2011 SAG Awards Outstanding Performance in a Drama Series to Julianna Margulies

No stranger to awards, Julianna Margulies looked stunning in a red strapless Yves Saint Laurent gown and gave an emotional acceptance speech and tribute to her husband, her cast, crew and friends for her second year in a row winning Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series as Alicia Florrick in "The Good Wife."

Before the show, Margulies shared "When I was waitressing right out of college (Sarah Lawrence) I went on my first television audition; the casting director said I should go to Europe, because my looks would never make it in America."

In her acceptance speech, Margulies said she was "incredibly moved and honored to have been given the role of a lifetime." She adds, "Thank you to my in laws (laughter) thank you for producing the most spectacular human being who I get to call who I get to call my husband. Life is just better with you in it."

Of course, we would expect nothing less than gracious humility after last year's backstage interview after receiving the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, where she responded to one question wit:

"You are very sweet but if the writing isn't good, then I'm not going to be good, I don't think. I can try. But I'm really blessed with the writing because every day is a challenge for me as an actor. . . I feel blessed with this character, every day is a new day and I love watching the process."

In addition to "The Good Wife," Margulies had a longstanding role as Nurse Carol Hathaway on "ER." She has also appeared on "Law and Order," "The Mists of Avalon," "Scrubs" and the motion picture "Snakes on a Plane."

Competition was fierce for Female Actor in a Drama Series, with nominees including Glenn Close for "Damages" (2007), Mariska Hargitay for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999), Elisabeth Moss for "Mad Men" (2007) and Kyra Sedgwick for "The Closer" (2005).

Margulies is a 14-time nominee of the Screen Actors Guild Awards, with Six Awards for her character on "ER," and is the only cast member of "ER" to have ever received an Emmy Award. This is her second round of back-to-back Screen Actors Guild Awards for "Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series" (1998 and 1999) and (2010 and 2011).

There are many reasons to watch "The Good Wife," and award-winning Julianna Margulies is one of them.

Sources

The 2011 SAG Awards as Televised on TNT

SAG Awards

IMDB.com

Huffington Post

YouTube