Hollywood’s biggest stars gathered for the 2025 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, delivering a night filled with surprises, heartfelt speeches, and career-defining victories. As one of the most trusted predictors of the Academy Awards, this year’s SAG winners could shape the Oscar race, making this ceremony more exciting than ever.
Timothée Chalamet’s Upset Win Shakes Up the Oscars Race
The night’s biggest shock came when Timothée Chalamet won Best Male Actor for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown.
Before this, Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) had been the frontrunner, sweeping the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Critics’ Choice Awards. But with Chalamet’s unexpected SAG victory, the Oscar race has never been tighter.
Photo: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
Visibly surprised, Chalamet took the stage and reflected on his five-year journey bringing Dylan to life:
“I poured everything I had into playing this incomparable artist.”
He made his ambitions clear, stating:
“I know people don’t usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats.”
With the Oscars just days away, all eyes are now on whether Chalamet can carry this momentum to Hollywood’s biggest prize.
Demi Moore’s Triumphant Return to the Spotlight
Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Winning Best Female Actor, Demi Moore delivered one of the night’s most emotional speeches. Her role in the psychological horror The Substance has been a career-defining comeback, and she shared how much the win meant to her:
“This is extraordinary and so deeply meaningful.”
Since joining SAG-AFTRA in 1978, Moore has been part of the industry for decades, but this could be her moment to finally claim her first Academy Award.
"/>Major Ensemble Wins: ‘Conclave’ and ‘Shōgun’ Dominate
In the Best Cast in a Motion Picture category—often a crucial Oscar indicator—Conclave took the top prize. This intense thriller, starring Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini, and Stanley Tucci, explores the high-stakes drama of selecting a new pope.
Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci in “Conclave.” Courtesy of Focus Features
During their speech, the cast took a moment to send well wishes to Pope Francis, who was hospitalized at the time.
Conclave stars (L-R) Sergio Castellitto, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini and Ralph Fiennes with the ensemble cast award. Pic: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Meanwhile, in television, FX’s epic historical drama Shōgun proved its dominance, sweeping four categories:
- Best Drama Ensemble
- Best Male Actor in a Drama Series – Hiroyuki Sanada
- Best Female Actor in a Drama Series – Anna Sawai
- Best Stunt Ensemble
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Tommy Bastow, Shinnosuke Abe, Moeka Hoshi, Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano and Hiroto Kanai, pose with the Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Award for “Shogun” at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 23, 2025. REUTERS/Daniel Cole
Sanada’s heartfelt speech celebrated how storytelling transcends language barriers:
“Acting is a universal language.”
Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña Continue Their Award Season Sweep
Kieran Culkin wins Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Male Actor for his role in A Real Pain. Photo: Michael Buckner/Variety/Getty Images.
Two of awards season’s most consistent winners, Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) and Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez), continued their success by winning in the Best Supporting Actor categories.
Zoe Saldana | Getty
Saldaña, who has long championed diversity in Hollywood, reinforced the importance of self-expression:
“Everybody has the right to be who they are.”
Meanwhile, Culkin—who already won the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Independent Spirit Awards—further solidified his frontrunner status heading into the Oscars.
Comedy and Limited Series Highlights
The Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series award went to Jean Smart (Hacks), marking her third SAG Award victory.
Selena Gomez Accepts OMITB Win In Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series during SAG Awards (Photo: Getty images)
Martin Short pulled off an upset by winning Best Male Actor in a Comedy Series for Only Murders in the Building. The show’s cast also won Best Comedy Ensemble, leading to a shocked Selena Gomez saying:
“Wait, we never win, this is so weird!”
In limited series categories, Colin Farrell won Best Male Actor for The Penguin, while Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer) secured Best Female Actor, overcoming competition from Hollywood heavyweights Jodie Foster, Cate Blanchett, and Kathy Bates.
Jane Fonda’s Powerful Call to Action
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to legendary actress and activist Jane Fonda, who delivered the most powerful speech of the night.
Jane Fonda accepts the lifetime achievement award during the 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Addressing the current political climate, she reminded everyone:
“Woke just means you give a damn about other people.”
Her speech earned a standing ovation, cementing her legacy as both an artist and activist.
What This Means for the Oscars
The SAG Awards are known for being a strong predictor of Oscar winners, and this year’s results have shaken up the race.
- Chalamet’s win makes the Best Actor category more unpredictable than ever.
- Moore’s victory strengthens her case for an Academy Award.
- Conclave’s ensemble win positions it as a major Best Picture contender.
With the Oscars set for March 2, the countdown is on. Will the SAG winners continue their momentum, or will Hollywood deliver more surprises? Stay tuned!
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