The 28th Screen Actor’s Guild Awards took place last night in Santa Monica, California, and fans got to see a bevy of new and longtime stars win their first SAG Awards. These awards, while not as prestigious as the honors that make up the almighty EGOT, are a particularly special honor for most working actors as the SAG voting body consists of fellow actors and artists.

While this year’s nominees were stocked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood like Lady GagaNicole KidmanJavier Bardem and Reese Witherspoon, some of the night’s best moments came from first-time winners who had huge breakout performances in 2021, or stars we know that reinvented themselves incredibly in film and TV last year.

The film CODA, which is about a hearing member of a deaf family, won its biggest laurels last night when Troy Kotsur was honored with the Best Actor In A Supporting Role award in the first award of the night, becoming the first deaf male actor to do so as well. The rest of the film’s cast was also honored when CODA took home the Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture award, edging out contenders like Belfast and King Richard. You can watch Kotsur’s amazing acceptance speech below.

Don’t feel too bad for Will Smith, though. Smith was also a first-time SAG winner last night. He won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in King Richard. Despite being the year’s most-nominated films, neither The Power of the Dog nor House of Gucci won any awards last night. Another winner who made history was Ariana DeBose, who played Anita in West Side Story and was the first Latina and openly queer actor to win a SAG award for a solo performance.

On the side of TV winners, there were some great stories honored as well. Succession and Ted Lasso, which have both become Emmy Awards darlings in their own right, took the Best Ensemble awards in Comedy and Drama respectively. Jason Sudeikis also won Best Actor in a Comedy Series as the eponymous coach in Ted Lasso.

The Netflix series Squid Game, which was a huge runaway success when it first launched in September 2021, received three awards last night including honoring its two co-stars with the Best Actor honors. Lee Jung-jae, who played the gambling-addicted lead character Seong Gi-Hun, gave a short and sweet speech thanking the Guild and the show’s global audience. Jung Ho-Yeon, who gave the show’s standout performance as the North Korean defector Kang Sae-byeok, was moved to tears while delivering her speech.

“I have sat many a time watching you on the big screen, dreaming of one day becoming an actor. I just want to say thank you so much,” her interpreted speech said in part.

A full list of SAG Award Winners is available below:

The 57th Annual SAG Life Achievement Award: Helen Mirren

Motion Picture Winners

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role – Will Smith, King Richard

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role – Jessica ChastainThe Eyes of Tammy Faye

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Troy Kotsur, CODA

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role – Ariana DeBose, West Side Story

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture – CODA

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture – No Time To Die

Television Program Winners

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series – Michael KeatonDopesick

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series – Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series – Lee Jung-JaeSquid Game

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series – Jung Ho-YeonSquid Game

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series – Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series – Jean SmartHacks

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series – Succession

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series – Ted Lasso

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series – Squid Game

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Jacob Linden

Article by Jacob Linden

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