Michael B Jordan has strengthened his Oscar campaign after winning best actor at the Actor Awards, the ceremony formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, for his role in the vampire horror film Sinners.
The Actor Awards victory reshapes the Oscar race just weeks before the Academy Awards on 15 March. Jordan’s performance in Sinners also helped the film secure the night’s top honour for best ensemble cast, positioning it as a leading contender for best picture.
“I wasn’t expecting this at all,” Michael B Jordan said during his acceptance speech, thanking his co-stars, director Ryan Coogler and his family. He paid tribute to his mother, Donna Jordan, for encouraging his acting ambitions from an early age.
Co-star Delroy Lindo described the film’s production as an “incredible journey", adding that the cast brought “our hearts and souls” to the project.
The awards follow the recent Bafta Film Awards, where Jordan and Delroy Lindo were recognised for their professionalism during an on-stage disruption. Lindo later acknowledged public support at the NAACP Image Awards, describing the response as overwhelmingly positive.
With 16 Oscar nominations, Sinners enters the Academy Awards as a strong best picture contender. It faces competition from One Battle After Another, which has secured significant wins at other major precursor events this season.
In the acting categories, Sean Penn won best actor for One Battle After Another, while Jessie Buckley continued her dominant run in the best actress category with a win for Hamnet. Amy Madigan secured a surprise supporting actress award for Weapons, strengthening her late-season Oscar prospects.
Television categories also delivered notable results. Catherine O’Hara received a posthumous award for her role in The Studio, with co-star Seth Rogen accepting on her behalf. The series won best comedy ensemble, and Rogen claimed best comedy actor. In drama, The Pitt won best ensemble, and Noah Wyle earned best drama actor.
Harrison Ford was honoured with a lifetime achievement award, recognising a career spanning more than six decades, including leading roles in Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Blade Runner.
As the Academy Awards approach, Jordan’s Actor Awards win has made the best actor category one of the most competitive contests of the season, adding momentum to his campaign and intensifying the final stretch of Hollywood’s awards race.
