Wicked Leads Acting Awards Race But Jolie Snubbed: The 2025 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards nominations have revealed a series of surprising and expected choices, with the Broadway-originating musical Wicked leading the pack with five nominations. Among those nominated were the show’s stars Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jonathan Bailey, all of whom received individual nods for their standout performances.
While Wicked dominated the film nominations, it was the inclusion of Pamela Anderson in the Best Actress category for The Last Showgirl that sent shockwaves through the awards season. Despite the film’s critical acclaim, Anderson’s nod came as a surprise, considering she was not widely viewed as a frontrunner in a highly competitive field.
The Wicked nominations were a clear highlight of the year’s awards circuit, with the musical capturing the attention of SAG voters. The film, an origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West, has become a major contender in the 2025 awards season, thanks to its star-studded performances and a captivating story. Ariana Grande, who portrays Glinda the Good Witch, received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress, while Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, earned a nod for Best Actress.
Jonathan Bailey, cast as Fiyero, also secured a nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category. These nominations underscored Wicked‘s strong presence in the race for both the SAG Awards and the upcoming Oscars. However, Wicked’s dominance at the nominations wasn’t the only standout story. The Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, which earned four nominations, including a Best Actor nod for Timothée Chalamet, also emerged as a significant contender.
Chalamet’s portrayal of Dylan has captivated audiences, making him a favorite for awards in the coming months. While A Complete Unknown wasn’t as dominant as Wicked, its nominations proved that the film had struck a chord with SAG members, and it could potentially make a strong showing in future awards ceremonies. Meanwhile, Anora, a film about a New York stripper’s whirlwind romance with the son of a wealthy Russian, received three nominations, including one for Best Actress for Mikey Madison.
The film, which was praised for its gritty storytelling and dynamic performances, cemented Madison’s place as a rising star in Hollywood. Similarly, the musical Emilia Pérez, a drama about a drug lord who changes gender, garnered three nominations, showcasing its strong performances and compelling narrative. While Wicked and A Complete Unknown garnered significant attention, the Best Actress category was where the most surprises and upsets occurred.
One of the most notable omissions was that of Angelina Jolie, whose performance as opera singer Maria Callas in The Callas Legacy had garnered strong buzz heading into the nominations. Despite her impressive performance and the film’s high-profile release, Jolie failed to land a SAG nomination. This absence, coupled with her omission from the BAFTA longlist, raised questions about the momentum of her campaign for the upcoming Oscars.
It appears that her performance might not have resonated as strongly with SAG voters as it did with other critics and pundits, putting her Oscar prospects in doubt. Other notable snubs in the Best Actress category included Nicole Kidman, for her role in Babygirl, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste, for Hard Truths. Kidman’s performance, which had been highly anticipated after her Golden Globe nomination, failed to make an impact in the competitive field.
Similarly, Fernanda Torres, who won a Golden Globe for her role in I’m Still Here, did not secure a nomination from SAG, leading some to speculate whether her performance was losing momentum in the race for the Oscars. While these omissions were disappointing to some, the inclusion of Pamela Anderson in the Best Actress category was arguably the most surprising moment of the nominations.
Anderson, best known for her role in Baywatch, was nominated for The Last Showgirl, a film in which she portrays an aging Las Vegas dancer struggling to find work after her show is abruptly shut down. Anderson’s vulnerable and powerful portrayal was widely praised, and the nomination, despite being unexpected, was seen as a well-deserved recognition of her acting talent.
The film, while solid, had not been considered a major contender in the category, and Anderson’s nod came as a testament to her growth as an actress and her ability to take on challenging and complex roles. The Best Supporting Actress category also featured some surprises, with Jamie Lee Curtis receiving a nomination for her role in The Last Showgirl. Curtis’s performance, like Anderson’s, was praised for its emotional depth, and her nomination further solidified the film’s standing in the awards race.
Danielle Deadwyler also earned a nomination for her performance in The Piano Lesson, a film that had been gaining momentum in recent weeks. Deadwyler’s nomination was a boost to her awards campaign, ensuring that her performance would remain in contention for future accolades. On the other hand, there were several high-profile omissions in the supporting categories, including Isabella Rossellini for Conclave and Margaret Qualley for The Substance.
Rossellini, who had been considered a strong contender in the race for the Oscars, failed to secure a nomination despite earning recognition at the Golden Globes. Similarly, Qualley, who had garnered praise for her role in The Substance, was notably absent from the SAG nominations, suggesting that her awards campaign might be losing steam.
The biggest shock of the Supporting Actor category was the absence of Denzel Washington for his role in Gladiator II, a film that had generated significant buzz in the awards season. Washington’s omission raised eyebrows, especially given his star power and the film’s strong reception. Despite this, other contenders like Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain and Yura Borisov for Anora made the cut, proving that the race for Best Supporting Actor remains highly competitive.
Despite the surprises and snubs, the Leading Actor category played out as expected, with all five of the predicted Oscar nominees securing nominations at SAG. This stability in the lead actor race helped solidify the frontrunners for the upcoming awards season. The Supporting Actor category, however, proved to be more unpredictable, with Denzel Washington’s absence and the strong presence of up-and-coming actors like Kieran Culkin and Yura Borisov.
In the realm of television, Shogun emerged as the most-nominated series with five nominations, a testament to its success at the Golden Globes and Emmys. Other top TV contenders included The Bear, which garnered four nominations, and Bridgerton, which remained a strong presence in the drama series categories.
As the awards season heats up, the SAG Awards will be an important indicator of who is likely to secure nominations at the Oscars. The ceremony, scheduled for February 23, 2025, will bring together the best and brightest of both film and television to celebrate the achievements of actors worldwide. With surprises, snubs, and strong performances throughout the nominations, this year’s SAG Awards promises to be a thrilling precursor to the highly anticipated Academy Awards.
