The thirty-first Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Kristen Bell brings her charm as this year's host for the SAG awards.
Sunday, Feb. 23, award-winning actor Kristen Bell hosted the thirty-first Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG). During this event, accolades were given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) to recognize actors and their outstanding performances in movies and television.
Many fans view the SAG Awards as a preview for the ninety-seventh Academy Awards (Oscars), an event less than a week away. It is common for SAG winners for best Actor/Actress to go on and win an Oscar, like Brendan Fraser in The Whale (2023) and Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2023). This award show allows viewers to make predictions on top of witnessing memorable speeches and skits.
This year, Timothée Chalamet won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown (2023), becoming the youngest person to do so. Interestingly, his acceptance speech may be considered the most memorable moment from the young actor. Instead of downplaying this achievement, Chalamet makes it known that he works hard in his craft, stating, “I want to be one of the greats. I’m inspired by the greats. I’m inspired by the greats here tonight.” While some fans were charmed by Chalamet’s honesty and passion for acting, others felt it was a little off-putting. Any viewer can see he was proud to be where he was, but stating he was in pursuit of being on the same level as actors such as Daniel Day-Lewis, Marlon Brando, and Viola Davis made many uncomfortable with his self-aggrandizing.
It is important to remember that those who work hard and excel in their work deserve to give themselves praise and publicly set goals for themselves. We live in a society where one is only allowed to receive acclaim rather than claim it for themselves, lest they look arrogant. I encourage everyone to watch Chalamet’s speech and form their own opinion on his word choice.
Demi Moore took home the award for Best Actress for her leading role in The Substance (2023). The 47-year-old actress had previously won Best Actress awards at the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards, but this achievement has started whispers around her finally taking home her first Oscar. In her acceptance speech, Moore states, “ I am so grateful that I have continued over these so many years to be able to try and sometimes succeed and sometimes fail and to be able to keep going.” It is important to note that Moore has been a part of SAG since she was 15-years-old. Watching a long-time and well-known actress receive the praise she deserves is always a gratifying experience.
When discussing the recent SAG awards, one cannot fail to mention Kristen Bell’s exceptional hosting skills. As the voice actor for Anna in Frozen (2012), Bell begins the show by parodying the Frozen song, “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?” as a medley of SAG nominees’ earliest acting roles. My personal favorite part was the mention of Selena Gomez hugging Barney, a reference to her appearance in Barney & Friends (1992-2010).
Bell also participates in skits with Leighton Meester, Ted Danson, and William Jackson Harper, all moments that made the Gossip Girl (2007-2012) and The Good Place (2016-2020) lover in me freak out.
This year’s SAG awards were undoubtedly one to remember. Awards season is the best season, and I will surely be rewatching the iconic moments from last Sunday in preparation for the Oscars on Mar. 2!