(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Viola Davis received a top honor at the 2012 SAG Awards, winning a best actress statue for her portrayal of the stoic maid Aibileen Clark in The Help.

Taking the stage to receive her award, Davis, in an emotionally moving acceptance speech, gave thanks to acting legend and Help co-star Cicely Tyson for inspiring her to act at eight years old. Davis also thanked the iconic actress Meryl Streep (who was also nominated for best actress) for inspiring her to persevere when discovering that acting meant lots of rejection.

Davis also took home a best actress trophy at the Critics Choice Movie Awards.

Octavia Spencer won big at the SAG Awards, earning a best supporting actress statue for her role as maid Minnie Jackson in The Help. This was Spencer’s third best supporting award win, having taken home the honors at this year's Golden Globes and Critics Choice Movie Awards.

In her acceptance speech, Spencer thanked the unsung hero of The Help, Medgar Evers.

Davis and Spencer also received awards, along with the rest of The Help ensemble, for best cast in a motion picture.

Both are nominated for statues at this year's Academy Awards.

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