SAG Awards 2025: ‘Conclave,’ Timothée Chalamet’s Wins Reshape Oscar Predictions/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ At the 31st SAG Awards, Conclave won best ensemble while Timothée Chalamet secured best actor, throwing the upcoming Oscars into uncertainty. The Vatican thriller’s victory and Chalamet’s portrayal of Bob Dylan disrupted expectations favoring Anora. Other SAG winners, including Demi Moore and Zoe Saldaña, strengthened their Oscar bids.
SAG Awards 2025: Quick Looks
- Best ensemble: Conclave wins top SAG honor amid global focus on Pope Francis’s health
- Best actor shocker: Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of Bob Dylan upsets frontrunner Adrien Brody
- Oscar implications: Wins for Conclave and Chalamet reshape unpredictable awards season
- Demi Moore’s momentum: Wins best actress for The Substance, boosting Oscar hopes
- Political moments: Jane Fonda urges resistance and calls for unity during acceptance speech
- Behind the scenes: Stars like Ariana Grande and Harrison Ford celebrate Conclave cast backstage
- First-time SAG winner: Colin Farrell wins for The Penguin amid humorous COVID quips
- Unions highlight issues: SAG-AFTRA calls for AI regulations and continued strike support
SAG Awards 2025: ‘Conclave,’ Timothée Chalamet’s Wins Reshape Oscar Predictions
Deep Look
LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a night filled with surprises and emotional moments, the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards crowned Conclave as best ensemble and awarded Timothée Chalamet best actor, reshaping the landscape just a week before the Academy Awards.
Edward Berger’s Conclave, a gripping papal thriller, bested frontrunner Anora for the guild’s top honor, marking a late-season surge after its BAFTA win. Accepting the award on behalf of the cast, Ralph Fiennes praised the film’s ensemble and extended well wishes to Pope Francis, currently in critical condition.
“I wasn’t elected to speak, but I’ve been designated,” Fiennes joked, acknowledging the film’s subject of papal elections.
Chalamet’s Career-Defining Moment
Timothée Chalamet’s win for A Complete Unknown—his portrayal of Bob Dylan—was the evening’s most talked-about upset. Beating out Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Chalamet, visibly stunned, spoke passionately about the five-and-a-half years spent preparing for the role.
“I poured everything I had into playing this incomparable artist,” Chalamet said. “I want to be one of the greats.”
His victory complicates Oscar predictions, where Brody had been the presumed favorite.
Oscar Race Now Wide Open
Before the SAG Awards, Anora dominated the guild circuit, sweeping honors from producers, directors, and writers. But Conclave’s win, combined with Chalamet’s upset, throws the best picture and best actor races into disarray. Recent history suggests the SAG best ensemble winner often secures Oscar’s top prize—but this year’s volatile season defies patterns.
Strong Nights for Moore and Saldaña
Demi Moore continued her awards momentum, winning best actress for The Substance after a speech reflecting on her “popcorn actress” label. Zoe Saldaña’s win for Emilia Pérez further cemented her Oscar frontrunner status despite controversies surrounding co-star Karla Sofia Gascón.
Colin Farrell and Jean Smart Add to the Celebration
Colin Farrell won his first SAG Award for The Penguin and humorously acknowledged Jamie Lee Curtis’s playful introduction referencing his COVID-19 spread at the Golden Globes. Meanwhile, Jean Smart, winning for Hacks, appeared in character during a pre-taped segment, adding levity to the ceremony.
Political Undertones and Union Solidarity
Jane Fonda, receiving the Life Achievement Award, delivered the evening’s most impassioned speech, warning of “what’s coming our way” under the current U.S. administration.
“Woke just means you give a damn about other people,” she declared, earning a standing ovation.
SAG-AFTRA leadership spotlighted ongoing video game strikes and the need for AI regulations, with Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland noting the prevalence of deepfakes affecting actors.
Behind the Scenes: Stars Celebrate and Reflect
Backstage, Conclave’s cast mingled with stars like Ariana Grande, who excitedly congratulated Ralph Fiennes. Harrison Ford, after presenting the ensemble award, shared quiet words with Jane Fonda, commending her speech.
Timothée Chalamet reunited with Fiennes and John Lithgow, celebrating their shared wins and snapping photos with SAG’s hefty statuettes. Lithgow joked about his third SAG win, raising the trophy overhead while Fiennes playfully performed arm presses.
Firefighters honored for their bravery during California’s recent wildfires also took part in the festivities, posing with celebrities like Ford and Grande—an emotional highlight underscoring the evening’s spirit of unity.
Looking Ahead to the Oscars
With Conclave and Chalamet shaking up expectations, the stage is set for one of the most unpredictable Academy Awards in recent memory. Will the SAG momentum carry through, or will Oscar voters chart a different path? Hollywood now waits with bated breath.
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