‘Precious’ prevails at NAACP Image Awards

“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” swept the 41st annual NAACP Image Awards on Friday night, winning outstanding film and outstanding independent motion picture, lead actress for newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, supporting actress for Mo’Nique, motion picture writing for Geoffrey Fletcher and directing for Lee Daniels.

All the night’s winners from “Precious,” the story of an abused teen and her hateful mother, have also been nominated for the Academy Awards, which will be held March 7.

Mo’Nique, who also won an Image Award for her television talk show, has been sweeping the critical honors this season, winning a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild award and the BAFTA, the British equivalent of the Oscars, among many others. After thanking God in her speech, the actress said, “For all the Preciouses -- I love you unconditionally.”

Morgan Freeman won the lead actor award for his performance as South African President Nelson Mandela in the uplifting “Invictus.” Freeman, who is also up for an Academy Award for that role, could be seen mouthing “wow” as his name was announced.

Adam Rodriguez won outstanding supporting actor for “Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All by Myself.”

Chris Rock’s “Good Hair” earned outstanding documentary honors -- and wild applause as he commented that most people make movies “to make money, and then make more movies to make more money. I made this movie for black people!”

“The Stoning of Soraya M” was named outstanding foreign motion picture.

On the television side, “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” won four awards -- comedy series, actress in a comedy series for Cassi Davis, supporting actor in a comedy series for Lance Gross and supporting actress in a comedy series for Keshia Knight Pulliam.

The top drama series went to “Lincoln Heights.” Hill Harper won lead actor in a drama series for “CSI: New York,” and Jada Pinkett Smith earned lead actress honors for “Hawthorne.”

The Image Awards, which took place at the Shrine Auditorium, honor individuals as well as projects that promote diversity in the arts, including literature, cinema, music and television. .

A complete list of winners can be found at www.The Envelope.com.

susan.king@latimes.com