Michael B Jordan Triumphs at 2026 Actor Awards for Dual Role Performance
Michael B Jordan received the award for best male actor in a leading role at the 2026 Actor Awards on Sunday night in Los Angeles, recognising his acclaimed performance as the twins Smoke and Stack in the vampire thriller Sinners. The ceremony, previously known as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, saw a name change this year to provide clearer recognition of its focus on acting achievements, with voting by over 160,000 actor members.
Major Wins for Sinners and The Studio Ensembles
Jordan's victory came as he beat the hotly predicted favourite Timothée Chalamet, paying tribute to director Ryan Coogler and the support from fellow actors who watched his career evolve. This weekend also marked Jordan's NAACP Image Award wins for entertainer and actor of the year. The big screen ensemble award went to the cast of Sinners, including Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku, with Lindo describing the project as "anointed" and a shared journey.
On the television side, Apple's freshman industry series The Studio dominated the comedy categories, securing three awards. These included the comedy ensemble trophy against competitors like The Bear and Only Murders in the Building. Co-creator Seth Rogen won best male actor in a comedy series, while the late Catherine O'Hara received a rare posthumous award for her performance, accepted by Rogen to a standing ovation.
Notable Victories Across Categories
Jessie Buckley continued her awards season success, adding the best lead female actor award for her role in Chloé Zhao's Hamnet, following wins at the Baftas and Golden Globes. Sean Penn was named best supporting male actor for One Battle After Another, though he was absent from the ceremony. In a surprise, Amy Madigan beat favourite Teyana Taylor for supporting female actor, expressing her honour after a long career.
The drama ensemble award went to the cast of breakout medical series The Pitt, surpassing The White Lotus and Severance. Star Noah Wyle, who also won best male actor in a drama series, praised labour unions in his speech. Netflix's hit Adolescence saw Owen Cooper become the youngest ever winner in the limited series category at age 16, while Michelle Williams won best female actor in a limited series for Dying for Sex.
Lifetime Achievement and Ceremony Highlights
Harrison Ford received the life achievement award, presented by Woody Harrelson, who called him a "true renaissance man." Ford joked about the award being for "being alive" and expressed gratitude for his career and community. The stunt ensemble awards were claimed by Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and The Last of Us.
Hosted by Kristen Bell and aired live on Netflix, the ceremony focused on levity, though political notes emerged, such as Wunmi Mosaku's criticism of ICE on the red carpet. Sag-Aftra president Sean Astin offered a prayer for peace on behalf of the acting community. With Sinners leading Oscar nominations, the industry now looks ahead to the Academy Awards on 15 March.
