Guild honours Bridges and Bullock

"I love being an actor – pretending to be other people and getting into the shoes of other folks," said Bridges, who plays a hard-luck, hard-living country singer in the drama.

Although respected by his peers, Bridges has largely been bypassed for major awards. Bullock also got a rare chance to bask in the awards spotlight, winning for her portrayal of a tenacious real-life mother, Leigh Anne Tuohy, who helped a youth in need, future ice hockey player Michael Oher.

Both Bridges and Bullock had picked up Golden Globes trophies for their roles less than a week ago. Backstage, Bullock refused to speculate on her Oscar chances in March.

"Shhhhh. Shhhh. Shhhh," she said, repeatedly, to a reporter asking the question. "I would be a hostess or a waitress or a house restorer before I ever considered myself an actor, because I never thought I was good enough," she added.

Christoph Waltz was honoured as best supporting actor for his role as an energetically ruthless Nazi in the film Inglourious Basterds, while Mo'Nique's searing portrayal of an abusive mother in Precious was honoured as best supporting actress.