"I am an actor"
Monday, January 30, 2017 at 11:09AM The best tradition of the Screen Actor Guild Awards each year, beyond their decision to keep the lifetime achievement award on air (are you listening Oscar?), is their opening bit wherein a random collection of thespians give little weird speeches that end with "I am an actor." Sometimes they're funny. Sometimes they're serious. Sometimes they're headscratching. Regardless, it's always something to look forward to each year. Here are the five actors they chose this year in ascending order of how well they pulled it off.
05 Ashton Kutcher
Kutcher read from a teleprompter. Noooooo.
Actors are activists no matter what because we embody the worth and humanity of all people.
04 Kerry Washington
Kerry opted for a political speech. The night was full of politics and some would get a lot more pointed and potent than this.
03 Sterling K Brown
The People vs OJ Simpson breakout, told a story from his childhood. The nerves seemed to be getting to him but he ended the story with a wink, for which you can forgive him all.
02 Jeff Bridges
The Dude abides, going off script "Thanks, Kerry that was inspiring and I agree with you!" and just being him beloved old codger self. Note the man spread - LOL - and he laughed first at himself with a joke about his career being made of luck and nepotism.
Six months ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and he gave me my greatest role yet: the role of 'Mom'. [beat] I'm kidding. My greatest role is playing Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix. That's why I'm eating free dinner. SORRY JAMES! I'm Ellie Kemper and I'm an actor."
01 Ellie Kemper
Unbreakable and irresistible Kimmy Schmidt herself, did what I thought i'd never see anyone do -- she satirized the hoary cliche of the famous actress claiming that her greatest role was as mother. She really did give birth to a little boy named James six months ago. All actresses seem to snap back to pre-baby weight quickly but her comic timing didn't need any recovery time.
Do you love this SAG tradition?
Reader Comments (15)
But it was the best AK has ever looked IMO.
Ugh, I love Ellie Kemper. I wish people would let Titus and Kimmy start winning things so we could see the speeches!
I think Ellie Kemper's speech was probably the best "I'm an actor" speech I've ever seen. Totally charming.
It's very cheesy.
Yes, I do love this tradition.
Because they are not an awards body, they are a UNION. Decades of people work to establish a union, they have to fight for it and it's continued existence. A union establishes a living wage, acceptable working conditions, workplace safety, and so many other things.
Without a union, actors are considered disposable. No one cares about their safety or dignity.
"I am an actor" states pride in their profession and their determination that in union, there is strength.
Love this tradition! It's my favorite part of the show.
Ashton Kutcher proved he's not much of an actor. He couldn't even read convincingly. Walking and talking at the same time is hard.
Yep, my favorite part of the show too.
Whose fucking idea was it to put that no-talent kettlehead on the show?
Love these usually, but this years were disappointing apart from Ellie. Those were the actors they chose? I was really hoping for some people like Winona or David Harbour from Stranger Things, Thandie Newton, one of the Moonlight boys... nothing against Kerry and Jeff, but... eh.
Whoever decided to give one to Ashton though? They need to stop watching That '70s Show reruns.
I read somewhere that they put Ashton on because of his popularity in the "red states". They wanted to send a message of unity, that it wasn't just some fringe element of the union that was protesting.
His popularity in the red states? Based on what? Two And A Half Men? That he's from Iowa?
Ashton Kutcher may not be a great actor, but he looked SUPER handsome last night.
Ashton Kutcher may not be a great actor, but he wasn't even a good cue-card reader.
That being said, I didn't have a problem with him being a part of the "I am an actor" opening, or even giving the opening speech. He might make a good awards host some day. But he got to present supporting actress? That's a bit much.
Unbreakable and irresistible Kimmy Schmidt herself