Michael B. Jordan’s Historic Win at the Actor Awards 2026
Michael B. Jordan made history by securing the top acting prize at the Actor Awards 2026, formally known as the SAG Awards, on Sunday night. The 39-year-old actor triumphed over Timothée Chalamet for the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his role in Sinners. His win was met with emotional reactions from the audience and fellow nominees.
Jordan was visibly overwhelmed when he took the stage, staring in disbelief at his trophy while covering his face with his hands. His performance in Sinners also led to the film winning the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. This victory beat out strong contenders like Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, and One Battle After Another.
Jessie Buckley also claimed a major win, taking home the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for her role in Hamnet. The 36-year-old Irish actress was deeply emotional during her acceptance speech, expressing gratitude for the recognition of her work. She beat out notable names like Kate Hudson and Emma Stone, who were both nominated for their respective roles.
Catherine O’Hara received a posthumous honor just one month after her passing. The Canadian-American actress, who died at 71 from a pulmonary embolism, won the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Series for her work in The Studio. Her co-star Seth Rogen accepted the award on her behalf, sharing a heartfelt story about her dedication to her craft.
Rogen recounted how O’Hara would often email him with script edits the morning of filming. He described her as generous and kind, emphasizing her ability to contribute significantly to the work they did together.
O’Hara’s last public appearance was at the Emmys in September, where she appeared frail on the red carpet. She was notably absent from the 2026 Golden Globes, where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress on Television for The Studio. Macaulay Culkin, her Home Alone co-star, presented the award for Best Screenplay – Motion Picture during the ceremony.
In The Studio, O’Hara portrayed Patty Leigh, the former studio head and mentor of Rogen’s character. The Apple TV+ series swept the comedy categories, winning for Rogen and the entire cast.
Seth Rogen earned the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in The Studio. He beat out competitors such as Ike Barinholtz, Adam Brody, Ted Danson, and Martin Short. In the series, Rogen plays Matt Remick, the new head of Continental Studios, who balances his creative aspirations with the financial demands of the studio.
The Studio also won the top prize for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, beating out Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, and Only Murders in the Building.
On the drama television side, The Pitt emerged as a big winner. Noah Wyle earned the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series for his role in the HBO show. He beat out strong competition, including Sterling K. Brown, Billy Crudup, Walton Goggins, and Gary Oldman.
The Pitt also won the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, defeating The Diplomat, Landman, Severance, and The White Lotus.
Keri Russell was the first winner of the evening, earning the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her role in Netflix’s The Diplomat. She beat out Rhea Seehorn, who has been recognized for her work in Pluribus. Other nominees in the category included Britt Lower, Parker Posey, and Aimee Lou Wood.
Michelle Williams also had a big win, taking home the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series for her role in Dying For Sex. She beat out Claire Danes, Erin Doherty, Sarah Snook, and Christine Tremarco.
Owen Cooper, a 16-year-old actor, won the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series for his role in Adolescence. He was not present to accept the award, which was given to him by the producers. His role in the series, which follows a 13-year-old named Jamie Miller accused of murder, was widely praised.
The ceremony officially rebranded as The Actor Awards this year, aiming to align with its iconic statuette ‘The Actor’ and strengthen its global identity. Kristen Bell returned as host for the third time, delivering a humorous musical number about actor stage names.
Actor Awards 2026 Nominees
FILM
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
– Frankenstein (Netflix)
– Hamnet (Focus Features)
– Marty Supreme (A24)
– One Battle After Another (Warner Bros)
– Sinners (Warner Bros) – WINNER
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
– Jessie Buckley – Hamnet – WINNER
– Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
– Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
– Chase Infinity – One Battle After Another
– Emma Stone – Bugonia
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
– Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
– Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
– Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
– Michael B. Jordan – Sinners – WINNER
– Jesse Plemons – Bugonia
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
– Miles Caton – Sinners
– Benicio Del Toro – One Battle After Another
– Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
– Paul Mescal – Hamnet
– Sean Penn – One Battle After Another – WINNER
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
– Odessa A’zion – Marty Supreme
– Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good
– Amy Madigan – Weapons – WINNER
– Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
– Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
OUTSTANDING STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
– F1 (Apple Original Films)
– Frankenstein (Netflix)
– Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount) – WINNER
– One Battle After Another (Warner Bros)
– Sinners (Warner Bros)
TELEVISION
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
– The Diplomat (Netflix)
– Landman (Paramount+)
– The Pitt (HBO Max) – WINNER
– Severance (Apple TV)
– The White Lotus (HBO)
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
– Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
– Billy Crudup – The Morning Show
– Walton Goggins – The White Lotus
– Gary Oldman – Slow Horses
– Noah Wyle – The Pitt – WINNER
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
– Britt Lower – Severance
– Parker Posey – The White Lotus
– Keri Russell – The Diplomat – WINNER
– Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus
– Aimee Lou Wood – The White Lotus
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
– Abbott Elementary (ABC)
– The Bear (FX/Hulu)
– Hacks (HBO Max)
– Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
– The Studio (Apple TV) – WINNER
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
– Ike Barinholtz – The Studio
– Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This
– Ted Danson – Inside Man
– Seth Rogen – The Studio – WINNER
– Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
– Kathryn Hahn – The Studio
– Catherine O’Hara – The Studio – WINNER
– Jenna Ortega – Wednesday
– Jean Smart – Hacks
– Kristen Wiig – Palm Royale
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
– Jason Bateman – Black Rabbit
– Owen Cooper – Adolescence – WINNER
– Stephen Graham – Adolescence
– Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
– Matthew Rhys – The Beast In Me
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
– Claire Danes – The Beast In Me
– Erin Doherty – Adolescence
– Sarah Snook – All Her Fault
– Christine Tremarco – Adolescence
– Michelle Williams – Dying For Sex – WINNER
OUTSTANDING STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A TELEVISION SERIES
– Andor (Disney+)
– Landman (Paramount+)
– The Last of Us (HBO) – WINNER
– Squid Game (Netflix)
– Stranger Things (Netflix)
