7 FEBRUARY 2005

Jamie Foxx and Hilary Swank were both basking in glory at the weekend after winning the Screen Actors Guild awards for best actor and actress. The two performers are now in pole position to take home cinema's ultimate prize by repeating their success at the Oscars later this month.

Hilary received the SAG trophy for her portrayal of a female boxer in Million Dollar Baby. The 30-year-old, who already has one Oscar, awarded for Boys Don't Cry, said all the credit should go to director Clint Eastwood. "I bow down to you," she said. "You are a talent beyond compare. If I'm half the person you are and half the talent you are when I'm 74, I will know that I've accomplished something great."

Jamie meanwhile added another statuette to the Golden Globe he has already garnered for his performance in Ray. Upon being named winner, he took the opportunity to praise the man who inspired the flick. "Thank you to Ray Charles for just living so complex and so interesting," he said.

The prestigious award for best cast performance went to the independent comedy Sideways, despite competition from big budget productions like The Aviator. Martin Scorsese's latest offering didn't go completely unrewarded, though, as Cate Blanchett received the best supporting actress gong for her appearance as Katharine Hepburn.

Also turning heads on the red carpet were Johnny Depp and his long-time partner Vanessa Paradis. The French singer made a distinctly alternative fashion statement in a 1920s-style dress, while her hunky leading man opted for a gangster-inspired black suit.