SAG Awards 2015: 10 Favorite Speeches

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, Orange Is the New Black
Getting the nod over the frequently honored Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Aduba delivered the kind of speech you only get from a first-time winner. With tears in her eyes, she thanked everyone she needed to, from Netflix to her cast and crew, before ending on a powerful note, proclaiming that ”the day I got this job was the day I had stopped acting.” To top it all off with a classy touch, she then declared that her greatest honor was not the award in her hand, but simply to be in the room.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series, Shameless
The nine-time nominee started his speech on a perfect note: ”I’ve written so many great acceptance speeches that I never got to give, but not tonight!” He then proceeded to NOT thank his fellow nominees because, ”forget it, you lost.” And to continue his winning streak, Macy dished out the word ”bodacious” to describe Showtime before telling his wife, Felicity Huffman, ”I love going to bed with you, too.”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, Whiplash
Give him the win for the most composed speech of the night, too. After giving a shout-out to all 49 actors who appeared on screen with him in the movie, he turned his attention to his wife, who recently returned to work after taking time off to be a mother to their ”above average children.” And now that she’s stepping behind the camera, Simmons relished his own numerous new opportunities. You know, because ”I’m sleeping with the director.”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, Boyhood
Arquette has been sweeping awards season for her work in Boyhood, but her SAG Awards win gave her a natural opportunity to salute her lineage and chosen craft. ”I’m a fourth generation actor,” she said. ”My family has been committed to acting for over a century through feast or famine. My father Lewis Arquette taught me to approach work with compassion and gratitude and taught me also how hard it is to make a living as an actor.”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie, Olive Kitteridge
McDormand’s straight face made her a meme at the Golden Globes (where she didn’t win). Her speech at the SAG Awards proved that she is not one to beat around the bush—and that she can crack a smile. McDormand wished that ”we can all get some really cozy slippers, a box of See’s Nuts & Chews, hang out, and watch more of our work.” She then shamelessly shilled for Olive Kitteridge (streaming! and on DVD!) and her show Early Shaker Spirituals.

Introduction for Debbie Reynolds’ Lifetime Achievement Award
Carrie Fisher introduced her mother Debbie Reynolds with a mix of zany, honest humor, self deprecation, and genuine affection. ”She has been more than a mother to me, not much, but definitely more,” Fisher said. ”She’s been an unsolicited stylist, interior decorator, and marriage counselor.” When discussing her mother’s work with The Thalians, which raises money for mental health-related causes, Fisher joked, ”and four and a half million of that money is allocated just for me.” Even as she got serious, she didn’t get that serious: ”This is an extraordinarily kind, generous, gifted, funny woman who would give you the shirt off her back if Vivien Leigh hadn’t once worn it in Gone with the Wind.”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, The Theory of Everything
Give the winner points for his genuine shock, as well as his mention of other performances—including the non-nominated Bradley Cooper and David Oyelowo. Redmayne then continued his reign of charm by dedicating ”this very wonderful skinny man” to all those who have lived, or are currently living, with ALS.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, How to Get Away With Murder
Claiming the award in a category that included both Julianna Margulies and Tatiana Maslany, Davis took the stage to describe her daughter’s desire to be included in the nightly stories she hears from mom. That led Davis to thank her series’ creators ”for thinking a sexualized, messy, mysterious woman could be a 49-year-old dark-skinned African American woman who looks like me.”

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
The Downton Abbey cast has been in this position before, but this time they took the opportunity to gently rib Allen Leech for spending the night at a different table. (He’s also in The Imitation Game.) ”Yeah, he didn’t choose to sit with us!” Sophie McShera teased.

Outstanding Performance by a Film Cast
Birdman may have taken home the night’s top prize but their speech was a joyous comedy of errors. Edward Norton first handed the mic to Michael Keaton, to honor ”age before beauty.” When it was Naomi Watts’ turn, she tripped and Emma Stone mouthed ”sorry” with a horrified look. Watts then ceded the mic to Zach Galifianakis, who borrowed Julianne Moore’s previously delivered speech for her Still Alice win: ”When I was on As the World Turns…”