Depp strikes awards gold as actors gear up for Oscars

JOHNNY DEPP was a surprise lead actor winner at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles for Pirates of the Caribbean, while Charlize Theron took the best-actress honour for the serial-killer drama Monster.

Depp, who did not attend the awards, won for his role as jittery buccaneer Captain Jack Sparrow in the summer blockbuster, beating Sean Penn, who had been considered the favourite for thriller Mystic River.

Tim Robbins won best supporting actor for Mystic River and Renee Zellweger best supporting actress for the Civil War epic Cold Mountain.