Nicole Kidman thanks 'trailblazers' Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, and others at SAG Awards

The Kidback is complete: Nicole Kidman has rounded out what’s been a huge year for her with a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series. She won big at the 24th annual awards on Sunday night in Los Angeles.

“I’m crying. [This] means a lot to me,” Kidman said as she took the stage to accept the award. “I’ve been working since I was 14 years old…. I’m incredibly nervous because this is reality colliding with fantasy right now. I was working until 1 a.m., which is a fantastic blessing last night, but I have the flu and I’m playing a pretty out-there, raw character right now so I’ve had a little trouble shedding it. But I’m here and I’m incredibly grateful. To receive this at this stage of my life is extraordinary, and at this time in the industry when these things are going on and for this role.”

Kidman went on to tip her hat to her fellow Big Little Lies nominees, as well as Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon. “I revere you, I’ve watched you, and I’ve learned from you,” she said. “And there’s others,” she added, before listing names including Meryl Streep, Jane Fonda, and Judi Dench. “I want to thank you all for your trailblazing performances you’ve given over your career and how wonderful it is that our careers today can go beyond 40 years ago. Twenty years ago, we were pretty washed up by this stage in our lives. That’s not the case now. We have proven, and these actresses and so many more are proving that we are potent and powerful and viable.”

She concluded by imploring writers, directors, studios, and financiers to continue to tell stories about women — and women of all ages — and, finally, she thanked her family.

Later, while backstage, Kidman continued applauding her fellow actors. “You look at Frances McDormand, you look at Saoirse [Ronan], you look at Margot Robbie right now — I want to acknowledge the women who’ve come before me who are still vibrant and working, and I did that in my speech. I just love that we’re employed and we’re working right now,” she said. “I watch actors and actresses and I learn so much still, every time I watch the performances. I look back at the greats, Ingrid Bergman and Vivien Leigh and Anna Magnani, so I’m a fan as well and this is what I do.”

Kidman has been raking in accolades for her portrayal of Celeste Wright, a woman grappling with domestic abuse and her love for her husband, also winning a Golden Globe, Emmy, and Critics’ Choice award for the role. Throughout awards season, she has used the role of Celeste to champion women’s voices and speak out against domestic violence. She was also a key force in producing the project and has taken home Golden Globe and Emmy Awards for Best Limited Series.

This marked her tenth overall SAG nomination, but it was her first win. She beat out her Big Little Lies costars Laura Dern and Reese Witherspoon, as well as Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon for their work on Feud: Bette and Joan.

See the full list of winners from the 24th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards here.

Related Articles