“Oppenheimer” emerged as the dominant force at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2024, securing the prestigious accolade for Best Cast, along with individual honours for Cillian Murphy’s outstanding lead performance and Robert Downey Jr.’s exceptional supporting role. The unexpected success of this drama, revolving around J. Robert Oppenheimer and the development of the atomic bomb, last summer positions it as a front-runner for the upcoming Academy Awards.
HBO’s “Succession” claimed the title of Best Ensemble in a Drama Series, showcasing their prowess in navigating the intricacies of familial power dynamics and betrayal in their final season. Meanwhile, FX’s “The Bear,” a gripping portrayal of restaurant life, clinched the award for Best Comedy Series Ensemble in a night filled with surprises, expected victories, and candid reflections on the challenges of life in the arts.
In a surprising twist, Elizabeth Debicki from “The Crown” seized the Leading Actress in a Drama Series award for her transformative portrayal of Princess Diana. Pedro Pascal also defied expectations with a win for his role as a survivor in a zombie apocalypse in “The Last of Us,” leaving “Succession” favorites Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook taken aback by the unexpected outcome.
Other victors included Jeremy Allen White, honoured as Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in “The Bear,” and Ayo Edebiri, who claimed Best Leading Actress in a Comedy for her part as a sous-chef with culinary aspirations in the same series. Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, co-stars in “Beef,” secured top acting awards for a TV movie or limited series, adding to their recent triumphs at the Golden Globes and Emmys.
Lily Gladstone made history by becoming the first indigenous actress to win Best Actress for her role in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Da’Vine Joy Randolph, a consistent winner throughout the awards season, added the SAG Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “The Holdovers,” delivering a powerful message of encouragement to fellow actors.
Reflecting on the broader context of the industry, the SAG Awards, traditionally broadcast on cable TV, marked a historic move to Netflix this year, allowing winners and presenters to freely express themselves with candid language. The ceremony unfolded during a turbulent period in Hollywood, marked by intense labor strife and economic disruption resulting from the impact of streaming services on royalties.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by the industry, Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA president, commended the members for their solidarity during the 118-day strike in 2023, leading to a historic agreement that included pay increases and safeguards against the use of artificial intelligence.
As Hollywood navigates the changing landscape of streaming services, the evening celebrated both unexpected victories and the resilience of the industry. Legendary icon Barbra Streisand received the SAG Life Achievement Honor, reflecting on her journey from a young girl dreaming of Hollywood to a trailblazing figure in the entertainment world.
Sag Awards 2024 winners
Film Categories:
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
- “American Fiction”
- “Barbie”
- “The Color Purple”
- “Killers of the Flower Moon”
- “Oppenheimer” — WINNER
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
- Bradley Cooper – “Maestro”
- Colman Domingo – “Rustin”
- Paul Giamatti – “The Holdovers”
- Cillian Murphy – “Oppenheimer” — WINNER
- Jeffrey Wright – “American Fiction”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
- Annette Bening – “Nyad”
- Lily Gladstone – “Killers of the Flower Moon” — WINNER
- Carey Mulligan – “Maestro”
- Margot Robbie – “Barbie”
- Emma Stone – “Poor Things”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
- Sterling K. Brown – “American Fiction”
- Willem Dafoe – “Poor Things”
- Robert De Niro – “Killers of the Flower Moon”
- Robert Downey Jr. – “Oppenheimer” — WINNER
- Ryan Gosling – “Barbie”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
- Emily Blunt – “Oppenheimer”
- Danielle Brooks – “The Color Purple”
- Penelope Cruz – “Ferrari”
- Jodie Foster – “Nyad”
- Da’Vine Joy Randolph – “The Holdovers” — WINNER
Television Categories:
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
- “The Crown”
- “The Gilded Age”
- “The Last of Us”
- “The Morning Show”
- “Succession” — WINNER
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
- “Abbot Elementary”
- “Barry”
- “The Bear” — WINNER
- “Only Murders in the Building”
- “Ted Lasso”