SAG Awards 2015: Most Talked About Moments

From Viola Davis' touching speech to Eddie Redmayne's dedication of his award.

ByABC News
January 26, 2015, 11:38 AM

— -- The Screen Actors Guild Awards may have gone as predicted, especially on the film side, but there was still plenty to talk about.

"Birdman" took home the top prize Sunday for best performance by a cast in a motion picture, just a few weeks after losing the Best Comedy Golden Globe to "The Grand Budapest Hotel."

The film acting categories, however, followed the Golden Globes, with Eddie Redmayne, Patricia Arquette, J.K. Simmons and Julianne Moore, winning awards for their work in "The Theory of Everything," "Boyhood," "Whiplash" and "Still Alice," respectively.

But it was the big wins on the TV side that had people buzzing. Here are some of the most talked about moments from the 2015 SAG Awards.

Diversity

Just days after social media erupted over the least diverse Oscar nominations in years, big wins on the TV side by Viola Davis and Uzo Aduba were being cheered.

Davis, who won outstanding female actor in a TV series for "How to Get Away with Murder," thanked the ABC show's creator and innovator Shonda Rhimes, among others that make her show possible, "for thinking that a sexualized, messy, mysterious woman could be a 49-year-old dark-skinned African-American woman who looks like me."

She added, "And thank you to all the people who love me exactly how God made me," including her husband Julius, her daughter Genesis and her mother.

Political analyst Donna Brazile was among those responding on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Aduba seemed absolutely stunned by her supporting female actor win for the role as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren in "Orange Is the New Black."

"I just really, really, really truly want to say, the day I got this job was the day I stopped acting and to be in a room with all you amazing human beings, amazing talents, for what I respect so much and love so much, is really truly the greatest honor," she said during her emotional acceptance speech.

Mark Ruffalo a No-Show

Mark Ruffalo was in London for work when his name was announced for best male actor in a TV movie or miniseries for the "Normal Heart." But he had plenty of friends looking out for him, including presenters Jared Leto and Lupita Nyong'o, who accepted the award on his behalf. "Mark Ruffalo couldn’t be here this evening, so Lupita and I are quite happy to take this award on his behalf," Leto said, before quickly adding, "Then saw it in half and keep it forever."

That wasn't all, though. Leto and Nyong'o sparked new romance rumors when he put his arm around her and pulled her close after they had announced the nominees.

And later, Julia Roberts pulled a Kanye West move while presenting the award for best male actor in a movie. "They had a wordy little tongue twister for me to start with about how wonderful actors are, but instead I just want to say, Mark Ruffalo is one outstanding actor," she began. "And I am so absolutely tickled to my toes that he won tonight."

Eddie Redmayne's Speech

The crush on Eddie Redmayne continues with his breathless and passionate speech on behalf of people battling ALS following his best actor win for playing Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything."

"I'd like to dedicate the award, this very wonderful, skinny man, to those people around the world living with ALS, to those who have lost their lives to this brutal disease," Redmayne said. "To Stephen and Jane back in Cambridge, thank you for allowing someone who gave up science when they were 14 years old to enter your orbit...Thank you for reminding me of the overwhelming power of the will to love and the will to live every second of your life as fully and as passionately as possible."

Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher

Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher could take their mother-daughter act on the road. As she was presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to her mother, Fisher got off a few jokes. Listing her mother's achievements, including movie star, recording artist, dance studio owner and preservationist, she added, The Thalians, a charitable organization Reynolds co-founded, dedicated to mental health issues for children and adults.

"Four-and-a-half million [dollars] is allocated just for me," Fisher joked.

Reynolds got her daughter back, when she recalled during her speech how she had to wear her hair in a bun in "Singin' in the Rain" and later warned her daughter to avoid the same fate. "Be careful of any weird hairdos," she said. Of course, Fisher famously played Princess Leia in "Star Wars," where she had to wear two buns on either side of her head.

"Thank you, George," Reynolds said, acknowledging creator George Lucas.

Naomi Watts Almost Takes Flight

The "Birdman" cast still had us laughing, this time on stage to accept the best ensemble cast award. As the stars took turns giving a short shout out, Naomi Watts went for the mic and tripped over Emma Stone's gown. The moment was made all the more memorable by the awkwardly apologetic look on Stone's face.

"Wow," Watts exclaimed into the mic after her near-wipeout.