Keri Russell Claims First Honour at Rebranded Actor Awards 2026
Keri Russell made history on Sunday night by becoming the first winner at the 32nd Actor Awards 2026, formerly known as the SAG Awards. The 49-year-old actor earned the prestigious accolade for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, recognising her compelling work in Netflix's political thriller The Diplomat.
Competitive Field and Ceremony Details
Russell triumphed over a formidable lineup that included favourite Rhea Seehorn, celebrated for her role in Pluribus, alongside nominees Britt Lower for Severance, Parker Posey for The White Lotus, and Aimee Lou Wood, also for The White Lotus. The annual gala unfolded at the iconic Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles, marking its official rebranding as The Actor Awards this year.
This strategic move aims to align the ceremony with its iconic statuette 'The Actor', sharpen its global identity, and maintain an unwavering focus on performers honouring their peers. Kristen Bell returned as host for the third time, having previously emceed in 2018 and 2025, kicking off the show with a humorous musical number about actor stage names.
Streaming and Categories
Streaming live on Netflix, the ceremony distributed honours across 28 categories spanning film, television, and limited series, with six nominees in each race except Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, which featured eight contenders. On the film side, One Battle After Another led the nominations with seven, closely followed by Sinners with five.
Film and Television Battlegrounds
The race for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role featured heavyweights like Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, and Jesse Plemons for Bugonia. The female counterpart was equally competitive, with Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, and Emma Stone for Bugonia vying for the top spot.
In television, the comedy front saw The Studio dominate with five nominations, competing for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series against Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, and Only Murders in the Building. Drama categories were intensely contested, with The White Lotus, Severance, The Diplomat, The Pitt, and Landman all nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
Snubs and Surprises
No awards season is complete without controversy, and this year was no exception. Cynthia Erivo's surprising snub for Wicked: For Good dominated conversations, alongside omissions of Gwyneth Paltrow and Dwayne Johnson, and limited international representation among nominees. However, pleasant surprises included supporting nominations for Odessa A’Zion (Marty Supreme) and Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), highlighting the breadth of this year's roster.
Special Honours and Ambassadors
Adding gravitas to the evening, Hollywood legend Harrison Ford received the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, acknowledging his five-decade career spanning franchises like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, and The Fugitive. Representing the next generation, Bridgerton breakout Yerin Ha was named this year’s Ambassador for The Actor Awards, emphasising the ceremony's focus on community and collaboration among actors.
Complete List of Nominees
Film Categories:
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sinners
- Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Chase Infinity, Emma Stone
- Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Jesse Plemons
- Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Miles Caton, Benicio Del Toro, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, Sean Penn
- Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Odessa A’zion, Ariana Grande, Amy Madigan, Wunmi Mosaku, Teyana Taylor
- Outstanding Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture: F1, Frankenstein, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, One Battle After Another, Sinners
Television Categories:
- Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: The Diplomat, Landman, The Pitt, Severance, The White Lotus
- Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Sterling K. Brown, Billy Crudup, Walton Goggins, Gary Oldman, Noah Wyle
- Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Britt Lower, Parker Posey, Keri Russell, Rhea Seehorn, Aimee Lou Wood
- Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, Only Murders in the Building, The Studio
- Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Ike Barinholtz, Adam Brody, Ted Danson, Seth Rogen, Martin Short
- Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Jean Smart, Kristen Wiig
- Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Jason Bateman, Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, Charlie Hunnam, Matthew Rhys
- Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Claire Danes, Erin Doherty, Sarah Snook, Christine Tremarco, Michelle Williams
- Outstanding Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series: Andor, Landman, The Last of Us, Squid Game, Stranger Things
