Michael B. Jordan scored his first major win of awards season, and arguably the biggest award win of his career so far, as he took home Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role at Sunday night’s SAG Actor Awards.
The win gives the Sinners star steam as he heads into the Oscars. Viola Davis presented Jordan with the award and couldn’t contain her excitement as she announced the winner. Jordan won the Actor for playing twins Smoke and Stack in Ryan Coogler’s acclaimed 2025 film.
Sinners also won the ensemble award, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, which is their equivalent to Best Picture.
Michael B. Jordan’s acceptance speech
“I wasn’t expecting this at all,” Jordan said when receiving the Best Actor award amid a standing ovation. “I’m so honored and privileged to be nominated in this category, with people and actors and humans that I love, and I love their work and I love what they contribute to our craft.”
He continued, “I remember watching all the other actors that I looked up to being a part of that club, being a part of SAG-AFTRA, being a part of this community, and I was like, ‘Man, I want to do that one day.’ So I remember when I got my SAG-AFTRA card, I was like, ‘Man, I’m like an entry-level member and those guys that were on stage with the awards and the nice suits and going to fancy places like that, that’s what I always wanted. And that kid from North New Jersey is standing here right now. Mom, thank you for driving me back and forth to New York when we didn’t have enough money to go through the Holland Tunnel…when I went up there for my auditions, thank you.”
He also thanked Coogler and his peers. “I want to say thank you to Ryan Coogler for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do and to be fearless and to create a safe space for us to find the truth with what you do with all the other actors that we had the opportunity to work,” he said. “Just being in this room right now with all these people who see me grow up in front of the camera and in these rooms…I feel the love and support that you’ve always given me and encouraged me to go on and do my best,” Jordan added. “So, I just want to say thank you.”
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture was awarded Sinners actors Miles Caton, Buddy Guy, Jordan, Jayme Lawson, Delroy Lindo, Omar Miller, Wunmi Mosaku, Jack O’Connell and Hailee Steinfield. Though they were not a part of the ensemble win, actors Li Jun Li and Lola Kirke were present on stage with the cast to celebrate the win.
With the win, this makes Ryan Coogler the first filmmaker to direct two ensemble winners at the SAG Actor Awards.
Lindo said on stage, “We’re all anointed to be a part of this incredible journey created by the genius Ryan Coogler. brought ourselves. We brought our hearts, we brought our souls. We brought our spirits to this endeavor, and to be recognized by you all…Thank you doesn’t come anywhere near to encompassing what we feel…”
Check out the full list of Actor Award winners below:
2026 SAG Actor Awards list of winners
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
MICHAEL B. JORDAN / Smoke/Stack – “SINNERS”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
JESSIE BUCKLEY / Agnes – “HAMNET”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
SEAN PENN / Col. Steven J. Lockjaw – “ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
AMY MADIGAN / Gladys – “WEAPONS”
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
SINNERS
MILES CATON / Sammie Moore
BUDDY GUY / Old Sammie
MICHAEL B. JORDAN / Smoke/Stack
JAYME LAWSON / Pearline
DELROY LINDO / Delta Slim
OMAR MILLER / Cornbread
WUNMI MOSAKU / Annie
JACK O’CONNELL / Remmick
HAILEE STEINFELD / Mary
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
OWEN COOPER / Jamie Miller – “ADOLESCENCE”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
MICHELLE WILLIAMS / Molly – “DYING FOR SEX”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
NOAH WYLE / Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch – “THE PITT”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
KERI RUSSELL / Kate Wyler – “THE DIPLOMAT”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
SETH ROGEN / Matt Remick – “THE STUDIO”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
CATHERINE O’HARA / Patty Leigh – “THE STUDIO”
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
THE PITT
AMIELYNN ABELLERA / Nurse Perlah Alawi
SHABANA AZEEZ / Med Student Victoria Javadi
PATRICK BALL / Dr. Frank Langdon
ISA BRIONES / Dr. Trinity Santos
JALEN THOMAS BROOKS / Nurse Mateo Diaz
TAYLOR DEARDEN / Dr. Mel King
FIONA DOURIF / Dr. Cassie McKay
SUPRIYA GANESH / Dr. Samira Mohan
JOANNA GOING / Theresa Saunders
GERRAN HOWELL / Med Student Dennis Whitaker
MICHAEL HYATT / Gloria
TRACY IFEACHOR / Dr. Heather Collins
KATHERINE LANASA / Charge Nurse Dana Evans
KRYSTEL V. MCNEIL / Kiara Alfaro
BRANDON MENDEZ HOMER / Nurse Donnie Donahue
ALEXANDRA METZ / Dr. Yolanda Garcia
TRACY VILAR / Lupe Perez
KRISTIN VILLANUEVA / Nurse Princess Dela Cruz
NOAH WYLE / Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
THE STUDIO
IKE BARINHOLTZ / Sal Saperstein
KATHRYN HAHN / Maya Mason
CATHERINE O’HARA / Patty Leigh
SETH ROGEN / Matt Remick
CHASE SUI WONDERS / Quinn Hackett
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
THE LAST OF US
The 61st Annual SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award
HARRISON FORD