SAG Awards 2022 WINNERS: Thespians recognized on one of television and film’s biggest nights

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Jessica Chastain and Will Smith earned the top individual acting awards at the 28th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards for their transformative titular roles. 

CODA also made history at the glitzy event held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California as the deaf cast became the first ever ensemble to win top prize Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and Troy Kotsur was the first ever deaf individual to be recognized.  

The night of upsets was highlighted by Chastain who was recognized in the Female Actor in a Leading Role for her work in The Eyes Of Tammy Faye as she beat out Nicole Kidman Kidman, 54, who was the betting favorite according to Gold Derby. 

The biographical film the 44-year-old actress starred in was an intimate look at the extraordinary rise, fall and redemption of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker as she played the titular role.

Meanwhile Kidman played Hollywood icon Lucille Ball in the film that followed her and husband Desi Arnaz as they face a crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage.

The talented A-listers faced stiff competition as they were also up against Olivia Colman (‘The Lost Daughter’), Lady Gaga (‘House of Gucci’), and Jennifer Hudson (‘Respect’). 

Chastain – who underwent a major transformation to become American televangelist Tammy Faye Messner – was shocked by the win as she said: ‘Whoa! Wow. Okay. I’m real surprised. Thank you, SAG-AFTRA for this. I’m completely stunned. Thank you. I want to thank my team. I have the best team ever. Paul, Hilda, Steve, Nicole. My producer partners, Kelly and Rachel and Gigi.’

She continued her speech by thanking Andrew Garfield, who played Tammy’s husband and fellow televangelist Jim Bakker, and Tammy herself as she said: ‘And everyone in this room knows that a performance is only as good as the people around you. So I have the best acting troupe one could have with Andrew Garfield, I mean, I’m so lucky. This is a dream of mine to play Tammy Faye. She was a trailblazer. And she wrapped her arms around those who were repeatedly cast aside and she launched herself into decades of LGBTQ love, and I worked on the project for ten years, and I hope that I made her story — we made her story the way that she would be proud of. 

‘I wanted to be an actor my whole life. Since I was a kid, it’s the only thing I ever thought about. There were years of studying and auditioning, and not getting jobs. And I know what that feels like and the loneliness of what that feels like. For those of you who are struggling, and feeling unseen, I just want you to know to keep going, because you’re one job away. I promise. And the thing that kept me going was you. It was everyone in this room. 

Chastain concluded her speech by talking about the recent invasion of Russia into Ukraine as she said: ‘And it was this community. And I love my artistic family. And my heart is with our international family all over the world right now who is fighting for their safety and their freedom. And I love you all so much. Thank you very, very much.’

Not to be outdone was Will Smith who earned Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his titular role in King Richard.

The film is a look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard Williams.

The 53-year-old actor Smith was up against: Javier Bardem (‘Being the Ricardos’), Benedict Cumberbatch (‘The Power of the Dog’), Andrew Garfield (‘Tick, Tick … Boom!’), and Denzel Washington (‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’).

Veteran entertainer Smith – who has had a career spanning nearly four decades – said this is one of the greatest moments of his career as he was seated next to tennis great and daughter of the real-life man he played Venus Williams.

He explained:  ‘Thank you all. That may have been one of the greatest moments of my career just now. Because my name was called for “King Richard” sitting next to Venus Williams. And her sister. Richard Williams is a dreamer like no one you’ve ever known. 

‘He has a power of belief that borders on insanity. And sometimes tips over the border, which is absolutely necessary to take something from impossible to possible. You pushed every single day. You demanded authenticity, and you did it in such a beautiful and quiet and powerful way. And you did it wonderful justice.’ 

A hilarious moment came when Smith thanked the Williams family for signing onto the project despite reservation.

The Philadelphia-native said: ‘Venus, Serena, the Williams family, you entrusted me and our group with your story. You didn’t agree to put your name on it until you saw the final project. I get that. I get that. It’s cool. That’s real, that’s real, because we be messing stuff up sometimes. But when I got the call and you watched the movie and you said you loved it, I just want to say thank you very much. It was my deepest pleasure to honor your family and to tell your story to the world. Thank you all. I’m thanking to much. Thank you all. Thank you.’

The most emotional moment when Smith got tearful when talking about the young actors who played Venus and Serena – Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton – and how ‘parenting’ them at the event was a complete honor for him personally and professionally.

A tear could be seen on the talented actor’s face as he said: ‘You guys [Sidney and Singleton] are actors, so you know how sometimes your on-screen characters kind of bleed into real life. And to walk you around this room tonight to parent you on this film, to deliver you into this business has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life.’

Perhaps the most shocking upset of the night came when CODA made history becoming the first ever ensemble to win top prize Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

The film beat out heavy competition including favorite Belfast, Don’t Look Up, House of Gucci, and King Richard. 

The critically-acclaimed movie is centered around a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) named Ruby (played by Emilia Jones) who is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music by wanting to go to Berklee College of Music and her fear of abandoning her parents. 

Veteran actress Marlee Matlin – who won Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Academy Awards in 1987 for Children Of A Lesser God – took to the podium to accept the honor on behalf of the cast as she said via interpreter: ‘It’s a night that I’ve been waiting for for 35 years.

‘It has been time and this just validates, among those people who voted for us at SAG-AFTRA, they knew we are their peers, their equals. We are all actors and this [recognition] to really give more opportunities for other actors out there, who or whatever they may be.’

Earlier in the night Troy Kotsur made history as the 53-year-old actor was the first ever deaf actor to win an individual honor at the SAG Awards as he took home the first award in the Male Actor in a Supporting Role category for his work in the film.

In the film the talented actor played Frank Rossi, the father of the main character of the film Ruby.

He beat out A-list competition including Ben Affleck (‘The Tender Bar’), Bradley Cooper (‘Licorice Pizza’) , Jared Leto (‘House of Gucci’), and Kodi Smit-McPhee (‘The Power of the Dog’).

Coming into the event Kotsur already made history as he was also the first solo deaf actor to receive an individual SAG Award nomination on top of winning it.

The award was presented by Scenes From A Marriage co-stars Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac and the Meza, Arizona native was emotional as he covered his face when his name was announced.

Kotsur was grateful to be part of the Screen Actors Guild as he opened his speech by saying, via interpreter: ‘Wow! Wow! Thank you so much to all the members of SAG. I am so proud to be a member. I’ve been a member since 2001, and so now I feel like I’m finally part of the family. And I know you all are artists, and I know what you all know what it’s like to be a starving actor.

‘Back then I used to sleep in my car. I slept in my dressing room backstage. I couch surfed, and all of that, you feel me, right? And so thank you so much. I’m so grateful to SAG to protect us actors.’

Netflix’s Squid Game once again made its mark as Jung Ho-yeon and Lee Jung-Jae earned Outstanding Performance by a Female and Male Actor in a Drama Series, respectively, at the star-studded event.

Squid Game – created, written, and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk – is centered around hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children’s games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits with deadly high stakes. A survival game that has a whopping 45.6 billion-won prize at stake. 

Ho-yeon, who played North Korean defector Kang Sae-byeok, beat out heavy competition including: Jennifer Aniston (‘The Morning Show’), Elizabeth Moss (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’), Sarah Snook (‘Succession’), and Reese Witherspoon (‘The Morning Show’).

The 27-year-old model-turned-actress had tears running down her face as she addressed the audience saying via translator: ‘First and foremost, thank you so much. I have sat many a times watching you on the big screen, dreaming of one day becoming an actor. I just want to say thank you so much.’ 

She then took the mic on her own as she concluded her speech saying: ‘Thank you. Make me dream and open the door for me. I love you! Thank you!’ 

Jung-Jae, 49, earned his individual honor over Brian Cox (‘Succession’), Billy Crudup (‘The Morning Show’), Kieran Culkin (‘Succession’), and Jeremy Strong (‘Succession’). 

The actor was bewildered by the recognition as he said during his acceptance speech via translator: ‘Oh, my. Thank you so much. This is truly huge this happened to me. I did write something, but I don’t think I’m going to get to reading it.  

‘Thank you so, so much, SAG-AFTRA Awards. And thank you to the global audience for all of your love for Squid game. Thank you.’ 

Squid Game was not able to complete the sweep, however, as the series was beat out by Succession in the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series category. Other nominees included: ”The Handmaid’s Tale’ (Hulu), ‘The Morning Show’ (Apple TV Plus), and ‘Yellowstone’ (Paramount Network).’

 The HBO series is centered around The Roy family who is known for controlling the biggest media and entertainment company in the world. However, their world changes when their father steps down from the company.

Leading actor Brian Cox – who plays Logan Roy – accepted the honor with a rousing speech as he said:  ‘Thank you, everybody, for everything. And, you know, we just want to — we thank HBO who have really taken care of us. We want to thank our fantastic writers. Jessie is a genius, no question about it. And these guys, you know, you can’t work — oh, Sarah. She’s not here. And Matthew. 

‘There’s so many not here. But we love them and we wish they were here. But, no, the other thing I want to say is about the casting people, the people who cast us. We’ve done a great job, especially on this show. And I think they need a special hand. We kind of underestimate the casters. Could you hold that? One other thing I would like to add, which I think is important to me and I hope important to you, and as actors and performers and writers and directors.’

Cox,  75, went on to address the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia as he even gave a special acknowledgement to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy.

He explained: ‘This is a thing that’s come to me about what’s going on in Ukraine. It’s truly, truly awful. Really awful what’s happening. It’s particularly awful in terms of the — what it’s affecting the other people, particularly in our profession. The president of Ukraine was a comic, you know, he was a wonderful comic performer. And we should respect that for him and to come to the presidency was amazing. But the thing that is really distressed me is what’s happening in Russia, to my fellow actors and actresses and performers and writers and critics, they are told under pain of high treason they cannot say a word about Ukraine. I think that is awful. 

‘I think we should all stand together, and also, for those people, the people in Russia who don’t like what’s going on, and particularly the artists, I think we should join and celebrate them and hope that they can make a shift. Because I believe they can. Thank you. Thank you! Thank you so much. I knew you would come to it. Thank you.   

The second award of the night was given to Ariana DeBose as she earned Female Actor in a Supporting Role for her work in West Side Story. 

 The 31-year-old actress was emotional and tears streamed down her eyes as her name was announced by Selena Gomez and Martin Short.

She beat out Caitríona Balfe (‘Belfast’), Cate Blanchett (‘Nightmare Alley’), Kirsten Dunst (‘The Power of the Dog’), and Ruth Negga (‘Passing). 

Ariana played the iconic character of Anita in the Steven Spielberg directed film which was an adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.

 The North Carolina native began her acceptance speech by saying: ‘Oh, my gosh. Thank you. My heart is beating in my chest right now. It’s taken a long time for me to feel comfortable calling myself an actor. 

‘My roots come from the dance world, and the Broadway stage, and the person we see on the screen took every bit of me, but she took ten years to make, and I’m extremely proud of her and of our film. And I really do believe when you recognize one of us, you recognize all of us in a way. So thank you, SAG, for this recognition.

The comedy television categories were dominated by AppleTV+ series Ted Lasso as the sitcom earned Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series as well as Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for Jason Sudeikis.  

The 46-year-old actor accepted his individual honor via satellite as he was joined by his castmates as they are currently filming season 3 in London. 

He earned the win over comedy legends and even a castmate including Michael Douglas (‘The Kominsky Method’), Brett Goldstein (‘Ted Lasso’), Steve Martin (‘Only Murders in the Building’), and Martin Short (‘Only Murders in the Building’).

Sudeikis joked about his co-stars not being able to hug him until after the acceptance speech as he said: ‘We’ve got to save these hugs until I’m done. Just freeze, hold it. No hugging. Thank you very much to all you guys first and foremost. My ensemble cast on Ted Lasso. 

‘Thank you to all the writers, everybody post production, in production, our covid crew that kept everybody safe all that season. Thanks to my kids. Thanks to everybody I got to take improv classes with, my — yeah, my family, and this chosen family here. So thank you very much. Really appreciate it.’

The show is centered around an American college football coach Ted Lasso heads to London to manage AFC Richmond, a struggling English Premier League soccer team. 

Castmate Hannah Waddingham – who plays team owner Rebecca Welton – accepted the Ensemble in a Comedy Series gong as she said: ‘Oh, my gosh! Even though we’re a complete gaggle of idiots, we’re so appreciative.

‘Thank you so, so much. We wish we were there with you. Thank you so apple, to Warner brothers for just making everything so perfect! Thank you so much. We wish we were there!’ 

Ted Lasso beat out ‘The Great’ (Hulu), ‘Hacks’ (HBO Max), ‘The Kominsky Method’ (Netflix), and ‘Only Murders in the Building’ (Hulu). 

Leading up top the event there was no confirmed host for the presentation, and there hasn’t been one since 2020 when Schitt’s Creek stars Eugene Levy and Dan Levy opened and closed the show but there was an introduction and monologue done by well known actors of the stage and screen. 

Hamilton stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daveed Diggs, and Leslie Odom Jr kicked off the award show as they hit the stage after the traditional ‘I am an actor’ segment. 

Fran Drescher, the newly-appointed SAG-AFTRA president, said last month: ‘After such a long time apart, we’re excited to be together again this year at the 28th annual Screen Actor’s Guild Awards.’ 

Rosario Dawson and Vanessa Hudgens named the nominees in a presentation via Instagram Live last month. 

Hit TV shows Succession and Ted Lasso lead the nominees and are tied with a total of five nominations each. 

Helen Mirren – who has received a total of five SAG Awards from 13 nominations – will receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement honor. 

‘Dame Helen Mirren is quite simply a brilliant and luminous talent,’ Drescher said in a statement. 

‘Her work runs the gamut of characters from a not-so-retired CIA super-killer and a ruthless Russian spy handler to a Hungarian cleaning lady and the most exquisite Elizabeth II.’

‘She has set the bar very high for all actors and, in role after role, she exceeds even her own extraordinary performances.’

The accolades are given out by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. 

Founded in 1952, the awards recognize outstanding performances in movie and prime time television.