Eddie Redmayne wins big at Screen Actors Guild Awards 2015

Eddie Redmayne was named outstanding actor at the Screen Actors Guild Awards 2015 and will be hoping at least one Hollywood tradition continues, as the last 10 stars to win the gong also picked up the Oscar.

The winning run stretches back to 2004 when Jamie Foxx won for Ray and went on to be named best actor at the Academy Awards.

Redmayne, who plays scientist Stephen Hawking in The Theory Of Everything, beat hotly-tipped Birdman star Michael Keaton at the ceremony in Los Angeles.

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Red carpet selfies - Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sarah Hyland and Justin Mikita. Photograph: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Redmayne, who has already won a Golden Globe, dedicated his win to those such as Professor Hawking who live with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, for their “triumph of spirit”.

Visibly shocked and at times emotional during his speech, he told the audience he had learned a lot when making the film.

“I would like to dedicate this award to those people around the world living with ALS, to those who have lost their lives to this brutal disease,” he said.

“In preparing to play Stephen, I met many people fighting ALS, and I met their families fighting alongside them. And the courage and the bravery and the spirit, this triumph of spirit that I witnessed, blew my mind. So I’m incredibly grateful to them.”

Downton Abbey

British television programme Downton Abbey took the title of best ensemble cast in a drama series for the second time, while Birdman's award for best ensemble cast featured British actress Andrea Riseborough.

Kevin Spacey, who has been artistic director of London's Old Vic theatre for more than a decade, won best actor in a drama series for House Of Cards.

Redmayne will go head to head with Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays code-breaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game, at the Oscars as well as Steve Carell, nominated for Foxcatcher. American Sniper's Bradley Cooper and Keaton are also two to watch.

His co-star in The Theory Of Everything, Felicity Jones, and Rosamund Pike are both nominated for the leading actress gong.

Jones, who played Professor Hawking’s first wife Jane, and Gone Girl star Pike face competition from Reese Witherspoon, Julianne Moore and Marion Cotillard.

Keira Knightley, who stars alongside Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game, is nominated for the best supporting actress award alongside Oscars veteran Meryl Streep — who is shortlisted for a 19th time.

The other nominees are Patricia Arquette, Laura Dern and Emma Stone.

Both The Theory Of Everything and The Imitation Game are in contention to be named best film along with American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Selma and Whiplash.

SAG Awards 2015: Full list of winners

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor in a Leading Role

Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor in a Leading Role

Julianne Moore, Still Alice

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor in a Supporting Role

J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

Outstanding Performance By A Cast in a Drama Series

Downton Abbey

Outstanding Performance By A Cast in a Comedy Series

Orange is the New Black

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor in a Drama Series

Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor in a Drama Series

Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor in a Comedy Series

William H. Macy, Shameless

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor in Television Movie or Miniseries

Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge

Agencies