The stars were out in full force at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall on Sunday, March 1, 2026, as the 32nd annual Actor Awards—formerly the Screen Actors Guild Awards—celebrated the best in film and television. Streaming live on Netflix for the third consecutive year, the ceremony saw the film Sinners take home the evening’s top honor: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. It was a night of both triumph and poignant remembrance, as the industry’s most talented gathered under the newly minted banner of the Actor Awards, a name change announced just months earlier in November 2025.
Michael B. Jordan, star of Sinners, added to the film’s glory by winning Male Actor in a Leading Role, a category many had pegged for Timothée Chalamet’s performance in Marty Supreme. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jordan’s win was a highlight, reflecting the film’s resonance with both audiences and peers. The ensemble cast of Sinners—including Miles Caton, Delroy Lindo, Jayme Lawson, and Wunmi Mosaku—stood together on stage, beaming as they accepted the coveted trophy. The film’s breakout star, 20-year-old Miles Caton, later performed a stirring rendition of “This Little Light of Mine” after the In Memoriam segment, joined by his cousin Anaysha Figueroa-Cooper and the DC6 Singers, providing a moving tribute to those the industry lost over the past year.
In the lead actress category, Jessie Buckley won for her role in Hamnet, while Amy Madigan took home the supporting actress award for Weapons. Sean Penn, though absent from the ceremony, was recognized as Male Actor in a Supporting Role for One Battle After Another. On the television side, the drama ensemble award went to The Pitt, with Noah Wyle nabbing Male Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch. Keri Russell’s performance in The Diplomat earned her the Female Actor in a Drama Series award, further cementing her status as a powerhouse on the small screen.
Comedy had its own moment in the spotlight, with The Studio winning for best ensemble in a comedy series. Seth Rogen, who took home Male Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in the same show, accepted the Female Actor in a Comedy Series award on behalf of the late Catherine O’Hara. O’Hara, who passed away on January 30, 2026, at age 71, was remembered with a heartfelt tribute from Rogen, who called her “the heartbeat of our show and a light for everyone who knew her.”
Michelle Williams was honored as Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series for Dying for Sex, while 16-year-old Owen Cooper won the male counterpart for his role in Adolescence. Notably, both Cooper and Penn were unable to attend the ceremony, but their wins were celebrated by their colleagues and fans alike.
The ceremony, hosted for the third time by Kristen Bell, featured her signature wit and musical talent. Bell opened the show with a special song titled “Stage Name,” poking fun at the industry’s penchant for reinvention and referencing the awards’ recent rebranding. The event’s production was helmed by Jon Brockett as showrunner and executive producer, with the team from Silent House Productions—Baz Halpin, Mark Bracco, and Linda Gierahn—also serving as executive producers.
This year’s Actor Awards took place during the final-round voting for the Oscars, a period that always sees speculation about how closely the Actor Awards will predict Academy success. Historically, the correlation is mixed: as noted by Billboard, only half of the last decade’s Actor Award cast winners went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars, with recent overlaps including Spotlight, Parasite, CODA, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Oppenheimer. The other half—including Hidden Figures, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Black Panther, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Conclave—did not make the Oscar leap, underscoring the unpredictability of awards season.
Some contenders left empty-handed despite multiple nominations. Frankenstein and Marty Supreme were each up for three awards but failed to secure a win. On television, The White Lotus had a particularly rough night, going 0-for-4 in its nominated categories. Such results show just how competitive the field was this year, with fresh faces and established stars vying for recognition.
Action was also celebrated, with the Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture award going to Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. For television, the acclaimed series The Last of Us took home the stunt ensemble prize, adding to its growing list of accolades.
The In Memoriam segment, always a somber yet uplifting moment, paid tribute to industry legends including Gene Hackman, Diane Keaton, Robert Redford, and Rob Reiner, as well as music personalities who crossed into acting such as Bobby Sherman, Connie Francis, and David Johanson. The segment was soundtracked by a cover of Daryl Hall’s “Everytime You Go Away,” setting a reflective tone before Miles Caton’s rousing performance brought the audience back to hope and celebration.
Harrison Ford was the recipient of this year’s SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, presented by Woody Harrelson. Ford, known for his iconic roles in films like Indiana Jones and Star Wars, was honored for his decades-long contribution to the craft of acting and his impact on generations of performers and audiences alike.
The show opened with its signature “I am an actor” segment, featuring Teyana Taylor, Michael J. Fox, and other luminaries sharing personal stories about their journeys in the industry. These moments, both humorous and heartfelt, set the stage for an evening that balanced celebration with introspection.
The 32nd Actor Awards not only marked a new chapter for the ceremony itself—with its rebranding and continued partnership with Netflix—but also highlighted the evolving landscape of film and television. From breakout performances to moving tributes, the night captured the spirit of an industry in constant motion, ever ready to honor the best among its ranks while remembering those who paved the way.
As the curtain fell on another memorable night in Hollywood, the message was clear: storytelling, in all its forms, remains at the heart of the Actor Awards, and the community’s passion for the craft endures—no matter the name on the marquee.