The most effective and worst moments from the 2026 Actor Awards

It isn't an awards present until it's given us no less than 5 issues to speak about — whether or not that's a superb or a foul factor. And the 2026 Actor Awards have been no exception, because the Kristen Bell-hosted present celebrated the yr in motion pictures and tv with some beloved bits, a couple of new ones, and a heartfelt second or two. Which ones labored? Nicely, that's for us to evaluate.

(You possibly can try the total winners record right here.)

01 of 10

BEST: Michael J. Fox is an actor (and a dad)

If there's one bit that at all times works, it's the opening of the Actor Awards — previously the SAG Awards, when a handful of viewers members give us a narrative about their profession. Typically the tales are candy, typically they're humorous, typically they're a little bit of each! And this yr, the opening as soon as once more gave us a number of memorable moments, from Teyana Taylor speaking about how Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) may've match on the door on the finish of Titanic to Oliver Hudson jokingly making faces as his sister, Kate Hudson, spoke. However one of the best second this yr? The digital camera slicing to Michael J. Fox, which precipitated the viewers to erupt into applause, simply in time for Fox to present a heartfelt speech about how his profession led him to his spouse, Tracy Pollan, and their 4 kids (one among whom was sitting subsequent to him).

"He's not an actor, he's simply my date," Fox mentioned of his son, earlier than ending with, "I'm Michael J. Fox. I'm a dad and I'm an actor."

02 of 10

BEST: All of the swearing

No, this isn't the present's first yr on Netflix, and subsequently this isn't new, nevertheless it's nonetheless refreshing to listen to actors get to swear in the course of the reside broadcast. Teyana Taylor actually set the bar when her opening speech included this line about Titanic: "I cried when Rose let Jack sink to the underside as a result of we all know good and effectively he may've match his ass on that goddamn door."

And Taylor wasn't alone — each host Kristen Bell and presenter Connor Storrie dropped a curse phrase or two. Guess what? All of it simply feels a bit extra genuine (even when they're not technically presupposed to do it).

03 of 10

BEST: Keri Russell wins Greatest Feminine Actor in a Drama Collection

NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE WATCH THE DIPLOMAT! That's one cause why Keri Russell's win for Excellent Efficiency by a Feminine Actor in a Drama Collection was so nice, however the different was simply merely that it was sudden. Russell, who's been nominated three years in a row for her unbelievable work on the Netflix drama, beat out Britt Decrease, Parker Posey, Rhea Seehorn, and Aimee Lou Wooden, in a stunning (however very deserved) second. And severely, go watch The Diplomat.

04 of 10

WORST: Pointless desk tennis

When Bell defined that she was going to drive folks to play desk tennis all through the night, we didn't anticipate to really have to observe them… play desk tennis. I'm positive Marty Mauser would agree that watching anybody who's not an expert play desk tennis is simply not all that fascinating.

05 of 10

BEST: Seth Rogen honors Catherine O'Hara

Watching Catherine O'Hara win a posthumous award for her work on The Studio would've been a finest regardless, however the second was solely made higher by govt producer Seth Rogen's heartfelt speech honoring the comedy legend. Rogen took to the stage to just accept the Excellent Efficiency by a Feminine Actor in a Comedy Collection award on O'Hara's behalf and referred to as out her means to each know her price and wish to be her highest — even when it meant rewriting all of the scenes she was in. As Rogen put it, "100% of the time it made not simply her character higher nevertheless it made the scene higher and the whole present higher as a complete."

Excited about her legacy, Rogen added, "She actually confirmed which you can be a genius and be variety and a kind of issues doesn’t have to return on the expense of the opposite in any method, form, or type."

He then inspired everybody to observe her work — and we're not going to disagree with that.

06 of 10

WORST: The Hamnet bit that wouldn't finish

When Hacks stars Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs first walked out on stage, every thing was nice — humorous, even! Stalter being upset that their "comedic aid" roles had been reduce from Hamnet? It labored! However then the bit simply saved going. And going. And at one level, we needed to surprise: Are they going to make poor Jessie Buckley really say one thing? I imply, what number of instances can you chop to her laughing earlier than it will get awkward? (The reply? Three.)

Yeah, it acquired just a little awkward.

07 of 10

BEST: Noah Wyle is a proud father (determine)

Noah Wyle profitable Excellent Efficiency by Male Actor in a Drama Collection? Nice. Noah Wyle watching the solid of The Pitt win? Even higher. After the solid of the medical drama gained the award for Excellent Efficiency by an Ensemble in a Drama Collection, the group walked to the stage, the place Wyle, fairly frankly, beamed with delight.

"I'll be sincere and say that, of all of the trophies which can be on the market, I used to be so desirous of this one for this solid simply so I may share this second proper now with them," Wyle mentioned. "I've by no means been extra pleased with a gaggle of individuals in my life."

However that wasn't even one of the best half. Wyle then turned to his costars and requested, "Does anyone else wish to say something?" No, Dr. Robby, they belief which you can deal with it.

08 of 10

BEST: Harrison Ford brings down the home

Depart it to Han Solo to present us probably the greatest moments of the night time. Accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award, Harrison Ford delivered one of many best speeches… ever? After joking that it was unusual to "obtain a prize for being alive" and saying that he was solely on the half-point of his profession — "it's just a little early, isn't it?" — Ford gave a heartfelt speech about his journey as an actor, from struggling to search out his folks in school to his massive break in Star Wars.
"I discovered a calling. A life in storytelling. An identification in pretending to be different folks. The work I do with different actors is without doubt one of the nice joys of my life," Ford mentioned.

Because the digital camera reduce across the room — to not a dry eye within the place? — Ford mentioned, "All of us share one thing elementary: We share the privilege of working on the planet of concepts, of empathy, of creativeness. Typically we make leisure. Typically we make artwork. Typically, if we're fortunate, we make 'em each on the identical time. And if we're actually lucky, we additionally get to make a residing doing it."

Ending issues on a humorous word, he grabbed the award and mentioned, "That is very encouraging."

09 of 10

BEST/WORST: Letting it shine

This one's tough. It's by no means a foul factor for Sinners star Miles Caton to sing! And that efficiency of "This Little Mild of Mine" was unbelievable. However when it comes to the present's resolution to air it after the In Memoriam? We don't know that it labored. On the one hand, not having to chop to performers in the course of the montage was an incredible resolution. But when we're doing that, can we nonetheless want a efficiency or did it simply find yourself feeling disjointed and — regardless that nice — a tad bit complicated?

10 of 10

BEST: All of the Sinners love

The second Viola Davis noticed the title on the cardboard, all of us knew. Davis acquired to announce that Sinners star Michael B. Jordan gained the award for Excellent Efficiency by a Male Actor in a Main Position, beating out fellow nominees Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, and Jesse Plemons. It was an sudden, extremely deserved win, and one which the room clearly liked as Jordan obtained a standing ovation. After thanking his solid, his director, and his mother for driving him backwards and forwards to auditions as a child, Jordan admitted, "Yeah man, that is fairly cool."

However the pleasure didn't finish there: Minutes later, the Sinners solid gained for Excellent Efficiency by a Solid in a Movement Image. It was the proper option to finish the night time.

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