There were so many great moments viewers didn’t get to see during the 2012 SAG Awards which aired last night live from The Shrine Auditorium in L.A.
From winners Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis’s reactions when they won their awards form Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Lead Actress respectively to Michael Kenneth Williams and his Boardwalk Empire co-star Peter Van Wagner celebrating backstage after the show won outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series, we have some of the touching moments, videos and sound bites from backstage.
Viola Davis on her win:
“I’ve come to these awards with no expectations. I’m just always pleasantly surprised and knowing that really, at the end of the day, I got to go back to work. I got to get back to being an actor. I’m always trying to keep it in perspective. It’s been so wonderful. I am [on cloud nine]. You see, I’m shocked. It’s like I’m trying to gain control of my appendages.
Viola on the Oscars:
“I’ve got to think about that [Oscar] dress. You know, I lost the Miss Central Falls Recreation contest when I was 8 years old, so the beauty queen dress thing, I’m telling you, I’m still trying to get into that thing! I feel I’m getting there though. I’m getting it.”
Viola on beating out Meryl Streep who beat her out at the Golden Globes:
“I don’t see that ‘best’ thing going on. Every time I start a job I feel like I’m starting with a clean slate. So it’s hard for me to feel like I triumphed over Meryl Streep. I just feel like more people checked my box more.”
Viola on critics of The Help:
“During the course of promoting this movie and having to defend my choices in playing a maid in 1963 Mississippi, I’ve had to find my voice as a woman, and as a woman of color.”
Octavia Spencer on her win:
“I have been a member of SAG for 16 years. It’s beyond profound for me. It’s your peers saying you are the best tonight. I am thrilled because it’s shining a light to women who haven’t been given a voice in history.”
Octavia on how playing Minny affected her to speak out on injustice:
“I grew up in the Bible belt and I realized that to be silent is to be passive and taking this journey with Minny and Aibileen … I realized that I can’t be silent.”
Cicely Tyson on Octavia and Viola’s wins and her win for best ensemble for The Help:
“What I feel is extreme promise and hope. There was always this idea that women could never work at the box office.”
What a great night for black actresses!
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