SAG Awards 2025: ‘Conclave’ Wins Best Ensemble, Timothée Chalamet Stuns with Best Actor Win
'Conclave' Wins Big at the SAG Awards, Timothée Chalamet Surprises with Best Actor Win
The 31st Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards delivered a night of unexpected twists, shaking up an already unpredictable awards season. The Vatican-set thriller Conclave took home the prestigious Best Ensemble award, while Timothée Chalamet won Best Actor for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. These surprises have added another layer of suspense ahead of the upcoming Academy Awards.
Conclave's Stunning Victory
Edward Berger’s Conclave, an adaptation of Robert Harris' novel, explores the secretive process of electing a new pope. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini, the film's win came at a particularly significant moment as the Catholic Church prays for Pope Francis, who remains in critical condition due to an asthmatic respiratory crisis. On stage, Rossellini expressed the cast’s best wishes for the Pope’s recovery.
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Conclave’s victory disrupted the momentum of Sean Baker's Anora, which had dominated the Producers Guild, Directors Guild, and Writers Guild Awards. With Conclave now securing key wins with both the SAG Awards and the BAFTAs, the race for Best Picture at the Oscars remains wide open.
Ralph Fiennes, representing the ensemble, accepted the award with humility. “I’ve not been elected to speak. I’ve been designated to speak on behalf of our conclave, our ensemble,” he said, highlighting the collaborative nature of the film.
Chalamet’s Surprise Win
The biggest shock of the night came when Timothée Chalamet was named Best Actor for his performance as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, surpassing frontrunner Adrien Brody (The Brutalist). Chalamet, visibly surprised, took a moment to collect himself before addressing the audience.
“The truth is, this was five and a half years of my life,” Chalamet said. “I poured everything I had into playing this incomparable artist, Mr. Bob Dylan, a true American hero. It was the honor of a lifetime playing him.”
He then added, “The truth is, I’m really in pursuit of greatness. I know people don’t usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats.”
Demi Moore, Zoe Saldaña, and Kieran Culkin Shine
The night also saw Demi Moore take home Best Actress for The Substance, following up on her Golden Globe win. In her speech, Moore reflected on the power of belief: “What we believe is so much more powerful than what we think. The saying, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ — the reality is when I believe it, I will see it.”
Meanwhile, Kieran Culkin continued his awards season dominance, winning Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, and Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez.
A Night of Social Commentary
The evening wasn’t just about celebrating performances. Jane Fonda, receiving the Life Achievement Award, delivered a passionate speech on activism and empathy. “We are in our documentary moment,” she declared. “This is it. And it’s not a rehearsal.” She also addressed the meaning of being “woke,” saying, “Woke just means you give a damn about other people.”
The ceremony unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing wildfires that have devastated communities since early January. In response, the SAG-AFTRA guild launched a disaster relief fund for affected members. Host Kristen Bell acknowledged attending firefighters as “the most attractive tables” among a sea of stars.
TV and Comedy Winners
On the television side, Shōgun continued its awards streak, winning Best Drama Series Ensemble and acting awards for Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai. Only Murders in the Building took home Best Comedy Ensemble, with Martin Short winning Best Actor in a Comedy Series.
Colin Farrell won his first SAG Award for The Penguin, while Jean Smart was honoured for Hacks. Smart, who previously advocated for canceling award shows due to the wildfires, accepted her award via a pre-recorded video as her character, Deborah Vance.
The Road to the Oscars
With Conclave and Anora both making strong cases, the race for Best Picture at the Oscars is far from decided. The SAG Awards have historically been a strong predictor of Academy Award winners, but this year’s unpredictability has left the industry guessing.
Will Conclave continue its winning streak? Or will Anora make a final comeback at the Oscars? One thing is certain—the awards season finale is set to be a thrilling one.
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