A redesigned Actor Awards night spotlights heavy-hitting films and TV ensembles, a repeat host and a headline star who is absent due to a film shoot
The performers’ guild is back with a new look and a new name: the Actor Awards. The ceremony, now rebranded, will hand out honors across film and television—recognizing both ensembles and individual performances—and promises a mix of beloved veterans and exciting newcomers. Mark your calendar for March 1 at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall; the show will stream live on Netflix, with Kristen Bell returning to host.
A record-breaking film race packed with heavy hitters
On the film side, Paul Thomas Anderson’s action drama One Battle After Another led the pack, scoring a record seven nominations. The film’s recognition ranges widely—from cast and stunt ensemble nods to multiple acting mentions for Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn and Teyana Taylor. Ryan Coogler’s vampire drama Sinners also proved a force, picking up five nominations and remaining a frequent topic in awards-season conversations.
They won’t have clear sailing, though. Strong ensemble contenders include Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet and Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme. Taken together, the slate reflects a season that rewards both bold genre filmmaking and intimate, character-led stories—and that honors the ensemble collaborations that make those projects sing.
Standouts in the lead acting races
The lead acting categories read like a who’s who of contemporary cinema, mixing established stars with rising talent and setting up tightly contested matchups.
Lead actor nominees:
– Leonardo DiCaprio — One Battle After Another
– Michael B. Jordan — Sinners
– Timothée Chalamet — Marty Supreme
– Ethan Hawke — Blue Moon
– Jesse Plemons — Bugonia
Lead actress nominees:
– Jessie Buckley — Hamnet
– Rose Byrne — If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
– Kate Hudson — Song Sung Blue
– Chase Infiniti — One Battle After Another
– Emma Stone — Bugonia
Television: ensembles steal the spotlight
On the small-screen front, Apple’s ensemble comedy The Studio led TV nominations with five, including acting nods for Seth Rogen, Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn and the late Catherine O’Hara. It faces stiff competition in the comedy ensemble race from Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks and Only Murders in the Building—series that underline how much modern TV comedy depends on finely tuned ensembles.
Drama series nominees—The Diplomat, Landman, The Pitt, Severance and The White Lotus—show the guild’s appetite for serialized storytelling propelled by strong group performances.
Up next: television acting highlights — beginning with the male drama contenders.