Cast members of the film CODA have praised the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) for "validating" Deaf culture and actors after the film scooped the top prize at the 28th annual ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday.
The film, featuring an ensemble cast of Deaf actors, won SAG's equivalent of Best Film, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
CODA tells the story of Ruby, the hearing child of Deaf adults (CODA), and stars members of the Deaf community Troy Kotsur, Marlee Matlin and Daniel Durant.
English actress Emilia Jones plays the lead role of Ruby while Irish Sing Street star Ferdia Walsh-Peelo is also among the cast as Ruby's schoolfriend Miles, who shares her interest in music.
In an emotional acceptance speech given in American Sign Language (ASL), Oscar winner Matlin joked that she did not need the microphone and thanked CODAs and their interpreters all over the world.
"I'm stunned... we want to thank Apple TV+ for trusting us, for believing in us and our movie," she said.
Addressing the film's writer and director, Sian Heder, she continued: "Thank you for including Deaf culture, we love you.
"We Deaf actors have come a long way.
"This validates the fact that we Deaf actors can work just like anyone else. We look forward to more opportunities for Deaf actors."
Matlin, who has four children who are CODAs, finished by teaching audience members the ASL for 'I love you'.
Her co-star, Oscar nominee Troy Kotsur, won the first prize of the evening for Male Actor in a Supporting Role and in his own speech, also given in ASL, he thanked Apple TV+ for their "authentic" casting of the film.
CODA is streaming now on Apple TV+.
Source: Press Association
