‘Conclave’ Stuns at SAG Awards as Timothée Chalamet’s Best Actor Win Shakes Up Oscars Race
The 31st Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards delivered an evening of surprises, emotional speeches, and game-changing victories, as the Vatican-set thriller Conclave took home the coveted Best Ensemble award, while Timothée Chalamet’s unexpected win for Best Actor sent shockwaves through Hollywood’s awards season.
A Papal Thriller’s Divine Triumph
Despite Anora dominating the precursor awards from the Producers, Directors, and Writers Guilds, it was Conclave that emerged victorious at the SAG Awards, shifting the momentum just days before the Oscars. Directed by Edward Berger, Conclave dramatizes the high-stakes election of a new pope and triumphed on a night when the real-life Vatican was anxiously praying for the health of Pope Francis.
Accepting the award on behalf of the ensemble cast, Ralph Fiennes took the stage with a mix of humility and disbelief. “Wow,” he said, pausing to collect his thoughts. “I’ve not been elected to speak—I’ve been designated to speak on behalf of our conclave, our ensemble.”
Timothée Chalamet’s Shocking Win—An Oscar Shake-Up?
One of the night’s biggest twists came when Timothée Chalamet was named Best Actor, upending the expected frontrunners, including The Brutalist’s Adrien Brody. Chalamet, who starred as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, looked visibly stunned as his name was announced. But once onstage, he delivered a composed and passionate speech that underscored his deep dedication to the craft.
“This was five and a half years of my life,” Chalamet shared. “I poured everything I had into playing this incomparable artist, Mr. Bob Dylan, a true American hero. It was the honor of a lifetime.”
Then, with striking confidence, he added, “The truth is, I’m in pursuit of greatness. I know people don’t usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats.” His statement left the audience buzzing—was this a sign that he could now be the frontrunner for the Academy Award?
A Night of Winners and Political Statements
While Chalamet’s win shook up the Best Actor race, other categories followed the expected trajectory. Demi Moore, Zoe Saldaña, and Kieran Culkin solidified their Oscar chances with SAG victories. Moore’s performance in The Substance continued to garner acclaim, and her acceptance speech further cemented her comeback narrative.
“What we believe is so much more powerful than what we think,” Moore said, reflecting on her journey in Hollywood. “When I believe it, I will see it.”
Jane Fonda, honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, took the opportunity to deliver one of the most politically charged speeches of the night. Without mentioning names, she alluded to the current political climate, warning, “This is it. And it’s not a rehearsal.”
She also tackled the ongoing discourse around the term ‘woke,’ stating, “Woke just means you give a damn about other people.”
Comedy Shocks and Standout Moments
The night wasn’t without humor. Martin Short, absent from the ceremony, surprisingly won Best Actor in a Comedy Series for Only Murders in the Building, prompting Selena Gomez to joke, “Marty and Steve (Martin) aren’t here because, you know, they don’t really care.”
Meanwhile, Colin Farrell, winning for The Penguin, was introduced by Jamie Lee Curtis as “the man who gave me COVID at the Golden Globes.” Taking the joke in stride, Farrell playfully responded, “Guilty as charged.”
The Road to the Oscars—Who Will Take Best Picture?
With Conclave now boasting a major ensemble win and Anora holding onto key guild victories, the Oscar Best Picture race has never been more unpredictable. The SAG Awards have historically been strong indicators, with the last three ensemble winners—Oppenheimer, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and CODA—all going on to win Best Picture.
Will Conclave continue its divine rise, or will Anora reclaim its frontrunner status? With just days to go before the Academy Awards, the industry is left in suspense.
One thing is certain—the SAG Awards once again proved that in Hollywood, nothing is ever set in stone.
