SAG Awards 2024: Oppenheimer dominates ahead of Oscars
Oppenheimer continued its dominance of awards season as it scored several major prizes at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards on Saturday.
Christopher Nolan's film won best film cast, while Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr won individual acting prizes.
Accepting the top prize on behalf of the cast, Sir Kenneth Branagh said they were all "grateful, humbled and proud".
The evening was peppered with remarks about the actors' strike, which brought Hollywood to a standstill last year.
Paying tribute to the US actors' union, Sir Kenneth said: "Thank you for fighting for us, thank you for every Sag-Aftra member whose support and whose sacrifice allows us to be standing here better than we were before."
He recalled the night last July when the cast of Oppenheimer downed tools at the film's London premiere as the strike began.
"We went from the red carpet, we didn't see the film that night, we happily went in the direction of solidarity with your good selves, so this is a full circle moment for us," he told the audience of actors.
"We are grateful and humbled and proud not just to be in Mr Nolan's masterpiece, but proud to be in your company."
The film, about theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, described as the father of the atomic bomb, is almost certain to win best picture at the Oscars next month following its success at SAG and other precursor ceremonies.
The prize for best film cast is seen as the top honour at the SAG Awards in the absence of a best picture category. Winners at the annual ceremony, held in Los Angeles, are voted for by other actors.
Irish actor Cillian Murphy said his win was "extremely, extremely special to me, because it comes from you guys".
He recalled: "Twenty-eight years ago when I was trying to become an actor, I was a failed musician, and I felt extremely like an interloper, but looking out on all of you guys here today, I know I'm part of something truly wonderful, so thank you so much."
Best actor had been seen a two-horse race ahead of the Oscars on 10 March, but Murphy's win gives him significant momentum over his nearest rival, Paul Giamatti of The Holdovers.
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