Lily Tomlin Gives Advice in Life Achievement Award Speech at SAGs 2017 (Video)

Lily Tomlin‘s Life Achievement Award acceptance speech at the 2017 SAG Awards was definitely one of the highlights of the night.

In the speech, the 77-year-old actress spoke about her youth, and gave advice to actors of the future.

“When I recall my youth, I can’t even point to a time where I showed promise to be anything but trouble. When I was a senior in high school, my counselor called me into his office to tell me they were thinking of holding back my diploma. Turned out I’d been a student for four years but, I had been absent one. Cumulatively I’d been absent one year. I would literally stay out, 12, 13 days in a row if my hair didn’t turn out right. Those of you from that era know what I mean because hair was really important. But, somehow, I learned to turn my flaws into spiritual lessons,” Lily said.

“Along with telling them to wear sunscreen, I suggest a few other things I think you may find helpful. Don’t leave your house when you’re drunk. If you’re already out, you must learn to tell when you’ve had too much to drink. Listen to your friends. When they stop talking to you and start talking about you, saying things like, ‘Did she have a purse?’ Don’t be anxious when you miss an opportunity. Behind every failure is an opportunity someone wishes they had missed. Mind what [Henry David] Thoreau said, ‘Beware of any enterprise that requires new clothing.’ Doesn’t that ring sort of true tonight to a few of you? It does to me,” Lily continued.