LOS ANGELES (January 29, 2007) — With a big night at the SAG Awards, Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson might be one step closer to Oscar gold.
But as the stars came out for the big night, one dark cloud loomed over Hollywood as the “Grey’s Anatomy” controversy still won’t go away.
When Chandra Wilson accepted the award for Best Actress in a Drama, she mentioned Isaiah just not by name.
“It’s about those 10 cast members sitting over there and that other one in rehab,” Wilson said from the SAG stage.
Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson was backstage with the “Grey’s” cast after their big win and found out that things are still simmering.
It was two weeks ago that Washington re-ignited the “Grey’s” firestorm at the Golden Globes, using an anti-gay slur in the pressroom when talking about co-star T.R. Knight.
“You mentioned Isaiah Washington tonight and the fact that he wasn’t here,” Shaun said to Chandra.
“Oh sure, the one,” she laughed. “There’s always something to laugh at, something to smile at, some bright side of the whole deal that’s what I think tonight was for us.”
Backstage, Knight still wasn’t laughing, never even cracking a smile. And the rest of the cast didn’t do any interviews after their win. But back on the red carpet before the show, it seemed Katherine Heigl stillhadn’t forgiven Isaiah.
“Have you spoken to Isaiah since everything has been going on?” Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell asked her.
“I have not,” Heigl said.
But of course, the night was about far more than the controversy ? it was about the stars!
“Dreamgirls” once again proved to be a Hollywood force. Although the film lost out on Best Ensemble, stars Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson both walked away with SAG wins.
“Thank you for noticing little old me and accepting me,” an emotional Hudson said upon accepting the award for Best Supporting Actress.
Jennifer has gotten used to accepting the awards. Holding on to them, however, is another story.
“Do you know where it is?” Shaun asked of her SAG Award.
“I don’t know but I’m going to call security in a minute,” Hudson laughed.
Meanwhile, it was double duty for Helen Mirren who took home the SAG awards for both TV (”Elizabeth I”) and film (”The Queen”).
Backstage, Helen received intimate kudos when she met up with Best Actor winner Forest Whitaker.
“She’s amazing. She won two tonight and two Golden Globes,” Forest gushed, kissing Mirren’s forehead.
“Thank you. Thank you very much,” Mirren smiled, planting a smooch on Forest.
And Casanova Whitaker was getting around at the SAG Awards!
Before Mirren, it was Best Actress in a Comedy winner America Ferrera.
“So you’re ‘Ugly Betty’ huh? More like America the beautiful,” Forest said.
“I think they wrote it for him,” America laughed later on. “But he was lovely.”
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