SIDESWIPED `SIDEWAYS' TIPS OVER COMPETITION AT SAG.

Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer

The 11th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards gave the Oscar race a ``Sideways'' nudge on Saturday night at the Shrine Auditorium.

Although its three individual nominees were shut out in their categories, the Oscar-nominated comedy claimed the best movie ensemble trophy after signs had been pointing toward boxing drama ``Million Dollar Baby.'' Earlier in the evening Hilary Swank had been named best actress, while Morgan Freeman won best supporting actor honors.

Jamie Foxx picked up his SAG best actor statuette to go with his Golden Globe for the title role in ``Ray,'' and once again opened his acceptance speech with the familiar strains of ``What I Say.'' Backstage, Foxx talked about the significance of his win.

``It's a beautiful milestone. ... There are so many negative things that our African-American kids are influenced by. When you get a chance to do something positive, let it happen.''

Swank, who was also a Globe winner, said she was ``amazed, lucky, thankful, speechless and, quite frankly, stunned to be a working actor. I also can't believe I'm a working actor working with the legendary Clint Eastwood and the always amazing Morgan Freeman.''

``My dream from childhood was to be here, talking to you,'' Freeman said backstage. ``Every time it's just more cake, more icing, more goodies. And one day it's over.''

Cate Blanchett won the supporting actress award for ``The Aviator.'' It was that film's only win out of three nominations. Playing the redheaded and freckled acting legend Katharine Hepburn in the film, Blanchett thanked the makeup person ``who painted every single freckle on my face.''

SAG also honored James Garner with its lifetime achievement award.

Up until now, ``Million Dollar Baby'' and ``The Aviator'' had been Oscar front-runners, but the victory by ``Sideways'' may sway Academy voters. However, the SAG ensemble winner has gone on to capture the Oscar only four times in the nine years since the category was created. The Oscars will be held on Feb. 27.

``Desperate Housewives'' continued its hot streak. The ABC hit series claimed best comedy series ensemble and actress in a comedy series for Teri Hatcher, coming on the heels of comparable Golden Globe wins.

Doug Savant, who plays Felicity Huffman's husband, accepted for the crew. ``We'd like to use this award to ring the death knell of reality television.''

``CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' won the drama series ensemble prize over rivals ``24,'' ``Six Feet Under,'' ``The Sopranos'' and ``The West Wing.''

``The only explanation for this is that somehow in the last year every one of you tried to act with rubber gloves and tweezers,'' star William Petersen said, thanking the ``fellowship of gypsies'' for the honor.

Jerry Orbach, who died Dec. 28 of prostate cancer, was named best actor in a drama series for his long-running role on ``Law & Order.'' His widow, Elaine Orbach, accepted it to a standing ovation.

``Oh God, how bittersweet - but it's still sweet,'' she said.

Jennifer Garner, who has drawn attention on red carpets and for her relationship with Ben Affleck, won recognition for her action-packed role in the drama series ``Alias.'' Garner took home a Golden Globe for the role in 2002.

``The day my parents accepted that I was an actor was the day I told them, `I get insurance!''' she said. ``So, thank you, SAG.''

Tony Shalhoub, winning his second consecutive SAG comedy award for ``Monk,'' thanked all the guest actors ``who come into a show without any preparation, without any time to rehearse.''

Katharine Hepburn also figured into Glenn Close's win as best actress in a TV movie or miniseries. Close played Eleanor of Aquitaine in Showtime's ``The Lion in Winter,'' an assignment she called ``daunting'' considering Hepburn won an Oscar for the part. Close said Hepburn inspired her to become an actor, and she was able to tell her so many years later at the Kennedy Center Honors. Hepburn responded with a letter Close cherishes: ``I'm glad I persuaded you when you were a mere child to join this terrible profession, this terrifying profession and, let's face it, this delicious way to spend your life.''

Geoffrey Rush won the award for best actor in a TV movie or miniseries as the title character in ``The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.''

``I love that he's called the actor,'' he said of the bronze statuette, ``and not the `talent' or the `celebrity' or the `sound biter' or the `whore.'''

The cameras capture it as a night of glitz and glamour, but the honorees enjoy the SAG Awards as a celebration of their craft. They were as likely to thank casting directors or stand-ins as they were directors and writers, and they understood Foxx's need to try and try again when he fumbled his lines when introducing a clip from ``Ray.'' He took it from the top, complete with music cues, and made it on the third take.

Staff writers Sandra Barrera and Evan Henerson contributed to this story.

Valerie Kuklenski, [phone]

valerie.kuklenski(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

7 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Holding their Screen Actors Guild awards for best movie cast, the stars of ``Sideways,'' from left, Paul Giamatti, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh, and Thomas Hayden Church meet the press backstage at the Shrine Auditorium.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) Teri Hatcher won best actress in a comedy series for ``Desperate Housewives.''

(3 -- color) Janel Moloney of ``The West Wing'' arrives at the 11th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday night at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. For more on what the stars were wearing, See Page 13

(4 -- color) ``Desperate Housewives,'' from left, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria embrace at the Screen Actors Guild awards Saturday.

(5 -- color) ``Million Dollar Baby'' Hilary Swank beams as she clutches her SAG award for best actress in a movie.

(6 -- color) Jamie Foxx celebrates his SAG award for best movie actor, which adds to the collection of honors he's received for ``Ray''.

(7 -- color) Morgan Freeman was named best supporting actor for ``Million Dollar Baby.''

Box:

THE WINNERS