Cast member of No

Los Angeles ? “No Country for Old Men” solidified its Academy Awards prospects Sunday by taking overall cast honors alongside Javier Bardem’s supporting-actor prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which may stand as the highlight of Hollywood’s film-honors season if the writers strike undermines the Oscars.

Past Oscar winners Daniel Day-Lewis of “There Will Be Blood” and Julie Christie of “Away From Her” won the lead-acting honors, also giving them a boost to win the same trophies at the Oscars. Day-Lewis dedicated his win to Heath Ledger, the 28-year-old Australian actor who was found dead in his Manhattan loft last week.

“In ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ he was unique, he was perfect,” said Day-Lewis, already an Oscar winner for “My Left Foot.” “That scene in the trailer at the end of the film is as moving as anything I think I’ve ever seen.”

Actors bid fond farewell to one of TV’s most-acclaimed series ever as “The Sopranos” swept the dramatic categories, grabbing the lead-acting honors for James Gandolfini and Edie Falco and, minutes later, the overall cast award.

The SAG show itself was generally free of labor talk, with only Christie addressing the matter openly among the winners. “It’s lovely to receive an award from your own union,” she said, “especially at a time when we’re being so forcefully reminded how important unions are.”

Ruby Dee won supporting actress for “American Gangster.” She shared fond thoughts of her late husband and frequent acting partner, Ossie Davis, who died in 2005.

“I accept it also for my husband Ossie,” the 83-year-old Dee said, “because he’s working on things up there.”

TV awards

Though its last episode aired several months ago, “The Sopranos” grabbed all three TV drama categories to open the ceremony.

“Ten years … I wish for everybody in every walk of life, but particularly for actors, to have the opportunity to have a work experience like I have had with my family here,” Falco said. “You’re not supposed to get this attached because it’s a transient business. I have fallen in love with these people and I don’t know how you walk away from that.”

Minutes before, Gandolfini took the first trophy of the night in a star-studded ceremony – something of an anomaly in this strike-hobbled awards season.

“This is our last official act as Sopranos together,” Gandolfini said. “Here’s to you guys. Thank you very much. It’s been 10 years. It’s been an honor. That’s all I can say.”

For comedy series, Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey were the lead-acting winners for “30 Rock,” while “The Office” won for best ensemble.

Normally a lesser cousin to the Golden Globes and Oscars, the SAG Awards could end up being the biggest celebration this time around: The swanky Globes were canceled because of a strike by the Writers Guild of America, which refused to let its members work on the show, and the fate of the Oscars on Feb. 24 is in question because of the same labor quarrel.

Not so for the SAG honors. The actors union has been steadfast in support of striking writers, who in turn gave their blessing to the SAG ceremony.

Instead of the debacle for the Globes, which were reduced to a star-free news conference after actors and filmmakers made it clear they would not cross picket lines, the SAG ceremony came off with a full complement of Hollywood A-listers.

“We’re really proud of the solidarity we’ve built with the Writers Guild,” said Alan Rosenberg, SAG president. “Our members have understood that and taken it to heart. I was really moved by their decision not to go to the Golden Globes, our nominees. It’s tough times, but it’s been gratifying as well.”