Harrison Ford was seen getting visibly emotional as he accepted the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award at last night’s (Sunday March 1) Actor Awards ceremony.
The actor, whose career includes iconic roles such as Han Solo in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, was the honouree at this year’s edition, and was given the gong by friend and fellow actor Woody Harrelson.
“I feel incredibly grateful for this kind attention, but to be clear I also am quite humbled,” Ford began.
“I’m in a room of actors, many of whom are here because they’ve been nominated to receive a prize for their amazing work. While I’m here to receive a prize for being alive,” he quipped. “It’s a little weird to be getting a lifetime achievement award at the half point of my career. It’s a little early, isn’t it?
Ford noted that he “struggled for about 15 years” before breaking through and that “none of this happened on my own”, thanking directors George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, casting director Fred Roos and manager Patricia McQueeny for their hands in helping his career.
The actor reflected that he was a “little lost” when he was in college, and “found the company” of people putting on plays who he “thought were misfits and geeks” but “turned out to be my people”. “I found a calling, a life in storytelling, an identity in pretending to be other people. The work I do with other actors is one of the great joys of my life.”
After thanking everyone he had worked with over the years, Ford continued: “Sometimes we make entertainment, sometimes we make art. Sometimes we’re lucky to make ’em both at the same time, and if we’re really fortunate, we also get to make a living doing it. Success in this business brings a certain freedom that comes with responsibility to support each other, to lift others up when we can, to keep the door open for the next kid, the next lost boy who’s looking for a place to belong.”
“I’m indeed a lucky guy,” he added, as held back tears. “Lucky to have found my people, lucky to have work that challenges me, lucky to still be doing it. And I don’t take that for granted.
“I want to say thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart, to my peers, to my extraordinary beautiful wife, Calista, and my family, who have given me love and courage through all of it, and thank you to SAG-AFTRA for honouring me with this prize. This is very encouraging,” Ford concluded.
Last night’s Actor Awards also saw the late Catherine O’Hara posthumously win an award for The Studio, with co-star Seth Rogen accepting the award on her behalf. The Apple TV series won two further awards, while Sinners triumphed for film, taking home two awards including Cast in a Motion Picture and Male Actor in a Leading Role for Michael B. Jordan.
Other big winners included Hamnet‘s Jessie Buckley for Female Actor in a Leading role, as well as One Battle After Another‘s Sean Penn and Weapons‘ Amy Madigan in the supporting categories.