-
Sandra Bullock - Source: Close Up
Sandra Bullock entered Hollywood Awards season in high fashion winning two People's Choice honours for the relationship comedy The Proposal and for favourite movie actress.
The Twilight vampire romance series took home four People's Choice trophies: favourite movie, favorite franchise, top on-screen team for its actors, and one of its stars, Taylor Lautner, landed the award for breakthrough movie actor.
Other key movie winners were Johnny Depp, who was named favorite movie actor, and Hugh Jackman, who claimed the trophy for top action hero for his role in the comic book movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Television honours went to House for best drama and The Big Bang Theory for top comedy. Music trophies were claimed by Carrie Underwood for favorite country singer and Taylor Swift for top female artist, while Keith Urban was named top male singer, and Mariah Carey named favorite R&B artist.
But it was Bullock who had a big night with a People's Choice honor in each hand following two major hits in theaters in 2009, The Proposal and The Blind Side, in which she plays a woman who helps transform a homeless youngster into an American football star.
Her work already has earned the actress Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award nominations, and she is among the favorites for an Oscar nod for her work in Blind Side.
On stage, she teared up when accepting her second People's Choice award, which are voted upon by fans in an online poll, and thanked her family, father, husband and fans.
She told reporters her recent success with critics, awards and at box offices was "unplanned, unexpected and unreal."
"I've had two wonderful experiences this year, and I think most actresses will tell you if you had one in five years you'd be lucky," she said.
The People's Choice awards are considered less serious by Hollywood watchers than the Oscars or Screen Actors Guild honours, which are voted upon by industry groups, but they are widely watched because they kick off about two months of awards in film, television and music that will be given out.
Moreover, actors, musicians and other artists consider them an honour because fans do the voting.
"The only reason any of us is up here is because of you," said Pirates of the Caribbean star Depp when accepting his statue. "It has been quite an amazing decade and an incredible ride, and I sincerely thank all of you for bestowing on me all your great treasures."
Some 35 awards were given out, in all, and among other top honours, animated Disney film Up was favourite family movie.
In TV, top-rated American Idol won best competition program, while House star Hugh Laurie was best drama actor and Katherine Heigl favorite drama actress. Alyson Hannigan won best comedy actress for her work in How I Met Your Mother and Steve Carell top comedy actor in The Office.
Other music winners included Lady Gaga as favorite pop artist and breakout music artist. Paramore was favourite rock band and Eminem best hip-hop artist.
People Choice Awards Winners:
Favourite Actor of the Decade: Johnny Depp
Favourite Comedic Star: Jim Carrey
Favourite Movie Actress: Sandra Bullock
Favourite Comedy Movie: The Proposal
Favourite Action Star: Hugh Jackman
Favourite On-Screen Team: The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Favourite Franchise: The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Favourite Independent Film: Inglourious Basterds
Favourite Breakout Movie Actor: Taylor Lautner
Favourite Breakout Movie Actress: Miley Cyrus
Favourite TV Drama Actor: Hugh Laurie, House
Favourite TV Drama Actor: Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy
Favourite TV Drama: House
Favourite TV Comedy: The Big Bang Theory