Michael B. Jordan pulled off the biggest upset of awards season on Sunday night, beating Timothée Chalamet to win Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role at the 2026 Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards. The ceremony took place at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.
The 39-year-old star was visibly shocked as his name was announced, with his hands covering his face and his mouth wide open. Presenter Viola Davis also appeared stunned, her jaw dropping before she shouted in celebration. Jordan's mother, Donna Jordan, was seen joyfully grabbing his shoulders in disbelief.
In his acceptance speech, Jordan thanked his mother for her sacrifices, saying: 'Mom, thank you for driving me back and forth to New York, when we didn’t have enough money to go through the Holland Tunnel.' He added: 'I wasn’t expecting that. I’m so honoured and privileged to be nominated with people and actors and humans that I love.'
Jordan beat Chalamet, who had previously won at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes, as well as Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, and Jesse Plemons. Chalamet was a good sport, standing and applauding alongside his co-star Gwyneth Paltrow.
The surprises continued as Jordan's film Sinners won Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, beating Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, and One Battle After Another. Delroy Lindo accepted on behalf of the cast, just a week after he and Jordan were subjected to a racial slur at the BAFTAs.
