully I liked Octavia Spencer’s acting better, so it’s a shame she isn’t up for the Oscars (I think).
She’s nominated for an Oscar.
It’s not body glitter. It’s just shine (from some lotion or maybe due to the heat)
Viola has amazing arms! I love seeing a women with muscular arms because I tend to have muscular arms as well.
Octavia dresses very nice for her figure. I wish Melissa McCarthy borrowed some of these dresses (although her dress last night was very pretty)
love octavias earings
I havn’t seen the film yet but Viola always looks so classy, she’s great 🙂
Octavia looks stunning, LOVE the pearl grey on her.
Viola, poor thing, is a near miss. Her bodice just isn’t up high enough, and certainly isn’t tight enough. Could have been stunning, but the freeballing girls are just too much.
Love both ladies’ dresses & their speeches.
What a sweet thing for Josh to say.
They both look lovely.. if only they wore a color..
What pretty women! 🙂
So deserving and you can feel their happiness.
Hey there, Josh Hopkins. I can hardly wait for Cougartown to come back.
I love Octavia. Love the dress, love the styling. Great earrings.
Viola looks beautiful, her skin is gorgeous. I don’t totally love the dress…it doesn’t do The Ladies any justice. But the guild award shows are the place to show off the runners-up to your Oscars dress. Solid thirdsies.
I love Viola’s dress! So classy and elegant! Happy for both of them to win the awards.
Octavia was best-dressed for me – she looks lovely – dress and styling is fabulous.
Both ladies look beautiful! 🙂 They do look genuinely very happy with winning, it is very nice to see that these ladies are very humble, down-to-earth and can poke fun at themselves, hope they stay this way!…xx
Gorgeous! And both deserved to win. I didn’t love The Help, but DID love them in it. Amazing performances.
Ick…bad hairdos on both of those ladies! That is the first dress I haven’t liked on Octavia. I wonder if Viola will beat Meryl for the Oscar?
They totally deserved to win! They look lovely too.
Both women looked lovely and elegant.
lovely and talented ladies.
Beautiful women and best speeches of the night. Ocatavia wears that dress like a glove, gorgeous. Hopefully Viola and Ocatavia will have more roles after the Help.
Sorry I disagree about the cuff- a flat thick gold cuff with no other tones/metals was the way to go. But yes only in stills; way too much bouncy bouncy otherwise. Her skin looks so effing beautiful in contrast. Would love love to see her in anything pale or an ELECTRIC blue.
Yaaayyy!!!! Very good indeed. Love Octavia and Viola.