Michael B. Jordan won the Actor Award for Best Actor on Sunday night for his role in a movie Sinners.
Jordan, who played the twins in the Warner Bros. film. For director Ryan Coogler, he hugged his mother and took to the stage to accept the award. “I wasn’t expecting it. I’m honored and thrilled to be nominated in categories with people, actors and human beings that I love, I love their work and what they contribute to our craft, and this rise has been incredible,” he said. So, thank you for welcoming me and making me feel seen.
The 39-year-old continued to address the audience, saying, “I remember watching all the other actors that I was looking forward to being part of this club, being part of SAG-AFTRA, being part of this community, and I was like, ‘Man, I want to do that one day.’ So I remember when I got my SAG-AFTRA card, I was like, ‘Man, I’m like a rookie member and these guys that were on stage with trophies and nice suits and going to fancy places like this, that’s what I wanted.’ Always.” And this kid from northern New Jersey is standing here right now. Mom, thank you for driving me back and forth to New York when we didn’t have enough money to get through the Holland Tunnel… and when I went there to audition, thank you.”
He continued, “I want to thank Ryan Coogler for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do and be brave and create a safe space for us to find the truth in what you do with all the other actors that we have the opportunity to work with.”
“Just being in this room now with all these people seeing me grow in front of the camera and in these rooms — I feel the love and support that you’ve always given me and encouraged me to keep moving forward and do my best,” Jordan added. “So, I just want to say thank you.”
At the 2026 Actor Awards (formerly known as the SAG Awards), Jordan was nominated alongside Ethan Hawke (Blue moon), Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Jesse Plemons (Bugonia(And Leonardo DiCaprio)Battle after battle), who did not attend the ceremony because he is currently filming a Martin Scorsese film What happens at night, Hollywood Reporter certain.
Jordan’s win marks his first win at the Actor’s Awards. Last year, Chalamet won the Best Actor award for his role as Bob Dylan Completely anonymous.
In Chalamet’s speech, which went viral, he said he wanted to be one of the greats. “I know we’re in a personal business, but the truth is, I’m truly striving for greatness. I know people don’t usually talk that way, but I want to be one of the greats. I’m inspired by the greats,” he said. “I’m inspired by Daniel Day-Lewis, Marlon Brando and Viola Davis and I’m inspired by Michael Jordan and Michael Phelps and I want to be there.”
Next, Jordan will be nominated for an Academy Award on March 15 for Best Actor. This is also his first Oscar nomination.
Shortly after Jordan found out he had scored a nomination, he spoke to him THR About what recognition means to him and who was the first person he called.
“My mum was my first call. It was amazing. A lot of tears and the reason I was in this industry and why I was acting at all – why this was just an idea. Talking to the woman who started it all first means the world,” he said.
He also shared his reaction to Sinners Being the most nominated film of all time with 16 nominations. “It’s really a testament to the movie as a whole and all the parts involved and the people who went to see this movie and saw it,” Jordan said. “It meant something to them and they felt something — to see how that resonated throughout the year with people, man.”
The 32nd Annual Actor’s Awards Gala was held at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles with Kristen Bell as host. See the full list of 2026 Actor Awards winners here and all the red carpet arrivals here.
