For an awards ceremony that isn’t the Oscars or the Golden Globes, there was plenty of attention heading into the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday.
Call it a stunt or a bold statement, but for the first time ever, the SAGs featured a female-only lineup of award presenters, and its first host, Kristen Bell. And it arrived less than 24 hours after the Women’s March that President Trump tried his best to say was in his honor. (It wasn’t.)
The unprecedented move was meant to further the conversation about sexual harassment in Hollywood following the #MeToo movement, the fall of accused predators like Harvey Weinstein and the Time’s Up campaign, which was launched this month by many of the same women at the Shrine Auditorium on Sunday.
The surprise, however, was not Bell’s competent performance, or that women carried an entire show or that James Franco attended after misconduct allegations were recently launched against him.
It was that ageism, another byproduct of the industry’s endemic misogyny, appeared to crumble as each new category and award was announced by presenters such as Geena Davis and Rosanna Arquette.
How wonderful it is that our careers today can go beyond 40 years old.
— Nicole Kidman
“How wonderful it is that our careers today can go beyond 40 years old,” said Nicole Kidman, 50, accepting the award for actress in a limited drama series for the acclaimed “Big Little Lies.” “Because 20 years ago, we were pretty washed up by this stage in our lives. That’s not the case now. [We are]… potent, powerful and viable. I just beg that the industry stays behind us because our stories are finally being told.”
Kidman was up against “Big Little Lies” co-stars Laura Dern, 50, Reese Witherspoon, 41, and “Feud’s” Susan Sarandon, 71, and Jessica Lange, 68.
One after another, seasoned female performers walked off stage with the SAG award, “the Actor,” who like Oscar, is a figurine of svelte young male. Oh how the tables have turned in Hollywood.
Frances McDormand, 60, won for her leading film role in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Her competitors included Judi Dench, 83, (“Victoria and Abdul”) and Sally Hawkins, 41, (“The Shape of Water”).
And on it went. In the supporting category, Allison Janney won for her portrayal of skater Tonya Harding’s chain-smoking mom in “I, Tonya.” Other nominees included Laurie Metcalf (“Lady Bird”) and Mary J. Blige (“Mudbound”).
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Actress Kristen Bell, the SAG Awards’ first host, walks the red carpet.
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“Get Out” actress Allison Williams greets fans during the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards.
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Dakota Fanning poses on the red carpet during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall.
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Halle Berry and Eris Baker arrive for the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Goldie Hawn and daughter Kate Hudson walk the red carpet during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, actor/director Greta Gerwig and actor Timothee Chalamet hug and pose during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles.
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Gina Rodriguez acknowledges the crowd and photographers while walking the red carpet at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Rita Moreno, who will present the Lifetime Achievement Award, arrives at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“The Big Sick” couple Emily V. Gordon, left, and Kumail Nanjiani arrive at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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“Get Out” actress Allison Williams and “I, Tonya” actress Margot Robbie attend the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Elisabeth Moss during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on Sunday, January 21, 2018. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Steve and Nancy Carell during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on Sunday, January 21, 2018. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Geena Davis walks under the tent during the red carpet arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Allison Janney during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on Sunday, January 21, 2018. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Timothee Chalamet takes a selfie for the women in the stands in the rear during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on Sunday, January 21, 2018. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Leslie Bibb, Sam Rockwell Jeff Daniels and wife Kathleen Rosemary Treado during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on Sunday, January 21, 2018. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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“Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator Larry David is in the crowd as participants arrive during the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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“I, Tonya” actress Margot Robbie strikes a pose during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Molly Sims hits the red carpet during the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“Black-ish” and “Grown-ish” actress Yara Shahidi strikes a pose during the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards. Next to her is “This Is Us” actor Lonnie Chavis.
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“This Is Us” actress Mandy Moore hits the red carpet during the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards.
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Sam Rockwell gives Allison Janney a kiss during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on Sunday, January 21, 2018. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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“This Is Us” actor Milo Ventimiglia during the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards.
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Yvonne Strahovski is in all white while posing on the red carpet at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Jeff Daniels and his wife, Kathleen Rosemary Treado, arrive at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“Orange is the New Black” actress Uzo Aduba poses outside the 24th SAG Awards.
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“Claws” actress Niecy Nash greets the crowd and photographers at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“Orange is the New Black” actress Danielle Brooks arrives at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“Orange is the New Black” actress Taylor Schilling poses during the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards.
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Marisa Tomei strides down the red carpet at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“Stranger Things” actor Sean Astin and his daughter actress Alexandra Astin walk the red carpet during the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“Glow” actress Sydelle Noel on the red carpet for the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” actress Samara Weaving during the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“The Handmaid’s Tale” actress Samira Wiley and her wife, screenwriter Lauren Morelli, walk the red carpet at the SAG Awards.
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“The Big Sick” actress Holly Hunter is golden during the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“The Florida Project” actor Willem Dafoe and his wife, director Giada Colagrande, stop for photos during the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“Veep” actor Nelson Franklin walks the red carpet during the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“Orange Is the New Black” actor Brad William Henke arrives at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“Orange Is the New Black” actress Jessica Pimentel shows off her train during the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards.
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“Black-ish” actor Anthony Anderson and Alvina Renee Stewart pose on the red carpet for the 24th SAG Awards.
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Actress Connie Britton, left, poses for photographers on the red carpet for the 24th SAG Awards.
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Host Kristen Bell walks the Screen Actors Guild Awards red carpet Sunday at the Shrine Auditorium.
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Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson arrive on the red carpet for the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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“Veep” actors Timothy Simons and Tony Hale during the arrivals at the 24th SAG Awards.
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Susan Kelechi Watson (“This Is Us”) takes a pause on the red carpet at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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“Black-ish” star Tracee Ellis Ross.
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“Stranger Things” cast members Dacre Montgomery, Natalia Dyer and Joe Keery get together on the red carpet at the SAG Awards. Actress Madeline Brewer (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) is shown at far right.
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“Black-ish” actress Jenifer Lewis poses at the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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“Stranger Things’” Natalia Dyer during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Molly Shannon attends the Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium.
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L-R) - Scott Evans and Lilliana Vazquez mimic the award statuettes during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on Sunday, January 21, 2018. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Morgan Freeman during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on Sunday, January 21, 2018. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Amanda Warren (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”) on the red carpet at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Keltie Knight arrives Sunday at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall.
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Dave Franco and Alison Brie pose on the red carpet during the arrivals at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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“Stranger Things” actor Caleb McLaughlin plays it cool at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Ryan Michelle Bathe, left, Sterling K. Brown and Marcus Scribner attend the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Joe Lo Truglio and Beth Dover on the SAG Awards red carpet at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall.
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Alison Brie arrives at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Actress Elizabeth McLaughlin attends the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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The cast of Netflix’s “Glow” on the red carpet at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Alison Sudol (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”) pauses on the red carpet at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Sadie Sink and Jermel Nakia arrive at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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Lilliana Vazquez and Scott Evans walk the Screen Actors Guild Awards red carpet at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall.
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TV personalities Giuliana Rancic and Renee Bargh attend the Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium.
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TV personality Tanika Ray, left, and Lilliana Vazquez at the 2018 SAG Awards.
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Screen Actors Guild statues stand tall on the red carpet at the SAG Awards Sunday at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall.
(Richard Shotwell / Invision/AP) And the winner for actress in a comedy series was Julia Louis-Dreyfus — setting a SAG record in the process— who played the country’s first female president in “Veep” and shared the category with inspirational figures to many in the room, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda of “Grace and Frankie.”
Men did grace the stage when they were called up to receive awards, or introduce clips of the films in which they starred. But the tone was set early on that this particular show was about the other half of the room.
“Truth is power, and women are stepping into their power,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. “We are in the midst of a massive cultural shift. With brave voices saying me too and advocates who know time is up. …. Make no mistake, this is not a moment in time, this is a movement.”
Bell was less pointed in her monologue, which was decidedly shorter than the opening remarks made by other recent awards hosts, Seth Meyers (the Golden Globes) or Stephen Colbert (the Emmys).
The “Good Place” star introduced herself as the “first lady,” and while riffing about the talent in the room, said “Elisabeth Moss is here from the documentary called ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’” The room erupted in laughter.
When Maya Rudolph co-presented the first award with her, the “Bridesmaids” star said to “Bad Moms” star Bell: “I really like your show about living in hell, what’s it called?”
“2018!” Bell replied.
Other than those sly swipes, the ceremony was less about the state of politics and more about the progress of women in the industry … and beyond.
It also demonstrated how Hollywood is still grappling with what is and isn’t actionable when it comes to sexual harassment claims.
Franco was there for his nomination for “The Disaster Artist.” Recent allegations against him, as well as other actors such as Aziz Ansari — nominated, but not in attendance— have generated debates about what constitutes a bad date and what tips over the line into sexual misconduct.
When Franco’s name was announced, the applause was there, but not as loud as it was weeks before at the Globes, before the story broke wide.
Presenter Brie Larson announced some concrete steps SAG is taking to deal with the issue. “In collaboration with Time’s Up and your union members in this room, there will be a new code of conduct to ensure that there is safety on set so we can continue to be vulnerable and empathetic [and do our jobs].”
Among the other members of the all-female presenter lineup were Olivia Munn, Marisa Tomei, Niecy Nash, Gina Rodriguez, Halle Berry, Lupita Nyong’o, Mandy Moore, Dakota Fanning and Kelly Marie Tran.
The presenter audience members rose to their feet for, however, was Rita Moreno. She may have been presenting Morgan Freeman with his lifetime achievement award, but it was Moreno whose presence spoke loudest in a room where women of all ages were finally being honored.
lorraine.ali@latimes.com
@lorraineali
