Pretty in pastel: Kerry Washington shines as she takes top honours at the NAACP Image Awards
PUBLISHED: 05:24, 2 February 2013 | UPDATED: 14:53, 2 February 2013
Kerry Washington showed why she is one of Hollywood's hottest stars at the moment, stunning on the red carpet of the NAACP Image Awards on Friday evening.
The Django Unchained actress looked like a vision in a feminine pastel gown at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.
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Red carpet winner: Kerry Washington stunned as she arrived at the 44th Annual NAACP Image Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on Friday
Recognising actors of colour, the awards saw Hollywood's best and brightest come together to celebrate their achievements in film - and show off some serious style doing it.
The 36-year-old actress walked the red carpet with her parents, who were in the audience to see her win Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in the hit film Django Unchained.
The challenging film by notoriously blood-thirsty director Quintin Tarantino follows a man's battle to be free from slavery and save his wife, played by Kerry.
Three times a charm: Washington won three awards including Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series award for Scandal
Pretty in pink: The actress looked feminine and polished in the ball gown
Proud parents: Kerry's parents, Valerie Washington and Earl Washington, accompanied their daughter
While some have been critical of the film for both its violence and its portrayal of African Americans, in accepting the award Kerry made it clear that she was very proud of the film.
'This award doesn't belong to me - it belongs to our ancestors,' she told the star studded audience.
'We see ourselves in each others stories.'
VIDEO Kerry is pretty in pastel after winning her Best Supporting Actress award
Relaxed look: The Scandal actress wore her hair in a quiff on the top of her head with the rest of her hair loose and flowing
Accessory accents: The 36-year-old accessorised her look with a pink clutch and nude shoes
Dapper co-star: Her Django Unchained co-star Jamie Foxx who looked handsome in a classic black tux and bow tie. He was awarded Entertainer Of The Year
Laugh out loud: Lance Gross won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Tyler Perry's House of Payne
The actress landed herself three awards including for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her work on Scandal.
She was also recognised for being a trailblazer as a black woman in a leading role in a prime time series and was given the NAACP President's Award.
The actress then used her speech to encourage others rather than just thanking people.
'Be bold. Be bright. Be Black,' the actress said.
Joking around: While Kerry won serious awards she still found time to joke with presenter Tony Goldwyn
Ready for his close up: LL Cool J donned a black suit with satin lapel and a cheese cutter cap
Famous friends: LL and Halle Berry pose backstage at the event
Top film: Producer of Red Tails George Lucas accepts Vanguard Award
For her big night the actress donned a pink and green dress which featured a pink floral embroidered top and its patterned skirt featured a train.
On hand to see the star take home her three awards, was her Django Unchained co-star Jamie Foxx who looked dapper in a classic black tux and bow tie.
The 45-year-old actor was nominated for Best Actor in a Motion Picture but lost out to Flight‘s Denzel Washington.
However, he was awarded perhaps the more prestigious honour of Entertainer OF The Year.
Positive dressing: Loretta Devine looked like she was one of the awards on the red carpet
Over the moon:The star of Grey's Anatomy, accepts Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Overcome: The actress struggled to keep her emotions in check as she gave her speech
Going for a different but equally suave look was LL Cool J who donned a black suit with satin lapel and a cheese cutter cap.
LL won Best Actor In A Drama Series for his role of the bad guy hunting navy agent in NCIS: Los Angeles.
Over the moon at her win was Loretta Devine, who stars in Grey's Anatomy.
The veteran actress won Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Adding to the pile: Don Cheadel found more acclaim for his role in House Of Lies - he has already won a Golden Globe Award
Perfect pair: Life Of Pi's Dev Patel and his stunning actress girlfriend Freida Pinto also walked the carpet
Golden girl: Vanessa Williams flashed some leg in a gold one shoulder dress
And she certainly was dressed for success, wearing a gold gown that made her look like an award herself.
The actress was so emotional at her win that she first laughed and then was so overcome put her head in her hand on the podium.
Don Cheadel found more acclaim for his role in House Of Lies. The actor added an Image Award for Best Actor In A Comedy Series. The 48-year-old won a Golden Globe for the same role.
Black and white: Halle stunned in a Vivienne Westwood dress
Green queen: Sandra Oh choose a flowing dress with a black belt
Show stopping: Angell Conwell showed the celebrity pack how to get the cameras clicking
Winning top honours on the red carpet was Halle Berry.
The Movie 43 star showed off her amazing body in a figure hugging gown.
The star was nominated for Best actress for Cloud Atlas but already was a winner thanks to her Vivienne Westwood‘s Ball Tie Dress in black voile satin with champagne voile satin scarf detail.
She did not take home the statute however, that honour was reserved for Viola Davis.
Shoe stealer: Quvenzhane Wallis accepts the award on behalf of Viola Davis for her role in Won't Back Down
Heavy lifting: Samuel L. Jackson helps the tiny actress hold the award
The stage was stolen by the youngest attendee Quvenzhane Wallis who accepted the award on behalf of Viola Davis for her role in Won't Back Down.
Also attending the awards with former Apprentice competitor Omarosa Manigault.
The reality star smiled as she posed on the red carpet wearing a plunging blue dress with diamond embellishment.
The 38-year-old revealed last month she is still struggling to come to terms with the death of her partner Michael Clarke Duncan, who died of complications following a heart attack.
Moving forward: Omarosa Manigault came to watch a tribute to her late fiance Micheal Clarke Duncan
Still struggling: The television personality revealed last month that she is still struggling to come to grips with the death of her partner
Touching tribute: Gladys Knight sung Barbra Streisand's The Way We Were
'I was doing okay, progressing through the stages of grief, but then dates came around — his birthday, Christmas, our wedding date — and I was thrown back to day one. Something will remind me every day,' she told BET.
'I went to a friend's house over the holidays and The Green Mile was on. I still have wedding gifts coming to my house. I have the invitations on my dining room table with stamps on them. Michael's dirty clothes are still in the hamper. His shoes are exactly where he left them by the door.'
Micheal along with other actors who passed away were payed tribute to by Gladys Knight at the ceremony.
Laugh out loud: Lance Gross won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Tyler Perry's House of Payne
Father and son: Actor and director Mario Van Peebles lifted up his son Mandela Van Peebles as a joke on the red carpet
No woman, no cry: Singer Ziggy Marley and his wife Orly Marley made a handsome couple
The iconic singer sung Barbra Streisand's The Way We Were. So touching was the tribute that many watching the awards took to Twitter.
'Gladys just killed Barbra Streisand's The Way We Were,' one fan wrote.
'Naacp has me crying over this tribute. Siiiiing, Gladys!' another tweeted.
Rapper Common and Wyclef Jean also teamed up to perform at the event.
Singing for their friend: Wyclef Jean, left, and Common perform during a presentation of the Spingarn award to Harry Belafonte
Acrobatic: Wyclef did a handstand in the press room after taking the stage
This old thing: Grey's Anatomy's Chandra Wilson stunned in white
Carpet beauties: Keke Palmer, Garcelle Beauvais and Wendy Raquel Robinson all went for gorgeous long gowns for the event
Colour explosion: Bahja Rodriguez, Breaunna Womack and Zonnique Pullins of the OMG Girlz bought some serious colour to the carpet
AND THE WINNERS ARE... THE 44TH ANNUAL NAACP AWARDS CELEBRATES:
FILM
Motion picture: Red Tails
Entertainer of the Year: Jamie Foxx, Django Unchained
Actor in a motion picture: Denzel Washington, Flight
Actress in a motion picture: Viola Davis, Won’t Back Down
Supporting actor in a motion picture: Samuel L. Jackson, Django Unchained
Supporting actress in a motion picture: Kerry Washington, Django Unchained
Independent motion picture: (tie) Beasts of the Southern Wild and Red Tails
International motion picture: The Intouchables
Documentary: On the Shoulders of Giants: The Story of the Greatest Team You’ve Never Heard Of
Directing in a motion picture: Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild
TELEVISION
Comedy series: BET’s The Game
Actor in a comedy series: Don Cheadle, Showtime’sHouse Of Lies
Actress in a comedy series: Cassi Davis, TBS’ Tyler Perry’s House of Payne
Supporting actor in a comedy series: Lance Gross, TBS’ Tyler Perry’s House of Payne
Actress in a comedy series: Vanessa Williams, ABC’s Desperate Housewives
Drama series: ABC’s Scandal
Actor in a drama series: LL Cool J, CBS’ NCIS: Los Angeles
Actress in a drama series: Kerry Washington, ABC’s Scandal
Supporting actor in a drama series: Omar Epps, Fox’s House
Supporting actress in a drama series: Loretta Devine, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy
Television movie, mini-series or dramatic special: Lifetime’s Steel Magnolias
Actor in a television movie, mini-series or dramatic special: Cuba Gooding Jr., ABC’s Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Firelight
Actress in a television movie, mini-series or dramatic special: Alfre Woodard, Lifetime’s Steel Magnolias
Actor in a daytime drama series: Kristoff St. John, CBS’ The Young and the Restless
Actress in a daytime drama series: Tatyana Ali, CBS’ The Young and the Restless
News: TV One’s Unsung
Talk series: ABC’s The View
Reality series: OWN’s Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s
Variety series or special: BET’s Black Girls Rock
Children’s program: BET’s Kasha and the Zulu King
Performance in a youth/children’s program: Loretta Devine, Disney Channel’s Doc McStuffins
Writing in a comedy series: Marc Wilmore, The Simpsons
Writing in a dramatic series: Cheo Hodari Coker Southland
Writing in a motion picture: Elizabeth Hunter, Lifetime’s Abducted: The Carlina White Story
Directing in a comedy series: Ken Whittingham, NBC’s Parks and Recreation
Directing in a dramatic series: Paris Barclay, NBC’s Smash
MUSIC
New artist: Elle Varner
Male artist: Usher
Female artist: Alicia Keys
Duo, group or collaboration: Mary Mary
Jazz album: The Preservation Hall 50th Anniversary Collection, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Gospel album: Go Get It, Mary Mary
World music album: All of Me, Estelle.
Music video: Girl On Fire, Alicia Keys.
Song: I Look To You, Whitney Houston and R. Kelly.
Album: I Will Always Love You: The Best Of Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston.
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