Women’s voices were heard loud and clear this past weekend, and not just at the second annual Women’s March. The 2018 PGA and SAG Awards ceremonies also took place, on Saturday and Sunday respectively, and female-led projects dominated both events.
At the PGAs “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” took home the top TV awards. Fran Sears, Ilene Chaiken, Sheila Hockin, Elisabeth Moss, Kira Snyder, and Leila Gerstein were among the producers honored for the former, and Amy Sherman-Palladino, Sheila Lawrence, Dhana Rivera Gilbert were among those honored for the latter.
Other PGA winners included “Coco’s” Darla K. Anderson, “Black Mirror’s” Annabel Jones, and “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’s” Liz Stanton. Ava DuVernay was presented with the Visionary Award. “I was excited to come here today, because we’re gathering on another historic day of the Women’s March,” she said as she accepted the prize.
Like the Golden Globes earlier this month, the SAG Awards were very much informed by the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. The ceremony featured only female presenters and Kristen Bell became the first SAG host ever. “First time, first person, first lady,” Bell noted in her monologue. “I honestly never thought I’d grow up to be the First Lady but you know what? I kinda like it.”
Bell also took a moment to underline the importance of storytelling and representation in her speech. “It’s a true privilege to experience and share the wide scope of humanity through storytelling,” she stated. “Everyone’s story deserves to be told, especially now. We are living in a watershed moment and as we march forward with active momentum and open ears, let’s make sure that we’re leading the charge with empathy and with diligence.”
Nicole Kidman, who won best actress in a TV movie or limited series for her “Big Little Lies” role, used much of her time at the podium addressing the war women have been waging in Hollywood. Giving a shout out to her fellow nominees and professional heroes like Judi Dench and Isabelle Huppert, Kidman remarked, “how wonderful it is that our careers today can go beyond 40 years old.” She said“Twenty years ago we were pretty washed up by this stage in our lives. So that’s not the case now. We’ve proven and these actresses and so many more are proving that we are potent, powerful, and viable.”
Kidman also observed that, to ensure women are treated equally in show business, change has to be systemic. “I just beg that the industry stays behind us,” she said. “I applaud the writers, directors, studios, and financiers to put passion and money behind our stories. We have proven that we can do this. We can continue to do this but only with the support of this industry and that money and passion.”
The other major female SAG winners were Frances McDormand for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (best lead film actress), Claire Foy for “The Crown” (best actress in a drama series), Allison Janney for “I, Tonya” (best supporting film actress), and Julia Louis-Dreyfus for “Veep” (best actress in a comedy series). It’s worth pointing out that all of the female winners for non-ensemble categories are white. This is once again evidence that however badly this industry has treated — and treats — women in general, women of color usually have to contend with worse.
“Three Billboards,” a portrait of a grieving mother (McDormand) seeking justice for her daughter’s rape and murder, won Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. “Veep,” which follows the travails of politician Selina Meyer (Louis-Dreyfus), received Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
Check out all of the female PGA and SAG winners below.
SAG winners list adapted from Deadline.
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
FRANCES McDORMAND / Mildred — “THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI” (Fox Searchlight)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth II — “THE CROWN” (Netflix)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
NICOLE KIDMAN / Celeste Wright — “BIG LITTLE LIES” (HBO)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
ALLISON JANNEY / LaVona Golden — “I, TONYA” (Neon/30West)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / Selina Meyer — “VEEP” (HBO)
PGA winners list adapted from Deadline.
Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures
“Coco”
Producer: Darla K. Anderson
The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Season 1)
Producers: Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, Ilene Chaiken, Sheila Hockin, Eric Tuchman, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Joseph Boccia, Elisabeth Moss, Kira Snyder, Leila Gerstein
The Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Season 1)
Producers: Daniel Palladino, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Sheila Lawrence, Dhana Rivera Gilbert
David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television
“Black Mirror” (Season 4)
Producers: Annabel Jones, Charlie Brooker
Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television
“Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath” (Season 1, Season 2)
Producers: Leah Remini, Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, Myles Reiff, Adam Saltzberg, Erin Gamble, Lisa Rosen, Grainne Byrne, Taylor Levin, Alex Weresow, Rachelle Mendez
Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (Season 4)
Producers: John Oliver, Tim Carvell, Liz Stanton
Outstanding Producer of Competition Television
“The Voice” (Season 12, Season 13)
Producers: John de Mol, Mark Burnett, Audrey Morrissey, Lee Metzger, Chad Hines, Amanda Zucker, Kyra Thompson, Jay Bienstock, Stijn Bakkers, Mike Yurchuk, Teddy Valenti, Carson Daly
