The 2025 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nominations were announced on January 8, sparking both excitement and disappointment among fans and industry insiders. The announcement, made via press release instead of a live event due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, highlighted some notable surprises and snubs that are sure to fuel discussions throughout awards season.
SAG-AFTRA, the union responsible for the nominations, acknowledged the challenging circumstances in Los Angeles, where wildfires continue to ravage parts of the city. In a statement, the union expressed sympathy for those affected by the fires and urged support for affected members of the artist community. “Our thoughts are with everyone impacted — the residents, first responders, and all those working tirelessly to protect the community,” the union said, encouraging donations to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s natural disaster relief fund.
Kristen Bell to Host the 2025 SAG Awards
The 31st annual SAG Awards will be streamed live on Netflix on Sunday, February 23, at 8 p.m. ET. Actress Kristen Bell will take the reins as host for the event, which will be held at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles.
Among the most nominated projects this year, Wicked leads the pack with five total nominations, including for Best Ensemble. The television series Shōgun also garnered five nominations, setting the stage for a highly competitive awards show.
Major Snubs: Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie Left Out
Two of the biggest names in Hollywood were notably absent from the 2025 SAG Award nominations. Nicole Kidman, who received critical acclaim for her performance in the erotic thriller Babygirl, was not nominated for Best Actress. Kidman’s portrayal of a powerful CEO having an affair with an intern, played by Harris Dickinson, earned her a Golden Globe nomination and the Best Actress prize at the Venice Film Festival. Despite this recognition, she was not included in the SAG Award nominations. Instead, the Best Actress category was populated by Pamela Anderson (The Last Showgirl), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), Mikey Madison (Anora), and Demi Moore (The Substance).
Similarly, Angelina Jolie was shut out of the Best Actress race for her role as famed opera singer Maria Callas in Maria. Despite receiving nominations from both the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, the role did not earn her a SAG nod. The Best Actress category remained unchanged, with Anderson, Erivo, Gascón, Madison, and Moore taking the lead.
Surprise Nominations: Jamie Lee Curtis and Jonathan Bailey Shine
While some expected performances to be recognized, others were true surprises. One of the most notable inclusions was Jamie Lee Curtis, who earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for The Last Showgirl. Curtis, who won the SAG Award and Oscar for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once last year, had not been widely discussed as a contender for her performance in The Last Showgirl. Her unrecognizable turn in the Las Vegas-set drama now has her back in the conversation for another prestigious award.
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Another surprise came in the form of Jonathan Bailey, who earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Prince Fiyero in the highly anticipated Wicked musical. Bailey, who is also part of the nominated ensemble for both Wicked and Bridgerton, secured a spot in a competitive category. Notably, other expected names like Denzel Washington (Gladiator II) and Guy Pearce (The Brutalist) were overlooked.
Snubs in the Television Category: Selena Gomez and Cooper Koch Miss Out
There were also several notable snubs in the television category. Selena Gomez, who has garnered praise for her performances in both Emilia Pérez and Only Murders in the Building, was not individually nominated for either role. Despite being a double nominee at the Golden Globes and having won the Cannes Film Festival’s Best Actress award alongside her costars for Emilia Pérez, Gomez was passed over in the individual categories. Instead, Only Murders in the Building earned a single nomination for Martin Short.
Cooper Koch, a breakout star of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, was another surprise snub. Koch, who earned a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Erik Menendez, did not make it into the SAG nominations. Javier Bardem was the only cast member recognized for the Netflix series, which leaves Koch with another opportunity for recognition when the upcoming Emmy nominations are announced later this year.
Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan Receives First Leading Actress Nomination
A bright spot for fans of Bridgerton came with Nicola Coughlan’s nomination for Best Leading Actress for her role as Penelope Featherington in Season 3 of the Netflix period drama. Coughlan’s performance in this highly anticipated season earned her a nomination, along with the entire Bridgerton ensemble, which was recognized for Best Ensemble. This is Coughlan’s first solo nomination at the SAG Awards, although she had previously been nominated as part of the cast in 2021. Other Bridgerton alums, like Regé-Jean Page, have also earned individual nominations in the past.
Looking Ahead to the 2025 SAG Awards
With the nominations now set, all eyes are on the 2025 SAG Awards, which will be held just days before the Oscars. The competition this year is expected to be fierce, with surprises in both the film and television categories. As always, the SAG Awards will provide a key indicator of which performances and projects are most likely to take home the big prizes during awards season.
For more updates on the 2025 SAG Awards, including potential upsets, wins, and surprises, be sure to stay tuned as the awards season continues to unfold.
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