ROB LOWE: Thank you. To get this award from the Screen Actors Guild – the best actors in the world – is really an honor. We have this tonight because of the protection and the vision of John Wells, Tommy Schlamme, Lou Wells, Chris Misiano and Alex Graves.
We have this tonight because we serve at the pleasure of the breathtaking and brilliant Aaron Sorkin. [applause]
Accomplishments done well in the collective are always so much more amazing because of the working parts that all have to come together. And this award really represents the essence of “The West Wing,” all of us coming together with one single agenda to serve the source, and to do it with the best performance we can do on a day-to-day basis.
Thank you for giving it to us, and thank you for inspiring us. [applause]
CYNTHIA NIXON: Thank you so much. Wow! Sarah Jessica Parker has the flu and she was too sick to get on a plane, and we are so devastated that she is not here with us. She has always said that this ensemble category nomination was the best one to get. And I think that just tells you everything you need to know about her as a person. We would like to share this with our crew, the most hard-working, talented people you would ever want to meet.
This evening is all about actors and how great they are, and that’s wonderful, but every actor knows that she is only as good as the stuff she gets to say, unless she’s Marcel Marceau or Lassie. [laughter] And our writers are the reason our show is such a hit. [applause] Without them, we would just be standing in front of the camera barking.
[applause and cheers]
Finally, working for HBO is like being encouraged by the world’s most supportive parents. They never say, “Darling, you’re not really going to wear that, are you?” [laughter] They say, “Gee, honey, that sounds great. Why don’t you give it a try? Here’s some money.” [laughter]
We are so proud and grateful to be their children and we are so proud and grateful to be receiving this award from you. Thank you so much.
My wife asked me to put her wedding band in my pocket this night for luck, and it was a lucky night. I thought about not coming—not a good thought. [laughter]
I think I’m the oldest guy in the room, with the possible exception of Robert Altman.
[laughter]
So this is very, very gratifying, to get to a place in my life and a place in my career where these kinds of things are happening. I’ve been nominated recently for a few awards and I’ve prepare myself for an early Passover. [laughter] And there’s one coming very soon, but I’ll accept this on behalf of a brilliant cast and family that Alison went on and on about—and she knows their names better than I do. [laughter]
And to all of you, the players, my thanks, my sincere thanks.
Thank you. [pause] Thank you. [pause] If the arts are a bridge to enlightenment and understanding, I can’t think of a more important time to be an artist and I can’t think of a show I’m more proud to be on than “The West Wing.” And I thank the people that have faith in me sometimes when I don’t. And that would be obviously Aaron Sorkin, Tommy Schlamme, Alex Graves, Chris Misiano, and my amazing cast who I love so much, and looking in your faces, you inspire me. And I love you all.
And Stockard Channing, you are brilliant and amazing and I wish I – Aaron, I’m asking you to write more scenes with Stockard [laughter] because she is absolutely, she is the most beautiful, wonderful actress and I am so proud to share this with you, and with all of – everyone – if I say your names I’ll . . . I love you, John, Martin, Brad, Richard, [laugher] Janelle, Dulé, Melissa, Richard, Rob, everybody -- I love – thank you so very much. And my friends and family. Thank you. [applause]
This is way too early in the program for me. I wasn’t really prepared.
Wow, thank you very much. You know, it’s one thing when a fan says, “You know, I thought your performance was really great.” That means the world to me, but when an actor says, “You know, I thought maybe you were pushing a little bit”—[laughter]—I have to re-evaluate my entire life.
Thank you very much, you guys, for all the actors who, for whatever reason, decided I should be standing here tonight. Thank you very much. My gratitude.
[laughs] Thank you. I’m just generally thrilled, and I’m very touched. I respect actors so much. And it’s nice to be representing a comedy category. I feel like, you know -- thank you so much to everybody at “Will & Grace” -- because working on these great comedy scripts week after week, and kind of always having to think in terms of what’s funny, it sort of starts to rub off after a while. And I’ve found that, you know, in real life I – I’ve sort of reaped some good benefits from that.
I’ve been able to step outside of myself and see things in a little bit different way because of it, and I feel like I’ve been able to change a lot for the better in certain ways. And I feel very blessed.
And so, thank you from me, and thank you from everybody at “Will & Grace.” Thank you so much. [applause]
Outstanding Performance by a
Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Cast of Sarah Jessica Parker
Sex And The City
Transcript of Sarah Jessica Parker
Sex And The City
Speaking to actors, I know you’ll understand that all I did was react to our central performance: the central performance of Hannah Taylor Gordon as Anne Frank. [applause] We loved her and we were totally captivated by her commitment, her energy, and her sincerity and honesty.
Otto’s last words, I’m sure—Otto Franks—were, “Listen to my child.” And thanks to Otto and his work with the foundation and with her diaries, the world has heard his child. And if I may, I would like to accept this on behalf of my four children.
I’m deeply grateful to the Screen Actors Guild. I’m deeply grateful. May my gratitude be made manifest over the coming weeks, months, and years. Thank you.
