British period drama The King's Speech won the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild award in Los Angeles last night, giving it yet another Oscar boost.
The film's star, Colin Firth, continued his awards-season sweep, taking home SAG's best actor prize for his role as a stammering King George VI.
Natalie Portman was named best actress for her role as an unhinged ballerina in Black Swan.
The supporting prizes went to Christian Bale and Melissa Leo for The Fighter.
The SAG Awards are decided by 120,000 actors in Hollywood movies, TV and commercials. They are a good indicator of Oscar success because actors in the US film and TV industry make up the largest voting group among members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The King's Speech leads Oscar contenders with 12 nominations, among them best picture and actor for Firth, who has been the awards favourite virtually since the film premiered at festivals half a year ago.
"Until today, I would say probably, if ever I felt that I had a trophy which has told me that something's really happening for me, it was my SAG card," said Firth. "Growing up in England, it's not something you expect to see in your wallet, Really. And so it has this glow, and I used to flash it around, hoping it would get me female attention, entry into nightclubs and top-level government departments. It didn't."
Many winners had gushing words for the protection and fellowship their union offers.
"I've been working since I was 11 years old, and SAG has taken care of me," said Portman, who won for her role as a ballerina losing her grip on reality. "They made sure I wasn't working too long and made sure I got an education while I was working."
Bale is a strong favourite for the supporting-actor Oscar as real-life fighter Dicky Eklund, whose career unravelled amid drugs and crime. Eklund briefly joined Bale on stage, the actor telling him he's "a real gentleman".
“I love acting. I love what we do,” Bale said. “It’s so bloody silly at times, isn’t it? It’s like playing dress-up, and other times it is so meaningful. I just enjoy that so much - we get to walk in other people’s shoes. Life without empathy is no fun at all.”
The Oscars will be handed out on February 27th.