The 2021 Oscar race is finally starting to reach its thrilling climax, despite the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last night saw the Screen Actors Guild recognise the best of film and television in yet another virtual ceremony that provided a mixed bag of overall winners.

On the cinematic side of things, the factual drama The Trial of the Chicago 7 revived its hopes of Oscar success after clinching the coveted Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture gong.

The film, which follows a group of anti–Vietnam War protesters charged with conspiracy at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, overcame strong competition from the likes of Minari and One Night in Miami… to put some pressure on current Best Picture frontrunner Nomadland.

There was double success for the music-based drama Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, as the late Chadwick Boseman was honoured with the Leading Male Actor prize for his swansong performance as trumpet player Levee Green.

His widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, accepted the award and shared a powerful quote from her late husband:

“If you see the world unbalanced, be a crusader that pushes heavily on the see-saw of the mind.”

As things stand, Boseman is now poised to become only the third actor in Oscar history to win a posthumous Academy Award.

In contrast, co-star Viola Davis pulled off a more surprising win in the Leading Female Actor field, as she overcame stern competition from Frances McDormand (Nomadland) and Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman) to prevail for her turn as blues singer Ma Rainey.

This key victory gives Davis a fighting chance of becoming only the second non-white actress to win Best Actress at the Academy Awards.

Elsewhere, British star Daniel Kaluuya picked up another Best Supporting Actor prize for his portrayal of Black Panther activist Fred Hampton in the factual drama Judas and the Black Messiah.

A welcoming quartet of diverse acting winners was completed by Korean veteran Yuh-jung Youn, as she clinched Best Supporting Actress for her role as caring grandmother Soon-ja in the family drama Minari.

It is the first time in SAG history that all four individual film acting categories have been won by people of colour.

Earlier in the evening, the comic-book blockbuster Wonder Woman 1984 picked up the Outstanding Stunt Ensemble award ahead of the likes of Mulan and News of the World.

The full list of SAG (film) winners are…

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Viola Davis, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Chadwick Boseman, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Yuh-jung Youn, MINARI

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Daniel Kaluuya, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH

OUTSTANDING ACTION PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
WONDER WOMAN 1984

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In the television categories, Netflix’s The Crown and Pop TV’s Schitt’s Creek both continued their dominant run throughout awards season with two wins apiece.

In the drama fields, The Crown overcame stern competition from the likes of Better Call Saul, Bridgerton and Ozark to scoop the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series accolade.

Additionally, Gillian Anderson defeated co-stars Olivia Colman and Emma Corrin to take home Female Actor (Drama) for her portrayal of British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in the historical series.

Elsewhere, fellow Netflix series Ozark secured a key award as Jason Bateman clinched the Male Actor (Drama) prize for his returning role as money launderer Marty Byrde in the crime drama.

 

Meanwhile, the final series of Schitt’s Creek prevailed twice, with a key win coming in the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series category.

Once again, beloved star Catherine O’Hara overcame co-star Annie Murphy to win another Female Actor (Comedy) gong for her swansong role as Moira Rose.

However, male co-stars Dan and Eugene Levy were unable to snare the Best Actor (Comedy) award, which was won once again by Jason Sudeikis for his star turn as folksy football coach Ted Lasso in Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso.

As with the Golden Globes, the acting winners in the limited fields brought a similar result, as Anya Taylor-Joy and Mark Ruffalo took the plaudits once again.

Taylor-Joy shrugged off competition from the likes of Cate Blanchett (Mrs. America) and Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You) to take home Female Actor (Television Movie or Limited Series) for her memorable turn as chess prodigy Beth Harmon in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit.

Meanwhile, Ruffalo was awarded the Male Actor (TV Movie/Limited Series) prize for his dual roles as siblings Dominick and Thomas Birdsey in HBO’s I Know This Much is True.

Finally, there was joy for The Mandalorian as the Star Wars spin-off nabbed the Outstanding Stunt Ensemble gong ahead of the likes of The Boys and Cobra Kai.

The full list of SAG (television) winners are…

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
THE CROWN

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Gillian Anderson, The Crown

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jason Bateman, OZARK

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
SCHITT’S CREEK

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Catherine O’Hara, SCHITT’S CREEK

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jason Sudeikis, TED LASSO

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
Anya Taylor-Joy, THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
Mark Ruffalo, I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE

OUTSTANDING ACTION PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A TELEVISION SERIES
THE MANDALORIAN