Demi Moore, 62, cemented her comeback status when she won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role on Sunday at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The actress, who stars in the satirical body-horror film The Substance, gave a moving speech looking back at the start of her career when she was only a teenager.
The other prize for a male actor in a leading role culminated in a surprise win for Timothée Chalamet, 29, for his Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.
But the road to the Oscars was more muddled than ever when the final prize of the night, for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, went to Conclave.
This year’s 31st SAG Awards ceremony was hosted by Nobody Wants This star Kristen Bell — who apologized to Hacks star Jean Smart after a skit in which her character mistakenly thought she won the hosting gig — and was being streamed live on Netflix for the second year in a row.
The SAG Awards ceremony was presented by the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG–AFTRA) and was the ‘only televised awards ceremony to exclusively honor actors.’

Demi Moore, 62, cemented her comeback status when she won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role on Sunday at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards

The other prize for a male actor in a leading role culminated in a surprise win for Timothée Chalamet, 29, for his Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown

But the road to the Oscars was more muddled than ever when the final prize of the night, for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, went to Conclave; (L–R) John Lithgow, Ralph Fiennes, Sergio Castellitto and Isabella Rossellini
As the audience rose to its feet to applaud Demi’s win, earlier winner Zoe Saldaña could be heard cheering her name, and the star stopped to share a quick hug with her competitor, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo.
After an evening of jokes about the weight of the SAG statuettes, Demi had to pick hers up for a moment to see what all the fuss was about.
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‘I’m gonna pick it up just to see how heavy it is,’ she said, before putting it back down immediately with an audible plunk.
‘This is extraordinary and so deeply meaningful,’ the raven-haired beauty gushed.
Demi — who looked stunning in a dress with a black leather bodice — looked back on first getting her SAG card back in 1978, when she was just shy of 16.
‘It changed my life, because it gave me meaning, it gave me purpose, and it gave me direction, because I was a kid on my own who had no blueprint for life,’ she said as emotion welled up in her voice. ‘And I certainly knew nothing about acting. But I watched, and I listened and I learned from all of you.
‘You have all been my greatest teachers,’ she said warmly while looking out at the audience of her peers.
The actress, who gave her speech without notes, recalled herself as a ‘little girl who didn’t believe in herself’ and seemed to say it took winning the award to truly know how much she had succeeded, before she took a long pause.

After an evening of jokes about the weight of the SAG statuettes, Demi had to pick hers up for a moment to see what all the fuss was about. ‘I’m gonna pick it up just to see how heavy it is,’ she said, before putting it back down immediately with an audible plunk

She looked back on first getting her SAG card back in 1978, when she was just shy of 16. ‘It changed my life, because it gave me meaning, it gave me purpose, and it gave me direction, because I was a kid on my own who had no blueprint for life,’ she said with emotion welling up

The actress, who gave her speech without notes, recalled herself as a ‘little girl who didn’t believe in herself’ and seemed to say it took winning the award to truly know how much she had succeeded

Colin Farrell presented the award to Demi

Timothée Chalamet had a tech mishap when he couldn’t figure out how to raise the chest-level microphone, so he was comically hunched forward for the entirety of his acceptance speech

‘I poured everything I had into playing this incomparable artist, Mr. Bob Dylan, a true American hero, and it was the honor of a lifetime playing him,’ Timothée declared

‘The truth is, I’m really in pursuit of greatness. I know people don’t usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats,’ he admitted refreshingly, adding that the award ‘doesn’t signify that, but it’s a little more fuel, it’s a little more ammo to keep going’
‘The words are beyond me, so I’m just going to have to say thank you. Thank you so much,’ she concluded.
Timothée Chalamet, who rocked a cool western-wear look with a black leather suit with peaked lapels and a bolo tie, had a tech mishap when he couldn’t figure out how to raise the chest-level microphone, so he was comically hunched forward for the entirety of his acceptance speech.
He included a sweet shoutout to his mother, who had worked at Actor’s Equity, the union for stage actors, for 40 years.
‘I poured everything I had into playing this incomparable artist, Mr. Bob Dylan, a true American hero, and it was the honor of a lifetime playing him,’ Timothée declared.
He also praised his costars Monica Barbaro, Elle Fanning and Edward Norton for helping to prevent A Complete Unknown from falling into the same stale patterns that other biopics have suffered from.
The Dune star concluded by rejecting faux humility in favor of a refreshing admission that he aspired to greatness.
‘The truth is, I’m really in pursuit of greatness. I know people don’t usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats,’ he admitted, adding that some of ‘the greats’ were in the audience with him.
‘I’m as inspired by Daniel Day-Lewis, Marlon Brando and Viola Davis as I am by Michael Jordan and Michael Phelps, and I want to be up there,’ Timothée added.

A halting, weary-looking Harrison Ford announced the final award of the evening for Cast in a Motion Picture, which went to the papal-selection drama Conclave

Fiennes joked that he had not been ‘elected’ to speak, but instead was ‘designated’ to give thanks

Earlier, Zoe Saldaña suggested that her film Emilia Pérez shouldn’t be counted out just yet when she won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

In the audience at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles, Ariana Grande put on a brave face after losing out on the award after being nominated for Wicked; pictured in another moment with boyfriend Ethan Slater
‘This doesn’t signify that,’ he said as he picked up his SAG Award, ‘but it’s a little more fuel, it’s a little more ammo to keep going.’
A halting, weary-looking Harrison Ford announced the final award of the evening for Cast in a Motion Picture, which went to the papal-selection drama Conclave.
The award was accepted by the film’s stars John Lithgow, Ralph Fiennes, Sergio Castellitto and Isabella Rossellini, with Ralph delivering the acceptance speech.
He joked that he had not been ‘elected’ to speak, but instead was ‘designated’ to give thanks.
He singled out director Edward Berger and producer Tessa Ross, and he said the award was a symbol of the importance of community, particularly their community of actors and film workers.
Earlier, Zoe Saldaña suggested that her film Emilia Pérez shouldn’t be counted out just yet when she won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.
In the audience at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles, Ariana Grande put on a brave face after losing out on the award after being nominated for Wicked.
As an overwhelmed Zoe, 46, rose to the stage, she shared an emotional kiss with her husband Marco Perego, who usually leaves the spotlight for his wife.

As an overwhelmed Zoe, 46, rose to the stage, she shared an emotional kiss with her husband Marco Perego, who usually leaves the spotlight for his wife

Zoe focused on nuts-and-bolts issues by praising the importance of being part of a union in her acceptance speech, and she thanked her agents and managers for helping to keep her career afloat

Zoe’s chances were up in the air before the show. Despite her recent win at the BAFTAs , Emilia Pérez has earned a tide of negative publicity after racist and Islamophobic tweets from her costar Karla Sofía Gascón — some quite recent — were discovered
She proved herself to be a gracious winner as she complimented her fellow nominees by name. ‘It was an honor to watch your performances,’ she said.
Zoe’s chances were up in the air before the show. Despite her recent win at the BAFTAs, Emilia Pérez has earned a tide of negative publicity after racist and Islamophobic tweets from her costar Karla Sofía Gascón — some quite recent — were discovered.
Netflix went so far as to stop covering Gascón’s travel for awards shows, but the film may still have a chance in other categories.
Zoe focused on nuts-and-bolts issues by praising the importance of being part of a union in her acceptance speech, and she thanked her agents and managers for helping to keep her career afloat.
The show kicked off with Kieran Culkin continuing his awards-season momentum when he notched another win for his performance in Jesse Eisenberg’s drama A Real Pain.
The 42-year-old Succession star delivered a sweet tribute to his ‘gorgeous’ wife Jazz Charton — whom he married in 2013 — when he accepted the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role.
Kieran opened his acceptance speech with a joking shot at Adrien Brody for overlong speeches and joked about how actors would want an ostentatiously hefty statuette like the SAG Award.
He also made some loving jabs at his costar and director Jesse for casting him despite not having auditioned him or having watched his work, ‘which I can’t even get into how annoyingly wrong he is.’

The show kicked off with Kieran Culkin continuing his awards-season momentum when he notched another win for his performance in Jesse Eisenberg ‘s drama A Real Pain

Kieran thanked Jesse his costar and director Jesse for taking his sister Hallie Eisenberg’s suggestion that he cast Kieran as his semi-estranged brother in A Real Pain without doing an audition — or even watching his work

Kieran opened his acceptance speech with a joking shot at Adrien Brody for overlong speeches and joked about how actors would want an ostentatiously hefty statuette like the SAG Award

Next up was the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, which went to Shōgun star Anna Sawai, who was overcome by emotion as she stepped on stage

She tearfully bemoaned that it might be her last chance to celebrate the acclaimed show with her costars
He also thanked Jesse for taking his sister Hallie Eisenberg’s suggestion that he cast Kieran as his semi-estranged brother in A Real Pain.
Next up was the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, which went to Shōgun star Anna Sawai, who was overcome by emotion as she stepped on stage.
She tearfully bemoaned that it might be her last chance to celebrate the acclaimed show with her costars.
Shōgun scored another major win immediately afterward when Hiroyuki Sanada won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series.
The venerated Japanese star and international icon recalled his start in acting in Japan at just age five, before he launched a successful career and then moved to Los Angeles 20 years ago.
He said he put ‘every single experience in my life into Shōgun,’ which brought him to the podium, and he also shared thanks to every coworker he had ever worked with.
Shōgun continued its astounding run later in the program when it won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
Hiroyuki returned to the microphone to deliver the acceptance speech while surrounded by his costars.

Shōgun scored another major win immediately afterward when Hiroyuki Sanada won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

The venerated Japanese star and international icon recalled his start in acting in Japan at just age five, before he launched a successful career and then moved to Los Angeles 20 years ago

He said he put ‘every single experience in my life into Shōgun,’ which brought him to the podium, and he also shared thanks to every coworker he had ever worked with

Shōgun continued its astounding run later in the program when it won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Hiroyuki returned to the microphone to deliver the acceptance speech while surrounded by his costars

‘This is so special because this is from you guys,’ he said to the actors who vote on the SAG Awards. He also said it was a ‘gamble’ and ‘brave’ to try to adapt Shōgun with a 70 percent Japanese cast featuring a heavy amount of subtitles

The show stayed on theme with the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, which went to Only Murders In The Building

Selena Gomez joked that they ‘never win,’ and she said her costars Steve Martin and Martin Short couldn’t be there because they ‘don’t care’
‘This is so special because this is from you guys,’ he said to the actors who vote on the SAG Awards.
He also said it was a ‘gamble’ and ‘brave’ to try to adapt Shōgun with a 70 percent Japanese cast featuring a heavy amount of subtitles.
The show stayed on theme with the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, which went to Only Murders In The Building.
Selena Gomez joked that they ‘never win,’ and she said her costars Steve Martin and Martin Short couldn’t be there because they ‘don’t care.’
Jean Smart appeared in a humorous sketch at the start of the show with her Hacks castmates, but she wasn’t there in person when she was announced as the winner of Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series.
Martin Short also couldn’t attend in person. He beat out an impressive crowd to win Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for Only Murders In The Building.
Baby Reindeer continued its run of awards-season triumphs when Jessica Gunning won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series, just a day after she won the Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series award at the Independent Spirits Awards.
She admitted that she worked an office job for the first eight years of her acting career, and she recounted how every morning she would watch a PowerPoint presentation that served as a ‘vision board’ for her.

Jean Smart appeared in a humorous sketch at the start of the show with her Hacks castmates, but she was busy shooting when she was announced as the winner of Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series; still from Hacks

Martin Shoot also couldn’t attend in person. He beat out an impressive crowd to win Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for Only Murders In The Building (pictured with costars Selena Gomez and Steve Martin)

Baby Reindeer continued its run of awards-season triumphs when Jessica Gunning won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

She admitted that she worked an office job for the first eight years of her acting career, where every morning she watched a PowerPoint presentation that served as a ‘vision board’ for her with stars like Cate Blanchett and Jodie Foster on it, who were watching her in the audience

Jamie Lee Curtis ribbed Colin Farrell when she announced him as the winner of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series, because he was ‘the man who gave me Covid at the Golden Globes’

‘Guilty as charged!’ he joked as soon as he arrived at the microphone, before pointing the finger at Brendan Gleeson for allegedly giving it to him. ‘I was just spreading the love’

He made sure to thank his supporting costars, while noting that all actors ‘support’ each other and the creative team. He also thanked his sister, brother and parents, and promised his children they could stay up to finish watching Shōgun
It had all the people she hoped to meet and work with in the future, among the Cate Blanchett and Jodie Foster, which made it quite a surreal experience when those veteran stars were beaming up at her from the audience.
Jamie Lee Curtis ribbed Colin Farrell when she announced him as the winner of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series, because he was ‘the man who gave me Covid at the Golden Globes.’
‘Guilty as charged!’ he joked as soon as he arrived at the microphone, before pointing the finger at Brendan Gleeson for allegedly giving it to him. ‘I was just spreading the love.’
He made sure to thank his supporting costars, while noting that all actors ‘support’ each other and the creative team.
He also thanked his sister, brother and parents, and promised his children they could stay up to finish watching Shōgun.
Jane Fonda was the evening’s guest of honor as she was presented with SAG’s Life Achievement Award by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
The actress, who looked as glamorous as ever at 87, joked that she didn’t see the award as a capstone on the ‘twilight’ of her life, but instead as a ‘you-go-girl, kick-a**’ moment.
The Klute star joked that she might try acting in an action film for her 90s, before launching into a moving speech highlighting the importance of empathy in acting.

Jane Fonda was the evening’s guest of honor as she was presented with SAG’s Life Achievement Award by Julia Louis-Dreyfus

The actress, who looked as glamorous as ever at 87, joked that she didn’t see the award as a capstone on the ‘twilight’ of her life, but instead as a ‘you-go-girl, kick a**’ moment. The Klute star joked that she might try acting in an action film for her 90s

The Klute star joked that she might try acting in an action film for her 90s, before launching into a moving speech highlighting the importance of empathy in acting

‘Make no mistake — empathy is not weak, or woke,’ she said, before taking a jab at conservative anti-woke forces. ‘And by the way, woke just means you give a damn about other people’
‘Make no mistake — empathy is not weak, or woke,’ she said, before taking a jab at conservative anti-woke forces.
‘And by the way, woke just means you give a damn about other people,’ she declared.
In a statement, SAG–AFTRA president Fran Drescher described Fonda — a two-time Oscar-winner with a career spanning over six decades — as a ‘trailblazer and an extraordinary talent.
‘[Fonda is] a dynamic force who has shaped the landscape of entertainment, advocacy and culture with unwavering passion,’ the Nanny star continued.
‘We honor Jane not only for her artistic brilliance but for the profound legacy of activism and empowerment she has created.’
During the hours-long ceremony, 13 awards were be handed for ‘outstanding performances’ in both film and TV that were decided on by SAG-AFTRA’s 130,000+ members.
According to its official website, the SAG Awards have ‘the largest voting body on the awards circuit.’
Pamela Anderson, Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana and Timothée Chalamet were just some of the A-list stars who snagged nominations at this year’s ceremony.

Box office smash Wicked led the nominations for SAG’s top film honors with five nods, but it was completely shut out

Demi Moore — who is on track for an Oscar win — snagged a best actress win for her lead role in the body horror film The Substance, which has already earned her a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award
Unlike prior years, the official SAG Awards nomination ceremony was canceled for 2025 in wake of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires that broke out in January.
Instead, SAG–AFTRA shared the nominations online.
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The musical blockbuster Wicked — based on the Tony Award–winning Broadway musical — led the nominations for SAG’s top film honors with five nods, but it was completely shut out.
Wicked’s nominations include best actress (Cynthia Erivo), best supporting actress (Ariana Grande), best supporting actor (Jonathan Bailey), best ensemble cast and best stunt cast.
The other nominees for the SAG award for best ensemble cast are the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown; Anora, the story of a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch; and Golden Globe winner Emilia Perez.
But it was Conclave that continued a winning streak when it captured the ensemble award.
A Complete Unknown star Chalamet had an upset win for best actor for his portrayal of the folk legend after other stars won comparable awards at previous ceremonies.
His costars Edward Norton (who plays Pete Seeger) and Monica Barbaro (appearing as Joan Baez) failed to capture wins.

A Complete Unknown star Timothée Chalamet scored an upset win for best actor for his portrayal of Bob Dylan

As far as TV nominations, Shōgun led with five nods, followed by The Bear with four and The Diplomat with three. Shōgun stars Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai won lead and supporting awards, respectively, and the cast won the ensemble in a drama prize
Emilia Pérez was nominated for best cast, but only Zoe Saldaña won for the supporting actress honor. The Spanish-language film’s controversial star Karla Sofía Gascón lost out on best actress to The Substance’s Demi Moore.
Selena Gomez did not receive an individual nod but she is a part of the Emilia Perez ensemble cast category.
She didn’t go home empty-handed, as she accepted the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series award for Hulu’s Only Murders In The Building.
Anora got separate nominations for star Mikey Madison (best actress) and supporting actor Yura Borisov, but it was shut out after a string of wins in recent weeks that have helped it build Oscars momentum.
Demi Moore — who is on track for an Oscar win — snagged a coveted best actress win for her lead role in the body horror film The Substance, which has already earned her a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award.
She beat out Pamela Anderson, who received her first-ever SAG Award nomination for playing an aging Las Vegas showgirl in Gia Coppola’s latest film The Last Showgirl.
As far as TV nominations, Shōgun led with five nods, followed by The Bear with four and The Diplomat with three.
Shōgun stars Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai won lead and supporting awards, respectively, and the cast won the ensemble in a drama prize.

Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning (pictured) won the best actress award for a limited series, beating out fellow frontrunner Cristin Milioti, who starred in The Penguin

Host Kristen Bell is also among the night’s nominees as she received a best female actor in a comedy series nod for Netflix’s Nobody Wants This; seen with co-star Adam Brody
Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning beat out fellow frontrunner, The Penguin’s Cristin Milioti, for the best actress award just a day after she won at the Independent Spirit Awards
Her Penguin costar Colin Farrell also came out on top against Baby Reindeer’s Richard Gadd and Ripley’s Andrew Scott.
Host Kristen Bell was among the night’s nominees as she received a best female actor in a comedy series nod for Netflix’s Nobody Wants This, but it was Jean Smart who won once again for her hit HBO series Hacks.category.
Stunt crews that have worked on the latest and greatest TV shows and movies are also being recognized at the 2025 ceremony.
Fittingly, The Fall Guy, in which Ryan Gosling plays a stunt actor, won for the film division, while the TV stunts award capped off Shōgun’s impressive run.