2021 SAG Awards: Outstanding Moments and Winners
The hour-long ceremony had plenty of laughs, surprises, and Zoom.

The 27th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, which celebrate the best performances in film and television, aired on Sunday night. Following a string of remote awards ceremonies, the hour-long show was pre-recorded, with nominees connecting over Zoom calls from their homes (or their car, as Bill Camp did).
Even though the ceremony was stripped down of its usual glitz and glamour, there were still plenty of funny bits, nice surprises, and moving speeches. Take a look at some of the most memorable moments and full list of winners from the 2021 SAG Awards below:
Ted Lasso’s opening skit
Some solid thoughts from the @TedLasso team on the greatest ensembles of all time 😂 @AppleTV #sagawards pic.twitter.com/Cb8n6r2dop
— SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) April 5, 2021
The telecast opened with a special appearance by the Ted Lasso cast, who performed an in-character skit that poked fun at other Outstanding Ensemble nominees and celebrated the SAGs – and the Muppets, of course.
“I Am an Actor…”

As SAG tradition goes, actors start the show by sharing some funny pre-fame anecdotes – and it couldn’t be different this year. Helen Mirren, Sterling K. Brown, Riz Ahmed, Henry Golding, Cynthia Erivo, Dan Levy, and Mindy Kaling were among the actors who shared some of their favorite TV shows from the past year. “I love white people behaving badly,” Brown said of Succession, while Mirren said she loves the PEN15 series.
Jason Sudeikis’ sweater

After Jason Sudeikis’ Golden Globes appearance in a tie-dye hoodie, there was some speculation about what would be his outfit choice for the SAGs – he even hinted the whole Ted Lasso cast would get matching colorful hoodies for the ceremony. Though he still prioritized comfort, this time he accepted the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series wearing a navy wool Gucci sweater with “My Body My Choice” knitted on the front.
Actors’ special skills

In another segment, actors talked about the “special skills” they have previously listed in their resumes, revealing they would sometimes include abilities they did not necessarily have early in their careers. “On my resume, I put down that I can horse ride, I can sword fight,” Cynthia Erivo said, while Riz Ahmed said he once included judo despite only having attended a few classes.
Zoom reactions

While the telecast was pre-recorded, the wins were recorded live-to-tape and featured a grid of Zoom reactions to winners and acceptance speeches. Though it is still a bit unsettling to watch an awards ceremony being carried out from home, it enables some unexpectedly endearing moments (and settings) from the nominees.
Celebrities, they’re just like us

Speaking of Zoom… Actors shared their WFH experiences – especially how it can be annoying to have to rely on the technology to work remotely. Rita Moreno enacted the way people freeze on video meetings, while Ethan Hawke said “everybody’s fighting for wifi” at his home, especially with his daughter taking drama classes, and Lily Collins revealed her video calls with David Fincher for Mank would sometimes break up.
Yuh-Jung Youn’s captivating speech

Minari’s Yuh-Jung Youn was shocked with her win for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role and gave one of the evening’s most endearing speeches. “I don’t know how to describe my feelings, I’m being recognized by Westerners. Oh, it is very, very honored. Especially by my actor fellow, choose me as a supporting actress. I don’t know. Am I saying right? My English is not good,” she said, while fellow nominees Olivia Colman and Glenn Close gestured in encouragement. “I’m very pleased and happy.”
Viola Davis’ reaction

Viola Davis seemed completely shocked over her win for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The actress looked blown away when her name was announced, throwing her hands in the air and nearly falling off her chair before thanking her fellow cast members and crew.
Chadwick Boseman’s posthumous win
A legacy that continues to live on in our hearts and on our screens. Thank you, @chadwickboseman, for your lasting gift. #sagawards @MaRaineyFilmpic.twitter.com/0lnA6luxkS
— SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) April 5, 2021
Chadwick Boseman’s legacy was celebrated at the show when the late actor won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his turn in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Following up her moving acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, Boseman’s wife Taylor Simone Ledward expressed gratitude for the actor’s colleagues. “‘If you see the world unbalanced, be a crusader that pushes heavily on the seesaw of the mind.’ That’s a quote by Chadwick Boseman,” she said. “Thank you, Chad. Thank you.”
Hopes for the future

Closing off the ceremony, actors shared some of their hopes and wishes for when the pandemic is over. Mirren said she can’t wait to be able to go to movie theaters with “a tub of popcorn” again, while Kaling said she’s looking forward to seeing other actors’ “sparkly,” maskless faces. Common and Daveed Diggs shared more sensorial wishes, though: Diggs said he misses “other people sweating” on him, while Common said he wants to be able to “smell” everyone.
Below is the full list of winners:
Television Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Bill Camp, The Queen’s Gambit
Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Hugh Grant, The Undoing
Ethan Hawke, The Good Lord Bird
Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True [WINNER]
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America
Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You
Nicole Kidman, The Undoing
Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit [WINNER]
Kerry Washington, Little Fires Everywhere
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman, Ozark [WINNER]
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Josh O’Connor, The Crown
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Regé-Jean Page, Bridgerton
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Gillian Anderson, The Crown [WINNER]
Olivia Colman, The Crown
Emma Corrin, The Crown
Julia Garner, Ozark
Laura Linney, Ozark
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Nicholas Hoult, The Great
Daniel Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso [WINNER]
Ramy Youssef, Ramy
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
Linda Cardellini, Dead to Me
Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant
Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek [WINNER]
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Better Call Saul
Bridgerton
The Crown [WINNER]
Lovecraft Country
Ozark
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Dead to Me
The Flight Attendant
The Great
Schitt’s Creek [WINNER]
Ted Lasso
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
The Boys
Cobra Kai
Lovecraft Country
The Mandalorian [WINNER]
Westworld
Motion Picture Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom [WINNER]
Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Gary Oldman, Mank
Steven Yeun, Minari
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Amy Adams, Hillbilly Elegy
Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom [WINNER]
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Chadwick Boseman, Da 5 Bloods
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah [WINNER]
Jared Leto, The Little Things
Leslie Odom Jr., One Night in Miami
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman, The Father
Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari [WINNER]
Helena Zengel, News of the World
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Da 5 Bloods
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Minari
One Night in Miami
The Trial of the Chicago 7 [WINNER]
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Da 5 Bloods
Mulan
News of the World
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Wonder Woman 1984 [WINNER]
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