For the First Time Ever, Actors of Color Swept the Film Categories at the SAG Awards

Hello Giggles
·2 min read
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Viola Davis, Daniel Kaluuya, Chadwick Boseman, and Yuh Jung Youn
Viola Davis, Daniel Kaluuya, Chadwick Boseman, and Yuh Jung Youn

Paul Archuleta/Gareth Cattermole/Steve Granitz/WireImage/Emily Assiran, Getty Images

Last night, April 3rd, history was made at the 27th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. For the first time since the awards show started in 1995, people of color won the four main film acting categories—Daniel Kaluuya, the late Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, and Yuh-Jung Youn swept the film portion of the pre-taped show, thus setting a new standard for award show diversity.

Minari's Yuh-Jung Youn's won the SAG for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, making her the first Asian woman to take home that award. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom actors Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman took home both lead actor awards. And Daniel Kaluuya took home the award for his supporting role in Judas and the Black Messiah.

"I don't know how to describe my feelings," Youn said while accepting her award. "I've been recognized by Westerners. It is very, very honored especially by my [fellow actors] chose me as a supporting actress...I'm very pleased and happy."

And Davis had the best reaction to winning Best Actress for Ma Rainey. She thanked playwright August Wilson for creating a story that "leaves a legacy for actors of color."

All four winners of the main film categories at the SAG Awards are also up for Oscars in the corresponding categories in which they won SAGs. The Academy Awards made history this year, too, with their diverse list of nominees, and if the SAG Awards are any glimpse into the future, we could be seeing a historic crop of Academy Award winners this year, as well. Our fingers, toes, and even our eyes, are crossed.