Stranger Things might have taken home the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series on Sunday night - but it was lead actress Winona Ryder who stole the show. During co-star David Harbour's impassioned acceptance speech, the 45-year-old actress gave some priceless facial expressions as she stood up on stage with the rest of the cast.
Her reaction caused a social media frenzy, with one Twitter follower writing: "I will be using #WinonaRyder #SAGAwards gifs all week as we try to get through another week in Trumpland." Another added: "Never seen anyone experience as many emotions within a minute as #WinonaRyder did during @DavidKHarbour's #SAGAwards speech. #StrangerThings."
In his speech David, who plays Police Chief Jim Hopper in the gritty drama, confessed it was "difficult" to accept the award due to the recent political unrest in the US. "In light of everything that's going on in the world today, it's difficult to celebrate the already-celebrated Stranger Things," he began. "But this award from you who take your craft seriously and earnestly believe, like me, that great acting can change the world is a call to arms from our fellow craftsmen and women to go deeper.
© Photo: Getty ImagesWinona Ryder's reaction to Stranger Things co-star David Harbour's SAG speech was amazing
"And through our art to battle against fear, self-centeredness and exclusivity of our predominantly narcissistic culture and through our craft to cultivate a more empathetic and understanding society by revealing intimate truths that serve as a forceful reminder to folks that when they feel broken and afraid and tired, they are not alone. We are united in that we are all human beings and we are all together on this horrible, painful, joyous, exciting and mysterious ride that is being alive."
As the speech went on, Winona's admiration seemed to grow as David pledged to the crowd: "Now, as we act in the continuing narrative of Stranger Things, we 1983 midwesterners will repel bullies, we will shelter freaks and outcasts, those who have no home. We will get past the lies, we will hunt monsters. And when we are at a loss amidst the hypocrisy and the casual violence of certain individuals and institutions. We will, as per Chief Jim Hopper, punch some people in the face when they seek to destroy the weak, the disenfranchised and the marginalized!"
Stranger Things faced stiff competition, beating the likes of The Crown, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones and Westworld to win the coveted prize on Sunday night. The 2017 Screen Actors Guild Awards was held in Los Angeles, with the great and the good of the acting world coming together to toast this year's successes.
