Garden rose of our hearts Uzo Aduba continues to dazzle with the power of her screen presence while simultaneously charming us all to death. At last night’s Screen Actors Guild Awards she won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series — and who was there to escort her? Her high school prom date.


Friends since kindergarten, Aduba and her date Mark have shared an intimate companionship throughout the years. To mark this occasion, Aduba tweeted side-by-side their prom photo and a SAG Awards selfie. After all, as friendship milestones go, this one is pretty meaningful.


In addition to Outstanding Female Actor, Aduba collected a second award together with her Orange Is the New Black co-stars for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy series. (She also wins a Rachel Award for Generally Excellent Human Beings.)

Case in point: last night Aduba also took the opportunity to encourage aspiring actors, emphasizing that they should not relinquish their ambitions no matter how difficult the road may be. Via Us Weekly:

“I would like to just take an opportunity to acknowledge the actors who are at home — not here in this room with us, but hoping to one day be in this room with us — to continue to keep trying, to keep plugging, to keep working, no matter if anybody tells you to get out of that line you’re waiting in...Stay in line! You have the chance. It is yours.”

Contact the author at rachel.vorona.cote@jezebel.com .