Renée Zellweger dedicates her Screen Actors Guild Award to Judy Garland

Words: Steve Brown

Renée Zellweger has landed another win for her performance as gay icon Judy Garland in the biopic Judy.

After landing a Golden Globe win – and a nomination for a BAFTA and Academy Award – Zellweger took home her fourth total and third individual Screen Actors Guild Award for her outstanding performance as Judy Garland.

During her acceptance speech, Zellweger thanked other actors and dedicated the award to the ‘Over the Rainbow’ singer and said her ‘community if thinking of you tonight’.

“Thank you for inviting me tonight alongside my extraordinary sisters whose work touches me so deeply. I celebrate y’all whenever you come out with anything, with a popcorn breakfast at the theatre,” she said.

“And it’s my great honour to be here tonight alongside y’all. And I’m just so grateful and for the privilege of reflecting on the life of one of our own and most beloved.

“Y’all have taught me so much along the way. And I’m so grateful to you, especially to my sisters.

“Your example inspires me. I feel so lucky to be a member of this family of storytellers who gets to do work that reflects the experience of being human and fosters understanding, and empathy and unity, and, with some luck, maybe pushes history a little bit closer to the light.

“Judy Garland, 50 years later, your community is thinking of you tonight.”

Renée Zellweger takes home her fourth total and third individual Actor® for the titular role in Judy #sagawards pic.twitter.com/vszM3ppvls

— TNT Drama (@tntdrama) January 20, 2020

Next month, Zellweger will go head-to-head against the likes of Cynthia Erivo, Charlize Theron, Scarlett Johansson and Saoirse Ronan for the Academy Award for Actress in a Leading Role.

The Rupert Goold movie also landed a BAFTA nod for best Costume design as well as Zellweger being nominated for Leading Actress.