A Night of Glamour and Recognition at the 2026 Actor Awards
Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell, a couple known for their on-screen chemistry, brought their off-screen charm to the red carpet at the 2026 Actor Awards. The event, which was rebranded from the SAG Awards, celebrated the best in film, television, and limited series.
A Playful Moment on the Red Carpet
During the 2026 Actors Awards on Sunday, Matthew Rhys couldn’t help but have some fun while his partner, Keri Russell, directed him on where to fan her gown. The Welsh actor, 51, shared a cheeky moment with The Diplomat star, 49, as Keri humorously instructed him mid-pose where to place the train of her dress to ensure it was picture perfect for photos. Matthew, who is a nominee in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series category for The Beast In Me, bravely stepped in and shared a laugh with the sea of photographers who captured the moment.
Looking every inch the glamorous couple, the duo turned the simple wardrobe adjustment into an animated exchange that delighted onlookers with their effortless chemistry.
Keri, an American beauty, was the epitome of class in a one-shoulder black dress with a flowing train that cascaded behind her. She finished off with elegant black stilettos and made a statement with diamond pendant earrings.
Meanwhile, The Beast In Me actor cut a smart look in a brown suit and matching silky shirt.
The couple has been in a relationship since 2014, after meeting on the set of the FX spy drama The Americans.
Matthew is up against Jason Bateman for Black Rabbit, Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham for Adolescence, Charlie Hunnam for Monster: The Ed Gein Story in his category.
The 32nd Annual Actor Awards
The 32nd Annual Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards, officially rebranded as The Actor Awards this year. The move was designed to align the show with its iconic statuette ‘The Actor’, sharpen its global identity, and keep the spotlight squarely on performers honoring their peers.
Kristen Bell returned as host for the third time, having previously emceed in 2018 and 2025.
Streaming live on Netflix, the ceremony will hand out honors across 28 categories spanning film, television, and limited series, with six nominees in each race except Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, which features eight contenders.
Film and Television Highlights
On the film side, One Battle After Another leads the pack with seven nominations, followed closely by Sinners with five.
The race for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role is stacked with Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, and Jesse Plemons for Bugonia.
The Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role category is equally competitive, featuring Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, and Emma Stone for Bugonia.
In supporting categories, Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn both scored nominations for One Battle After Another, while Jacob Elordi earned recognition for Frankenstein, Paul Mescal for Hamnet, and Miles Caton for Sinners in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role race.
The Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role lineup includes Odessa A’Zion for Marty Supreme, Ariana Grande for Wicked: For Good, Amy Madigan for Weapons, Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners, and Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another — a mix of seasoned veterans and exciting newcomers.
The Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category brings ensemble firepower from Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, and Sinners, underscoring just how actor-driven this awards body remains.
Television, meanwhile, has its own battleground.
On the comedy front, The Studio dominated with five nominations, cementing its status as an actors’ favorite. It will compete for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series alongside Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, and Only Murders in the Building.
Individual comedy acting races feature names like Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O’Hara, and Seth Rogen from The Studio, Jean Smart for Hacks, Jenna Ortega for Wednesday, Adam Brody for Nobody Wants This, Ted Danson for A Man on the Inside, and Martin Short for Only Murders in the Building.
Drama is just as intense. The White Lotus, Severance, The Diplomat, The Pitt, and Landman are all nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
Acting nods in the drama categories went to performers including Britt Lower, Parker Posey, Keri Russell, Rhea Seehorn, Aimee Lou Wood, Sterling K. Brown, Billy Crudup, Walton Goggins, Gary Oldman, and Noah Wyle.
Limited series and television movies continue to prove their awards muscle.
Nominees for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series include Claire Danes for The Beast in Me, Erin Doherty, and Christine Tremarco for Adolescence, Sarah Snook for All Her Fault, and Michelle Williams for Dying for Sex.
Yet no awards season is complete without a little controversy.
One of the most talked-about snubs was Cynthia Erivo, who many expected to be nominated for Wicked: For Good but was left off the list. Fans also pointed to the absence of Gwyneth Paltrow and Dwayne Johnson, while others questioned the limited international representation among acting nominees.
Additional omissions, including Sentimental Value on the film side and Death by Lightning in television, fueled further chatter.
Still, there were pleasant surprises that delighted fans, including supporting nominations for Odessa A’Zion (Marty Supreme) and Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), highlighting the breadth of this year’s roster.
Adding gravitas to the evening, Hollywood legend Harrison Ford will receive the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award.
Over a career spanning more than five decades, Ford has anchored some of the biggest franchises in film history, from Star Wars and Indiana Jones to Blade Runner and The Fugitive, cementing his status as one of Hollywood’s most bankable and enduring leading men.
‘I am deeply honored to be chosen as this year’s recipient of the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award,’ Ford said.
‘To be acknowledged by my fellow actors means a great deal to me. I’ve spent most of my life on film sets, working alongside incredible actors and crews, and I’ve always felt grateful to be part of this community.’
And helping represent the next generation is Bridgerton breakout Yerin Ha, who has been tapped as this year’s Ambassador for The Actor Awards.
‘Being named The Actor Awards Ambassador is such an honor because this ceremony is about actors celebrating actors,’ Ha said.
‘There is something uniquely powerful about being recognized within your own community. As someone who cares so deeply about the craft and about collaboration, it means so much to represent the next generation of actors and be part of an event that uplifts storytelling.’
