THE HELP (DREAMWORKS PICTURES/ TOUCHSTONE PICTURES)
VIOLA DAVIS: You know, we arrived on the set in July in 2010, with such a heavy load on our shoulder. Such great expectations were already there for this book that was so beloved. And it’s been such a labor of love. And they say that the ensemble is just a group effort, just brought together to create a singular effect. And all these actors on the stage gave up their ego and were able to just work. And it’s been such a joy to just be a part of this cast.
And me and Octavia, we have merged into “Aibileen” and “Minny,” by the way. [laughter] And 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. [applause]
And we absolutely – I don’t care how ordinary you may feel – we all of us can inspire change, every single one of us. Thank you. [applause]
JEAN DUJARDIN/ George- “THE ARTIST” (The Weinstein Company)
JEAN DUJARDIN: Oy…oh my god my god my god my god my god my god my god my god my god! Thank you.
Okay, it’s too much. I was a very bad student. I didn’t listen in class. I was always dreaming. My teachers called me “Jean de la lune” – “Jean of the moon.” And I realize now that I never stopped dreaming. Thank you very much.
Thank you for this dream. Thank you for – thank you to the Screen Actors Guild. It’s an honor. Thank you to the Harvey Weinstein Company. Thank you to the courageous Thomas Langmann. Thank you, Berenice Bejo, my partner. Thank you, James Cromwell. I love you. Penelope,”Niecy.” And thank you, Michel, for giving me this incredible gift of “George Valentine.”
VIOLA DAVIS/ Aibileen Clark- “THE HELP” (DreamWorks Pictures/ Touchstone Pictures)
VIOLA DAVIS: I was eight years old when I decided to be an actor. And I am just so privileged to be gazing on the beautiful face of the woman who inspired me that beautiful day, and that’s Cicely Tyson. [applause] And when I woke up and realized how difficult it was to be an actor, and how the rejection was so high, then another beautiful face graced the screen when I was in college, and that was Meryl, who just… [applause]…always inspires me. But there’s so many people involved in “The Help,” in lieu of mentioning all them, I just have to say that, what is there but a dream. You can’t trade in your dream for another dream.
I am so proud to be an actor, and I thank the Screen Actors Guild for this award. And I have a special, special note to the kids in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in Segue Institute of Learning in Central Falls, Rhode Island: to dream big and dream fierce. Thank you very much. [applause]
Outstanding Performance by a
Female Actor in a Leading Role
Cast of Meryl Streep
The Iron Lady
Transcript of Meryl Streep
The Iron Lady
Outstanding Performance by a
Female Actor in a Leading Role
Cast of Tilda Swinton
We Need To Talk About Kevin
Transcript of Tilda Swinton
We Need To Talk About Kevin
Outstanding Performance by a
Female Actor in a Leading Role
Cast of Michelle Williams
My Week With Marilyn
Transcript of Michelle Williams
My Week With Marilyn
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER/ Hal- “BEGINNERS” (Focus Features)
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER: I just can’t tell you what fun I have had being a member of the world’s second oldest profession. [laughter] I mean, actors are gregarious and wacky – are they not - and I love them dearly. But when they honor you, it’s like being lit by the Holy Grail. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Of course, my admiration and respect goes out to my fellow nominees. I’m so flattered to be on the same bill. And I want to thank my screen partner, Ewan McGregor, who makes acting look so impossibly easy! [applause]
And Michael Mills who wrote such a warm and human story, and the rest of the [chuckles] Goran Visnjic and the dog called Cosmo, and the two girls who produced the movie: Leslie Erdang and Miranda de Pencier]. And my little band of agents provocateurs: Lou and Berta Pitt, Carter Cohen, Pippa Markham and Perry Zimel, who have managed to successfully keep me off the streets. And to focus for being so extraordinarily loyal and supportive and generous, my daughter Amanda, another wacky actor—[laughter]—of whom I am so proud. And lastly, my long-suffering wife Elaine who 43 years ago came to my rescue and saved my life. Thank you. [applause] Thank you.
OCTAVIA SPENCER/ Minny Jackson- “THE HELP” (DreamWorks Pictures/ Touchstone Pictures)
OCTAVIA SPENCER: Oh wow, I need to work out a little more. That guy’s heavy. Oh my God, this means to much to me coming from you ,SAG, you have no idea. Thank you so much. [applause] And thank you for putting me in a category with so many beautiful women that I know and love. So, thank you.
Bu,t I have to say that it was really a privilege to work on a film that gave a voice to so many women who made it possible for me to be standing here tonight. [applause]
These women represented our mothers, our grandmothers, and it was their courage and them facing the challenges that they faced every day, and living their life, and dignity and grace. And I thank you. By honoring me, you honor them.
I also want to thank an unsung hero of “The Help”: Medgar Evers and his family. [applause] And finally, I want to thank all the people out there to went to support this movie, and after watching it, felt something. You felt compelled to make a change in your lives, so I’m going to dedicate this… to the downtrodden, the underserved, the underprivileged, overtaxed, whether emotionally, physically or financially. And thank you so much. Oh my God!! This is great! [applause]
