Los Angeles: Timothee Chalamet has delivered a major surprise at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, taking home the award for Best Male Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown.
The win disrupted a season-long dominance by The Brutalist star Adrien Brody, who had previously claimed the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Critics’ Choice Awards. Chalamet stated that, “I was not expecting this at all, truly. I poured everything I had into playing this incomparable artist.”
Demi Moore won Best Female Actor in a Leading Role for her performance in the body horror film The Substance, beating out Anora’s Mikey Madison and Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo. Moore stated that, “This is extraordinary and so deeply meaningful.”
The ensemble cast of Conclave, a thriller set around a papal election, secured the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, surpassing competitors Wicked, A Complete Unknown, Anora, and Emilia Perez. Ralph Fiennes, who plays Cardinal Lawrence in the film, emphasised the significance of community in his speech.
Historical drama Shōgun continued its awards season dominance, winning four major categories: Drama Ensemble, Stunt Ensemble, and both Male and Female Actor in a Drama Series. Anna Sawai, who won Best Female Actor, called the show’s success “beyond my imagination,” while Best Male Actor winner Hiroyuki Sanada praised the series for proving that “acting is a universal language.”
Kieran Culkin added to his awards streak, winning Best Supporting Male Actor for A Real Pain, after securing the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Independent Spirit Awards. Zoe Saldana also continued her winning run, claiming Best Supporting Female Actor for Emilia Perez. Saldana stated that, “I am proud to be part of a union that allows me to be who I am.”
Jessica Gunning won Best Female Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series for Baby Reindeer, triumphing over Jodie Foster, Cate Blanchett, and Kathy Bates. Colin Farrell secured his first SAG Award, winning Best Male Actor in a Limited Series for The Penguin, jokingly accepting blame for giving Jamie Lee Curtis COVID at the Golden Globes.
In comedy, Jean Smart won her third SAG Award for Hacks, while Martin Short took home Best Male Actor in a Comedy Series for Only Murders in the Building, pulling off an upset over two-time winner Jeremy Allen White. The ensemble cast of Only Murders in the Building also won Best Comedy Ensemble, with Selena Gomez reacting that, “Wait, we never win, this is so weird!”
The evening’s highest honour, the Lifetime Achievement Award, went to Hollywood icon Jane Fonda, introduced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus as “a woman whose life on and off the screen has simply been epic.” The 87-year-old received a standing ovation and used her speech to address social and political issues, calling for bravery in the face of rising challenges.
The SAG Awards, voted on by actors, often serve as a strong predictor for the Academy Awards. Last year’s SAG winners, including Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, all went on to win Oscars. With the Academy Awards set for March 2, all eyes will be on whether Chalamet’s unexpected win signals an Oscars shake-up.
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