The end of the 2024 award season is slowly approaching, but not before the Screen Actors Guild honored some of Hollywood’s best stars. The annual SAG Awards were held on February 24th at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.
For its 30th anniversary, the awards ceremony was streamed live on Netflix for the first time ever. The ceremony was hostless– a tradition that began when the show first aired. However, the show featured a long list of presenters, including stars such as Idris Elba, Jennifer Aniston, Margot Robbie, Robert Downey Jr., and Cillian Murphy.
The night kicked off with style, as celebrities took to the red carpet. Many attendees, such as Jessica Chastain, Quinta Brunson, and America Ferrera, opted for classic gowns, while others, such as Ali Wong, wore dramatic couture looks. Velvet and gloves also had significant presences on the carpet, thanks to looks from Greta Lee and Ariana Greenblatt.
“My favorite look has to be Ariana Greenblatt’s, but I also loved Margot Robbie’s dress and how it looks inspired by Barbie,” shares sophomore Adriana Camara. Greenblatt wore a velvet Vera Wang gown, and Robbie stunned in a dramatic black and pink minidress.
This year, Barbie and Oppenheimer led with the most nominations, each earning four. Christopher Nolan’s portrayal of Robert Oppenheimer, which hit theaters in July of 2023, took home three prizes, including for Outstanding Performance by a Cast. Cillian Murphy, who plays the film’s main character, won best movie actor, while co-star Robert Downey Jr. picked up the best supporting actor trophy for playing his rival.
However, many viewers voiced their opinions of Barbie winning zero awards out of its four nominations. The Greta Gerwig comedy was well received both critically and commercially, as it was the number one movie of 2023, with a box office gross of 1.45 billion dollars. However, the film’s SAG nominations were lost to Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, and the new Mission Impossible movie.
“[Barbie] definitely should have at least won one award. It was such a big movie last year, and it had a really powerful message. I think they got snubbed,” expresses sophomore Isabella Milian.
One of the night’s most important moments was when Barbara Streisand accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award. The trophy was presented by Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper, who praised Streisand’s work as an actress, singer, producer, and director. The show also played a montage of her decades-long career, featuring films such as Funny Girl and The Guilt Trip.
Other big winners include Jeremy Allen White, who won Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his leading role in The Bear. Additionally, Lily Gladstone won Best Actress in a Lead Role for her movie, Killers of the Flower Moon.
One of the many highlights of the night was the Devil Wears Prada reunion that took place, as former co-stars Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt reunited on stage to present the award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series.
The ceremony concluded after two hours, and the night featured many sweet speeches, cast reunions, and interviews with Hollywood’s biggest stars. This year’s SAG awards have recognized the talents of many actors and actresses, and a spotlight has been shone on some of the industry’s underrated stars.
