Cerermony - 32nd Actor Awards: A New Name, A Familiar Spirit, And A Night Where Actors Honored Their Own

By Mulder, 02 march 2026

The 32nd Actor Awards, formerly known for nearly three decades as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, marked a historic turning point on March 1, 2026, when the ceremony unfolded at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles and fully embraced its new identity. Streaming live on Netflix for the third consecutive year at 8:00 p.m. EST / 5:00 p.m. PST, the event signaled both continuity and reinvention, reinforcing its unique position as the only major industry honor bestowed exclusively by actors upon actors. The name change, officially announced on November 14, 2025, was not cosmetic but philosophical: as SAG-AFTRA clarified, the shift to “Actor Awards” was meant to better reflect the ceremony’s true spirit and singular standing within the entertainment industry. It felt less like a rebrand and more like a return to essence — a stripping away of institutional phrasing in favor of something direct, almost primal, a reminder that performance remains the beating heart of the craft.

Hosting the ceremony for the third time, Kristen Bell once again demonstrated why she has become one of the show’s most reliable anchors, balancing humor with genuine warmth. Having previously hosted in 2018 and 2025, she returned with a relaxed confidence that mirrored the ceremony’s evolving tone in the streaming era. There was a palpable ease to the evening — Netflix’s third year broadcasting the show has subtly reshaped the pacing, giving the event a slightly more global, contemporary energy without sacrificing the intimacy that defines it. The nominations, announced on January 7, 2026, by Janelle James and Connor Storrie, had already set the stage for a competitive yet celebratory atmosphere, but what unfolded live felt less like rivalry and more like communion.

On the film side, the night belonged in many ways to Sinners, which not only secured Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for Michael B. Jordan — recognized for his dual portrayal of Elijah “Smoke” Moore and Elias “Stack” Moore — but also triumphed in Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Sharing that ensemble recognition were Miles Caton, Buddy Guy, Michael B. Jordan, Jayme Lawson, Delroy Lindo, Omar Miller, and Wunmi Mosaku, a collective acknowledgment that underscored the Actor Awards’ consistent emphasis on collaborative achievement. Jessie Buckley earned Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for Hamnet, embodying Agnes Shakespeare with the kind of emotional interiority that has increasingly defined her career trajectory, while Sean Penn won Supporting Male Actor for One Battle After Another, and Amy Madigan was honored for Supporting Female Actor in Weapons, reinforcing the ceremony’s tradition of celebrating both towering leads and scene-stealing character performances. Meanwhile, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning captured Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture, a reminder that physical storytelling remains an indispensable part of cinematic craft.

Television, as has increasingly been the case in the streaming-dominated era, delivered some of the most talked-about moments of the evening. Owen Cooper won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series for Adolescence (Netflix), portraying Jamie Miller with striking vulnerability, while Michelle Williams was recognized for her role as Molly Kochan in Dying for Sex (FX), further solidifying her standing as one of her generation’s most fearless performers. In drama series categories, Noah Wyle triumphed for The Pitt (HBO Max), portraying Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, and Keri Russell won for The Diplomat (Netflix), her performance as Kate Wyler blending political sharpness with emotional nuance. Comedy categories offered a poignant duality: Seth Rogen won for The Studio (Apple TV), while Catherine O'Hara received a posthumous award for the same series, an emotional high point that rippled through the auditorium. The Studio also won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, with Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O'Hara, Seth Rogen, and Chase Sui Wonders sharing the honor, while The Pitt earned Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, recognizing a broad and diverse cast including Amielynn Abellera, Shabana Azeez, Patrick Ball, Isa Briones, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif, Supriya Ganesh, Joanna Going, Gerran Howell, Michael Hyatt, Tracy Ifeachor, Katherine LaNasa, Krystel V. McNeil, Brandon Mendez Homer, Alexandra Metz, Tracy Vilar, Kristin Villanueva, and Noah Wyle. The stunt category on television honored The Last of Us (HBO), further proving that genre storytelling continues to dominate both culturally and critically.

One of the defining emotional pillars of the evening was the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award presented to Harrison Ford, whose selection had been announced on December 18, 2025. The tribute felt particularly resonant given his decades-spanning career and his symbolic connection to multiple generations of filmgoers. The honor encapsulated not just blockbuster legacy but also endurance, adaptability, and professional respect within the acting community itself — precisely the qualities the Actor Awards aim to spotlight. The ceremony’s culinary atmosphere, curated by executive chef Evan Funke, added an understated but refined touch to the evening, reinforcing the event’s reputation for blending industry gravitas with celebratory elegance.

The “In Memoriam” segment, introduced by Sarah Paulson, delivered perhaps the night’s most sobering reflection. Paying tribute to actors who passed away in 2025 and early 2026, the montage included names spanning generations and genres, from James Van Der Beek, Jerry Adler, Gil Gerard, Peter Kwong, Eric Dane, and Terence Stamp, to icons such as Robert Duvall, Gene Hackman, Val Kilmer, Diane Keaton, Robert Redford, and Catherine O'Hara, whose posthumous recognition earlier in the evening had already cast an emotional shadow over the ceremony. The segment’s breadth served as a stark reminder of the industry’s continuity — how each new performance stands atop decades of artistic legacy.

Ultimately, the 32nd Actor Awards proved that while names may change, identity can remain intact. In shedding the more formal “Screen Actors Guild Awards” title, the ceremony did not lose stature; instead, it sharpened its focus. Streaming platforms, evolving audience habits, and industry transformations have altered the landscape, yet the core truth endures: actors recognizing actors remains one of Hollywood’s most intimate and meaningful gestures. If this first officially branded edition of the Actor Awards demonstrated anything, it is that reinvention, when rooted in authenticity, can strengthen tradition rather than replace it.

Films

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners as Elijah "Smoke" Moore / Elias "Stack" Moore

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet as Agnes Shakespeare

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Amy Madigan – Weapons as Aunt Gladys

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Sinners – Miles Caton, Buddy Guy, Michael B. Jordan, Jayme Lawson, Delroy Lindo, Omar Miller, Wunmi Mosaku, 

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Television

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Owen Cooper – Adolescence (Netflix) as Jamie Miller

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex (FX) as Molly Kochan

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Noah Wyle – The Pitt (HBO Max) as Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Keri Russell – The Diplomat (Netflix) as Kate Wyler

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Seth Rogen – The Studio (Apple TV) as Matt Remick

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Catherine O'Hara – The Studio (Apple TV) as Patty Leigh (posthumous)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
The Pitt (HBO Max) – Amielynn Abellera, Shabana Azeez, Patrick Ball, Isa Briones, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif, Supriya Ganesh, Joanna Going, Gerran Howell, Michael Hyatt, Tracy Ifeachor, Katherine LaNasa, Krystel V. McNeil, Brandon Mendez Homer, Alexandra Metz, Tracy Vilar, Kristin Villanueva, and Noah Wyle

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
The Studio (Apple TV) – Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O'Hara (posthumous), Seth Rogen, and Chase Sui Wonders

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
The Last of Us (HBO)

Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award
Harrison Ford

(Source : press release)