Michael B. Jordan walked away with the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role at the 2026 Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards, held on Sunday March 1 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The win came as a major upset, with Jordan beating the presumptive favourite of the season, Timothée Chalamet, who had been widely expected to take the prize for his role in Marty Supreme.
Jordan earned the award for his dual portrayal of twin brothers Stack and Smoke in Ryan Coogler’s supernatural thriller Sinners, a performance that required him to inhabit two distinct characters simultaneously across a single film.
The award was presented by Viola Davis, who could not contain her excitement when she read Jordan’s name from the envelope. Jordan, visibly stunned, hugged his mother before taking the stage.
“I wasn’t expecting this at all,” he said from the podium. “I’m so honored and privileged to be nominated in categories with people and actors and humans that I love. This ride has been unbelievable. Thank you for welcoming me in and making me feel seen.”
The most emotional moment of his speech came when he turned to acknowledge his mother. “Mom, thank you for driving me back and forth to New York when we didn’t have enough money to go through the Holland Tunnel when we were looking for gas money and parking spaces,” he said.
He also thanked director Ryan Coogler for creating a safe space that allowed him to be fearless and find the truth in his performance.
The night did not stop there. Jordan returned to the stage moments later alongside the entire Sinners cast as the film claimed the evening’s biggest prize Best Cast in a Motion Picture with Delroy Lindo delivering an emotional acceptance speech on behalf of the ensemble.
The double win marked Jordan’s first major solo acting award after previous losses at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards and BAFTAs this season, making the victory all the more meaningful.
Sinners has already made history as the most Oscar nominated film of all time, surpassing legendary titles including Titanic, All About Eve and La La Land. With the Academy Awards scheduled for March 15, Sunday’s result has dramatically shaken up the Best Actor race and given Jordan genuine momentum heading into Hollywood’s biggest night.
