A column chronicling conversations and events on the awards circuit.
The collision of awards season(s) is about to happen.
All ballots must be in by 10 pm PT on Monday.
Emmy AwardsTelevision Academy
Did anyone take time out from picketing to cast a vote in the first place?
In 1980, the last time SAG went on strike, there wasnt a corresponding writers strike.
Nearly all the presenters and 51 of the 52 nominated actors and performers boycotted,exceptone.
Helen Mirren as Golda Meir in ‘Golda’ (Bleeker Street Media/Everett Collection)Everett Collection
In fact, according to his wife, it was a game-time decision.
He was at the Laurdromat earlier that day and came back having decided to go to Pasadena.
Just his luck, hewonand became the only actor to make it to the stage that night.
This is either the most courageous moment of my career or the stupidest, he said.
I thought long and hard whether or not I would attend.
But I came here because this is America, and one must do what one believes.
I believe in the Academy.
I also believe in my fellow actors in their stand.
), but it didnt.
He even landed twoSAGnominations forDeadwoodin 2007 andNixonin 1996, albeit as part of their ensembles.
He died in 2017.
Mirren could not have been more gracious when I asked about the early controversy on the web.
Golda was so archetypal, Mirren said.
I can understand people saying should this really happen?
Both Meir and Mirren actually have Russian roots.
As for being bothered about internet chatter on taking on any role, Mirren was not fazed.
We can turn a blind eye to that, which is what I do, she said.
He said Mirren warned him.
Are you sure you want me and not an Israeli actress or a Jewish actress?
I said You are more Jewish than a lot of Jewish people I know.
You have thesoul, he told me.
Nattiv himself was born in Tel Aviv.
That would beJessica Chastainand Michael Shannon portraying country music legends Tammy Wynette and George Jones.
Shannon basically said the same thing as he sat down with us.
Plus, they had to perform songs live in front of an audience.
T Bone Burnett was among the famous musicians who offered guidance.
That wasnt the case inGeorge & Tammy.Both didalltheir own singing, no net required.
Of course, that is one of the key contract points the current SAG-AFTRA contract negotiations are taking on.
That is why I like being on the stage, doing theatre.
You cant use AI, she told me, with Shannon agreeing theatre is the purest form of acting.
Emmy voting ends Monday get busy!
