Crowe, Berry get Oscar boost at SAG awards

DAVID GERMAIN, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published Tuesday, March 12, 2002

LOS ANGELES -- Russell Crowe continued his pre-Oscars tear by taking best actor honors at the Screen Actors Guild awards, while Halle Berry boosted her prospects to become the first black woman to win a best actress Academy Award.

At the SAG awards Sunday, Crowe won for his portrayal of a schizophrenic mathematician in "A Beautiful Mind," taking him a step closer to a second straight Academy Award.

Berry won best actress for her part as the widow of an executed death row inmate in "Monster's Ball." She could join Sidney Poitier as the only other black to win an Oscar in a lead-acting category. Will Smith ("Ali") and Denzel Washington ("Training Ground") also could join that company.

"For someone to have 'award-winning' attached to her name means hope for every other actor of color out there," said Berry, who choked down tears back stage.

"I don't really care about what happens at the Oscars. And I don't mean to be flip about it, but so many good things have come my way because of this project, and my life is so indelibly different," Berry said.

Screen Actors Guild winners

Movies

- Actor: Russell Crowe, "A Beautiful Mind."

- Actress: Halle Berry, "Monster's Ball."

- Supporting actor: Ian McKellen, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring."

- Supporting actress: Helen Mirren, "Gosford Park."

- Cast performance: "Gosford Park."

Television

- Actor in a TV movie or miniseries: Ben Kingsley, "Anne Frank."

- Actress in a TV movie or miniseries: Judy Davis, "Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows."

- Actor in a drama series: Martin Sheen, "The West Wing."

- Actress in a drama series: Allison Janney, "The West Wing."

- Actor in a comedy series: Sean Hayes, "Will & Grace."

- Actress in a comedy series: Megan Mullally, "Will & Grace."

- Ensemble in a drama series: "The West Wing," NBC.

- Ensemble in a comedy series: "Sex and the City," HBO.

- Lifetime Achievement Award: Edward Asner.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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