Hosted by Kristen Bell, the Actors Awards, formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, aired live Sunday on Netflix, with “Hamnet” star Jessie Buckley, Michael B. Jordan and the rest of the “Sinners” cast emerging as the night's biggest winners on the film side.
However, inside the Shrine Auditorium there were moments that viewers didn't see. These are some of them.
'The Bear' meets Mother Wolf
At the pre-show reception, “The Bear” star and restaurateur Matty Matheson met with chef Evan Funke, who oversaw the evening’s Italian-influenced menu. The two were deep in conversation about olive oil, wedding cake and other culinary matters, while nearby co-star Lionel Boyce leaned in to meet with “The Studio” co-creator Seth Rogen. While “The White Lotus” season three stars Michelle Monaghan and Jon Gries stood near the bar, Michelle Williams, one of the night's winners for “Dying for Sex,” slipped into a quiet corner with her husband, “Hamilton” director Thomas Kail, away from the hustle and bustle of the room.
Executives, they are like us.
More than a few studio and streaming executives attended along with the actors. Just days after Netflix abandoned its attempt to buy Warner Bros., clearing the way for its acquisition of Paramount, Dan Lin, president of Netflix Film, spoke with Warner Bros. co-chairman and CEO Michael De Luca, both smiling with evident relief as the high-stakes drama that has captured Hollywood's attention for months finally moves toward resolution.
Fashion risk takers
While the event required formal attire, some attendees put their own spin on it.. Kevin O'Leary of “Shark Tank” and “Marty Supreme” walked into the room like he owned it in a sparkly black sequin jacket and a chain around his neck holding an NBA card signed by Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. He and two other investors bought the card at auction last year for nearly $13 million. Just a few feet away, “The Pitt” star Patrick Ball made an equally bold fashion choice, posing for photos in a black kilt.
A politics-free zone
While the show was decidedly light on politics, in his pre-show comments, SAG-AFTRA national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland nodded his head about “what's probably on all of our minds,” namely the US-Israel conflict with Iran. “Our thoughts are with all those whose lives are in danger abroad at this time,” he said. “We wish peace and mourn those whose lives have been lost.” As for the state of business, he reminded the room that the union is in “ongoing negotiations with the studios and broadcasters, which we are literally doing right now,” but emphasized, more than two years after walking the picket lines during a resounding 118-day strike, “our union is strong.”
Dinner is served… but not eaten.
Attendees were served a dinner of focaccia, a cheese board and baked Sicilian pasta, although many actors seemed more focused on networking than eating, and some of the high-carb dishes were barely touched.
musical chairs
During breaks in the action, attendees hurriedly chatted frantically between tables before being urged back to their seats.
Surprise of the “sinners”
Although “One Battle After Another” has dominated the guild awards so far, “Sinners” proved to have a strong base of support among actors, who make up the largest branch of the film academy. If one were to judge the Oscar race based solely on the volume of applause in the room, Michael B. Jordan, who received a thunderous ovation from his peers when his name was mentioned, must be considered the favorite in the leading actor category.
Stars missing in action
While most of the nominees were in attendance, some had prior commitments: “One Battle After Another” star Leonardo DiCaprio, for example, was in Europe filming Martin Scorsese's upcoming film, “What Happens at Night.” Still, many attendees seemed dazzled by the concentration of famous faces in the room. When Benicio del Toro, wearing dark sunglasses, walked in with his daughter Delilah, Alexandra Metz, who plays Yolanda Garcia on the HBO medical drama “The Pitt,” leaned toward her co-star Kristin Villanueva, who plays Princess, and whispered, “Oh my God, Benicio del Toro is right there.”
Kathryn Hahn, Seth Rogen and Ike Barinholtz pose backstage at the Actor Awards after winning the award for supporting cast in a comedy series. Rogen also has an award for Catherine O'Hara, who won posthumously for actress in a comedy.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
A moving tribute to Catherine O'Hara
Although the overall atmosphere was light-hearted, the show had some moments of genuine emotion. In one of the most moving, the entire room erupted in applause when the great comedian Catherine O'Hara posthumously received the award for actress in a comedy series for “The Studio,” just weeks after her death on Jan. 30 at age 71, with Rogen accepting on her behalf.
Harrison Ford's tearful speech
Later in the evening, the room fell into a hushed and somewhat stunned hush as a clearly emotional Harrison Ford, now 83 and still working, accepted his Lifetime Achievement Award. “I'm actually a lucky guy,” Ford said, fighting back tears before ending his speech with a wry: “This is very encouraging.”
Harrison Ford fought back tears while accepting the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award on Sunday.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
