Cast of THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
SEAN ASTINSam Gamgee
SEAN BEANBoromir
CATE BLANCHETTGaladriel
ORLANDO BLOOMLegolas Greenleaf
BILLY BOYDPeregrin "Pippin" Took
BERNARD HILLTheoden
IAN HOLMBilbo Baggins
IAN MCKELLENGandalf
DOMINIC MONAGHANMeriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck
VIGGO MORTENSENAragorn
JOHN NOBLEDenethor
MIRANDA OTTOEowyn
JOHN RHYS-DAVIESGimli
ANDY SERKISGollum
LIV TYLERArwen
KARL URBANEomer
HUGO WEAVINGElrond
DAVID WENHAMFaramir
ELIJAH WOODFrodo Baggins
Transcript of THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
BERNARD HILL: The ensemble qualities of this award go way beyond the cast I think. I think everyone here realizes that we sit atop a kind of pyramid of talent, we actors. Because we can’t do what we do without the whole structure beneath us, and I think we’re all very aware of that, and very appreciative of the producers, the writers, the directors, and the make-up people, and the people who arrange the trailers in a circle and keep them warm for us in the morning, and make sure that we’ve got coffee and tea and things that keep us going during the day, and all that kind of stuff. We haven’t got very long, but we thank the… [laughs] here comes the next president of the United States. [laughter]
We thank the Screen Actors Guild and everybody who voted for us. Thank you very much. [applause]
SEAN ASTIN: Our king… one of our kings. A couple of them aren’t here, Elijah Wood is not here, and Viggo Mortensen is not here, and Orlando Bloom’s not here, but they’re with us in spirit.
I wanted to seize a moment. My mom was the president of this union for a year and a half or a term and a half, I should say… To the union, I’m worried about the labor movement in our country. Tim Robbins said that he encouraged the power that’s in the room to bring productions back to America. I agree with him. [applause] I think it’s incumbent.
I want to encourage all of the power in the room in front of the camera to pay attention to our union when it’s not the awards show. There is internecine strife, there is controversy, and there is a time for all of us, and a way for all of us to look a little bit more closely. Some of us make a lot more money than others of us, but I think we need to be involved, or the union will not endure, and these awards shows will not last.
Thank you so much, [through tears] Clint Eastwood. [laughter] It just doesn’t get any better. I am so honored and proud to be an actor, ‘cause God knows, I don’t know what else to do. [laughter] I have so many amazing actors to thank who I could not have done this film without, who came and gave us their time, and we gave them no money in return. And they are Bruce Dern incredible Bruce Dern, Lee Tergeson, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Marco St. John, Marc Macaulay and Scott Wilson. And then my incredible, incredible, beautiful, talented leading lady, Christina Ricci, who… [applause] I share this with.
I have to thank my incredible manager, J.J. Hertz [sp], my friend… [applause] for having the best taste, and for always taking care of me you’re my shepherd. Thank you. My incredible lawyer, Steve Warren, Heidi Schaeffer and Amanda Silverman from PMK. And then, of course, my incredible director and writer of this incredible story, Patty Jenkins. [applause] And my angel and my date tonight, my mom... [applause] who put me on a plane with a one-way ticket to Hollywood when I was 19 years old. Thank you for being so brave and for letting me go to make my dreams come true. [through tears] Thank you. Thank you. [applause]
Oh boy! That’s so cool. Susie’s got one of these. I’m gonna get them alone in a dark room, see what happens. [laughter] Oh! So happy to get this award from SAG. It’s so important that we have unions, otherwise without unions, we’d be working 18 hour days, six days a week. [applause] No, but we get overtime. [laughter] Except in Australia.
I have several people I’d like to thank. My agent, first of all, Tony Howard, Lisa Kasteler, Phyllis Huffman, Robert Lorenz, Judy Hoyt, Bruce Berman, Jeff Robinoff [sp], Don Taybin, Allen Horn, Joel Himes you rock! Benicio, Alec, Ken, Chris Cooper, all incredible performances, and I’m honored to be in your company. The crew of “Mystic River,” thank you so much.
Actors need words and we had amazing words from Brian Helgeland, adapted from a book by Dennis LeHane, thanks to both of them. Thanks to the master Clint Eastwood, for guiding us all there. [applause] Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Laura Linney, Marcia Gay Harden… also a few of the other people I haven’t mentioned much, and Kevin Chapman, Adam Nelson, Thomas Gehry, Emmie Rosen [sp], Spencer Clark, Robert Wahlberg and Eli Wallach, who also were so fantastic in the show.
Thanks to the Actors Gang for letting me come here. I missed the dress rehearsal at the Public today. They’re flashing the lights. What does it mean? [laughter] Susan, I love you. Kids, thank you so much for being patient with me going all around all over the place.
One more thing, this is about supporting actors. I just would like to say, there are so many supporting actors that make their living: day players and people my age, and a little bit older, in SAG that have taken a hit in the past few years because of a lot of runaway productions. And I’d like to encourage all the power that’s in this room to try to bring back some of those productions into the United States of America. [applause]
Oh my heart! Thank you very much. Thank you for inviting me here tonight, it is such an honor. I think it’s the nicest invitation of the year actually, and I’m beside myself. I believe me all know that you’re only as good as the folks that you’re working with, and I was spoiled for riches on this experience with “Cold Mountain.”
I have to say thank you to Charles Frazier who wrote such a beautiful book, and I was blessed to be part of the filming of the book and playing Ruby. Thank you to the entire cast and crew, I mean, Jude and Nicole. It was such an honor to go to work every day beside you, and especially to Anthony Minghella whose picture I will always, always be so proud to have been part of. I got a great group of people that I get to work with, who have integrity and who teach me every day that yeah good guys can go all right in Hollywood.
Thanks to that crew, SCAA, my fellows Brian and Brant and Kevin, and Jenny Rawlings. And my wonderful John Carrabino who tells the truth. Everybody needs a John Carrabino, I have to tell you. I’m lucky to hold your hand and to hear your words of wisdom. Thank you.
Thank you for this. I am so blessed, it is a wonderful life. Thank you. [applause]
