Hollywood’s elite were out in force last night as the newly-named Actor Awards celebrated the best of film and television in the past year.

On the cinematic front, the period horror Sinners scored two crucial wins including the prestigious Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture accolade to keep itself in contention for Oscar recognition later this month.

The film, which centres on two Mississippi twin brothers and their fight to survive a great evil in their hometown, saw off current Best Picture frontrunner One Battle After Another to land the top prize.

It was a significant victory for Sinners after seeing its Oscar hopes dampened by key losses at the Producers Guild Awards and last weekend’s EE BAFTA Film Awards.

More unexpectedly, central star Michael B. Jordan scored a surprise win in the Leading Male Actor category for his dual role as Mississippi twins Elijah “Smoke” Moore and Elias “Stack” Moore.

Having prevailed over current Oscar frontrunner Timothée Chalamet, a stunned Jordan said:

“Everybody that had something to do with this movie, you gave us your time and your talents and vulnerability and allowed me to do my best work.”

Elsewhere, Jessie Buckley eased her way to another awards win after taking home the Leading Female Actor gong for her powerful performance as Agnes Shakespeare in the historical drama Hamnet.

The Irish star paid tribute her co-star Emily Watson, and later added: “To get to work with my heart in my hand and stand beside my brilliant daring friends who show me their heart, I mean what a way to spend a life, thank you.”

Meanwhile, veteran performer Amy Madigan gave her Oscar hopes a boost after surprisingly clinching the Supporting Female Actor prize for her lauded turn as eccentric witch Gladys in the horror Weapons.

“I’m overwhelmed and so happy,” she added. “I wasn’t expecting this, but it does really mean a lot to me from my peers.”

Despite coming into the ceremony as the current Oscar frontrunner, the countercultural epic One Battle After Another could only manage one win as absent cast member Sean Penn landed the Supporting Male Actor accolade for his role as the sinister Col. Steven J. Lockjaw.

Prior to the start of the awards, the action-thriller sequel Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning saw off competition from the likes of F1 and Sinners to secure the Outstanding Stunt Ensemble award.

Finally, Hollywood legend Harrison Ford was the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in film and television across six decades with notable roles including American Graffiti (1973), the Star Wars series (1977-2019), Apocalypse Now (1979), the Indiana Jones series (1981-2023), Blade Runner (1982), Witness (1985), Working Girl (1988), Patriot Games (1992), The Fugitive (1993), Clear and Present Danger (1994), Air Force One (1997), Blade Runner 2049 (2017) and Shrinking (2023-).

A humble Ford said:

“Being able to deliver the work we create together to an audience is an honour and a privilege. And because of that privilege, I’ve come to know myself.

“This is a tough business to get into. In my case it’s been a tough business to get out of, thank god, because I love what I do.”

The full list of film winners are…

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
SINNERS

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Jessie Buckley, HAMNET

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Michael B. Jordan, SINNERS

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Amy Madigan, WEAPONS

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Sean Penn, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

OUTSTANDING ACTION PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING

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Over in the television fields, Apple TV’s The Studio produced another fine showing with three key wins which included a posthumous accolade for the late Catherine O’Hara.

After her tragic passing in January, the Canadian actress and comedian was honoured with the Female Actor (Comedy) gong for her swansong turn as seasoned studio head Patty Leigh in the Hollywood satire.

Accepting the award on her behalf, co-star and co-creator Seth Rogen paid tribute to O’Hara saying:

“She really showed that you can be a genius, and be kind, and one of those things does not have to come at the expense of the other.”

Rogen himself eased his way to victory in the Male Actor (Comedy) category for his performance as overburdened studio executive Matt Remick, while the series landed the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series award ahead of the likes of Abbott Elementary, Hacks, and last year’s winner Only Murders in the Building.

Elsewhere, the HBO Max medical drama The Pitt added another two accolades to its awards mantelpiece with victory in the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Drama Series field, while central star Noah Wyle clinched the Male Actor (Drama) prize for his lauded role as seasoned physician Michael “Robby” Robinavitch.

One of the more unexpected wins on the night came in the Female Actor (Drama) category, as Keri Russell saw off the much-fancied Rhea Seehorn to win the gong for her U.S. ambassador Katherine “Kate” Wyler in Netflix’s The Diplomat.

Meanwhile, an absent Owen Cooper overcame competition from co-star Stephen Graham to land the Male Actor (Television Movie or Limited Series) award for his breakthrough turn as teenage killer Jamie Miller in the acclaimed Netflix miniseries Adolescence.

However, fellow cast member Erin Doherty failed to add to her recent successes at the Emmys and Golden Globes, as the Female Actor (Television Movie or Limited Series) prize was awarded to Michelle Williams for her powerful portrayal of cancer-stricken podcaster Molly Kochan in FX’s Dying for Sex.

The full list of television winners are…

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
THE PITT

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Keri Russell, THE DIPLOMAT

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Noah Wyle, THE PITT

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
THE STUDIO

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Catherine O’Hara, THE STUDIO

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Seth Rogen, THE STUDIO

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
Michelle Williams, DYING FOR SEX

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
Owen Cooper, ADOLESCENCE

OUTSTANDING ACTION PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A TELEVISION SERIES
THE LAST OF US