Oscar nominees Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones have widened the gap as front-runners for the coveted golden statuettes, scooping the actress categories at Sunday night's Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Bridget Jones's Diary star Renée couldn't contain her excitement as she was congratulated by presenter and 007 star Pierce Brosnan. "Oh my God," she exclaimed after the Die Another Day star handed her the trophy. "And a kiss from Mr Bond." The former waitress also took time to recognise fellow best actress nominees Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore, saying: "I never imagined that I would be standing here tonight in such esteemed company."
As expectant mum Catherine Zeta-Jones gave her best supporting actress acceptance speech, she said the demanding song-and-dance role meant she was "bruised and iced frequently". But, she added: "If I wasn't pregnant, I'd do it all over again, I promise you."
Actor Richard Gere, who was the only Chicago star not nominated for an Academy Award, had the honour of collecting the best motion picture ensemble prize for the cast. "From day one, we were a family," he said. "There was so much love in this production.
But the night wasn't just about the big screen musical – Gangs Of New York's Daniel Day-Lewis and Catch Me If You Can's Christopher Walken won the best actor and best supporting actor categories respectively. And 72-year-old star Clint Eastwood didn't go home empty handed, as he picked up a Lifetime Achievement Award. "I hope this doesn't mean I'm supposed to collect my pension and head on down the road," he joked.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
