Hot off his gritty, Oscar-nominated turn as a corrupt cop in Training Day, Denzel Washington took top honors at the 33rd Annual NAACP Image Awards Saturday, snagging Outstanding Actor for the fifth time in seven years, while Halle Berry won most unexpectedly for her dressed-down performance in Swordfish.
But it was the Champ who took top honors in the film category. Ali, Michael Mann's big-screen tribute to boxing legend Muhammad Ali, was named Best Film.
On the TV side, Showtime's Soul Food was recognized as Outstanding Drama, ER mainstay Eriq LaSalle snagged Best Dramatic Actor and Della Reese won for Best Dramatic Actress for Touched by An Angel.
Original King of Comedy and last year's Entertainer of the Year Steve Harvey garnered Best Actor in a Comedy Series for The Steve Harvey Show. The series also was named Best Comedy, while Mo'Nique landed Best Actress in a Comedy for The Parkers.
The NAACP handed out its special President's Award to National Security Adviser Dr. Condoleezza Rice, who was honored for being the first woman ever appointed to the all-important post as the President's foreign-affairs expert.
"There were no role models for her to follow, because there was no one else like Condoleezza Rice," said NAACP president Kweisi Mfume, who tapped former President Bill Clinton for the honor last year.
This year's Chairman Award went to Aaron McGruder, the creator of the button-pushing comic strip Boondocks.
For Washington, playing a bad guy isn't all that bad. His Best Actor Image award extends his winning streak to three in a row, having earned statuettes for his role as a black football coach during desegregation in Remember the Titans and for his riveting portrayal of boxer Ruben "Hurricane" Carter in Hurricane.
Even more incredible than Denzel's streak is the fact that Berry was singled out for last summer's ho-hum spy caper Swordfish--instead of her Oscar-nominated role in Monster's Ball.
Ali star Will Smith failed to snag a trophy despite pulling a De Niro and bulking up to play the legendary heavyweight fighter. But Smith still has a fighting chance against Washington at this year's Oscars--the first time two black actors have been nominated for Best Actor in the same year.
Musically speaking, Alicia Keys scored a knockout of her own, winning for Best New Music Artist, while rapper Ja Rule snagged Best Rapper for "Livin' It Up." Late R&B star Aaliyah was named Outstanding Female Artist for her last album, Aaliyah. And rock legend Little Richard was honored with the group's Hall of Fame Award.
The Image Awards, chosen by a committee of 300 industry professionals and NAACP leaders, feature 41 competitive categories created to honor positive portrayals of people of color in the entertainment industry in film, TV, music and literature.
This year's taped ceremony, hosted by actor-comedian Chris Tucker, is scheduled to air March 1 on Fox.