Oppenheimer continues its winning streak by scoring more top awards at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, leading up to the Oscars next month. Christopher Nolan’s biopic about the ‘father of the atomic bomb’ was awarded best cast in a motion picture, with Cillian Murphy winning best actor and co-star Robert Downey Jr taking home best supporting actor. Cillian Murphy, who has already won at the BAFTAs and Golden Globes, expressed his gratitude by saying, “Twenty-eight years ago when I was trying to become an actor, I was a failed musician and I felt extremely like an interloper, but now looking out at you guys here today, I know I am part of something truly wonderful.”
The event followed the longest actors’ strike in history and is a vital indicator for the Academy Awards. Sir Kenneth Branagh, who plays Niels Bohr in the film, accepted the award for best cast on their behalf, describing it as a “full circle moment” following the actors’ strikes, thanking SAG-AFTRA for their support. Lily Gladstone and Da’Vine Joy Randolph were among the other winners for their roles in different productions.
The TV comedy-drama “The Bear” and the limited series “Beef” also had successful wins at the ceremony. Pedro Pascal won best male actor in a drama series for his role in “The Last Of Us.” “Succession” won best ensemble for a drama series, with the cast expressing their gratitude for the experience. Barbra Streisand received the SAG Life Achievement Award, with stars from the 2006 film “The Devil Wears Prada” reuniting on stage. The in memoriam segment honored actors such as Sir Michael Gambon and Matthew Perry, while the ceremony was live-streamed on Netflix for the first time.