The stars were out in force at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards, held on February 23 at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles. The ceremony was celebrated with glamour and a unique sense of community as actors donned stunning ensembles and shared moments of heartfelt expression on stage.
This year’s event, hosted by Kristen Bell, saw notable fashion statements alongside the recognition of outstanding performances across both television and film. Leading the film nominations was Wicked, with five nods, followed closely by A Complete Unknown with four nominations, and Emilia Pérez and Anora, each garnering three. On the television front, Shogun led with five nominations, followed by The Bear with four and The Diplomat with three.
Fashion was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the evening. Best Actress nominee Danielle Deadwyler stunned everyone as she strutted down the blue carpet wearing a bold red tulle Louis Vuitton gown, styled by Wayman Deon and Micah McDonald. Another standout was Ariana Grande, who showcased her connection to Wicked by wearing Glinda’s signature pink, crafted by Loewe and embellished with feather floral embroidery.
The awards were marked by poignant acceptance speeches, with Timothée Chalamet taking home the award for Outstanding Male Actor for his role in A Complete Unknown. His acceptance speech turned heads when he declared, “I’m really in pursuit of greatness. I want to be one of the greats.” The speech inspired many and was widely celebrated on social media, where the audience reacted positively to his ambitious aspirations.
Victory for Only Murders in the Building left Selena Gomez visibly shocked and delighted when she exclaimed, “Wait, we never win. This is so weird!” She shared the Best Ensemble award with her co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short, reflecting on the unexpected nature of their win. Gomez's heartfelt expression connected with viewers, adding to the ceremony's charm.
Jane Fonda also made headlines during the ceremony after receiving the SAG Life Achievement Award presented by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Her acceptance speech was nothing short of powerful, addressing themes of empathy and activism. “Woke just means you give a damn about other people,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of community and mutual support. Fonda's remarks garnered multiple standing ovations and reinforced her legacy as both a performer and activist.
Further engaging the audience were memorable comedic moments. Kristen Bell opened the ceremony with a playful song dedicated to actors’ early roles, which set the tone for the evening. Mocking herself as Anna from Frozen, Bell turned the spotlight onto iconic actors like Selena Gomez and Jodie Foster as they watched clips of their youthful performances.
The award ceremony was not without hilarity; Kieran Culkin maintained his reputation for off-the-cuff humor as he accepted his award, joking, “Thank you, SAG-AFTRA, for this incredibly heavy award,” and giving thanks to his family and director ironically, calling out Hallie Eisenberg for thinking of him for the role.
A mixture of emotional depth and light-hearted banter meant the evening was filled with memorable moments. Amidst many iconic gowns, classics such as Keke Palmer’s vintage Chanel and Gillian Anderson’s floral Carolina Herrera added glamour to the red carpet. Zoe Saldaña ascended the stage to accept the award for Best Supporting Actress wearing custom Saint Laurent and showing off her remarkable ensemble.
The ceremony not only underscored the art of acting but also echoed the year's emotional resonance by acknowledging the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires on the industry. Videos dedicated to first responders served as poignant reminders of the challenges faced by the community, linking the theme of the night back to shared values of empathy and solidarity.
With its unique blend of glamour, heartfelt speeches, and community focus, the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards garnered significant attention. The event, now streaming on Netflix, serves as both a celebration of talent and as an unapologetic call to action for the importance of kindness within society. It’s clear from the reactions on social media, illustrated perfectly by the conversations surrounding Timothée Chalamet and Jane Fonda, who became the talk of the night, the SAG Awards encapsulated not just the best of acting, but the best of humanity.