Screen Stars and Rock Stars

British actors Daniel Day-Lewis and Julie Christie win at Screen Actors Awards; British Sea Power rocker dives into crowd, gets knocked out 

Day-Lewis and Christie Best of British

The very first Screen Actors Guild Awards was held in 1995. It may have been a newcomer in the awards arena but the event was packed with the best known actors. Some present at that first ceremony were:

Edward James Olmos

Morgan Freeman

John Travolta

Susan Sarandon

Jessica Lange

Helen Hunt

The Screen Actors Guild’s award statue is called The Actor. The highest honour of the Guild’s is the Life Achievement Award. The first actor to receive this honour was George Burns. His close friend Anne Margaret was in attendance. The Screen Actors Guild Award is today regarded as one of the highest accolades in the industry. 

This year the best actor and actress are both British. Daniel Day-Lewis and Julie Christie have both received Guild’s awards. Daniel Day-Lewis was awarded for his role in There Will Be Blood and Julie Christie for her role in Away From Her. The Screen Actors Guild Awards was able to present without any repercussions from the writer’s union. This was the only award show in Hollywood to be unaffected this year. 

There was no picket line at the awards ceremony and many super stars were to be spotted such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. The television awards were mostly taken by the actors of The Sopranos. Best Film Award was presented to the Coen Brothers for their film No Country for Old Men. The Spanish actor Javier Bardem won the Guild’s award for best supporting actor for his role in the same film. 

Daniel Day-Lewis is a recognized actor. He was nominated for an Oscar in 2003 for Gangs of New York and in 1994 for In The Name of the Father. However, he actually won an Oscar in 1990 for his role in My Left Foot. This year, on receiving his award Day-Lewis acknowledged Heath Ledger. In fact, he dedicated his Guild’s award to the recently deceased actor. Day-Lewis spoke of Ledger’s performance in Brokeback Mountain as ‘moving as anything I think I’ve ever seen’. 

The seasoned actress Julie Christie has a long list of prestigious nominations and awards. She won an Oscar in 1965 for her role in Darling. The actress who plays the role of a woman facing Alzheimer’s disease in Away From Her lost her close partner to the disease. Christie has been active in a number of social awareness programs for many years. At this years’ ceremony she made reference to the writers’ disagreement. The writers’ union is backed by the Screen Actors Guild. Christie stated ‘it’s lovely to receive an award from your own union’. 

British Sea Power Goes Headfirst

Rocker tries to crowd surf, gets knocked unconscious at concert 

Members of rock bands are notorious for taking risks. British Sea Power is no exception to the rule. They have been called ‘different’ in a genre that is different. Their indie label encourages their explosive creativity. 

In true devil-may-care attitude Phil Summer threw himself headlong into a Leeds crowd of adoring fans. 

For some reason the fans were unable to catch Phil. The musician fell headfirst to the ground. Blood was spilled and he lay unconscious for several minutes. In spite of his injuries the rock star made an attempt to be back on stage as soon as possible. After being unconscious for three minutes the musician was taken to hospital in an ambulance and had to have stitches and repair to a molar. A spokesperson called him ‘brave’, although some may find another word for it.