Ben Affleck's Iran hostage drama 'Argo' has won the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture gong at the Screen Actor's Guild Awards.
The awards often share many of the same winners as the Oscars at the end of February, and may now see 'Argo' slip into a better position ahead of the likes of 'Lincoln' and 'Silver Linings Playbook', both of which featured in the same category.
[Related story: Argo take two? Iranian filmmaker takes on Ben Affleck]
Argo... Affleck scoops SAG awards for best picture (Copyright: Rex)
It would be the first film since 'Driving Miss Daisy' to win an Oscar despite its director not being given a nomination in the Best Director category.
Meanwhile, Daniel Day-Lewis won the Oustanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his turn in Steven Spielberg's 'Lincoln', while Jennifer Lawrence scored the female equivalent for 'Silver Linings Playbook'.
The UK's 'Downton Abbey' also did well scooping Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
Here are the winners in the main categories (with the winners in bold):
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Silver Linings Playbook
Lincoln
Les Miserables
Argo
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables
Denzel Washington, Flight
John Hawkes, The Sessions
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Helen Mirren, Hitchcock
Naomi Watts, The Impossible
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Alan Arkin, Argo
Javier Bardem, Skyfall
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy
Maggie Smith, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Elsewhere, 'Skyfall' won a gong for the best stunt ensemble, and Dick Van Dyke was presented with a lifetime achievment award.
