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The Artist, too, claimed another key prize as Jean Dujardin won for best actor.

Hollywood's acting guild spread awards across the television and film spectrum and gave The Help a boost in the acting categories for the Oscars, which will be handed out Feb. 26.

Octavia Spencer took best supporting actress, but co-star Viola Davis may have been the night's biggest winner. She was named best movie actress and spoke for the cast of The Help when it collected its best-ensemble award.

"We had such great expectations" coming in to adapt the best-selling book, Davis said.

"The stain of racism and sexism isn't just for people of color or women," said the star of the civil rights drama. "It's all of our burdens. All of us can inspire change."

Not that The Artist would be ignored. "My God, my God, my God," a tearful Dujardin said onstage. "It's too much."

Dujardin credits his success to daydreaming. "My teachers called me 'John of the moon.' I realized I never stopped dreaming. Thank you for this dream."

Modern Family took its second SAG Award for best TV comedy.

30 Rock's Alec Baldwin won for actor in a comedy series, calling the award proof that "obviously you people love Tina (Fey's) writing." Winning for the second straight year, Betty White took best actress in a comedy for Hot in Cleveland.

Jessica Lange, winner of best female actor in a drama series for American Horror Story, seemed surprised by the honor. "To be an actor means everything to me," she said.

Steve Buscemi claimed honors as outstanding male actor in a drama series for Boardwalk Empire, his second straight win. His show also took best dramatic series for the second consecutive year.

"Please stop yelling at me on the street," he joked of the reaction he occasionally gets to his character, gangster Nucky Thompson.

Christopher Plummer started the night off by picking up best supporting actor for Beginners, about a man with cancer who acknowledges his homosexuality.

The Artist, which has been winning big at earlier awards, notched a critical trophy Saturday by taking top directing honors for Michel Hazanavicius at the Directors Guild of America Awards. Since 1948, only six directors who won the DGA's top prize did not go on to win a best-director Oscar.