Best SAG Award Show Moments of All Time: PHOTOS
One of the biggest awards shows in the entertainment world is obviously the Screen Actor’s Guild Awards, better known as the SAG Awards. So, of course, it’s a night of memorable and exciting moments, both on the stage and on the red carpet.
Every year, since the SAG Awards started in 1994, there have been some incredible moments, from the speeches to the looks to the shenanigans happening in between. And, sure enough, the 2025 SAGs were no different.
In honor of the show, we’re taking a look back. From viral co-star reunions to showstopping looks that people still talk about decades later, we’ve compiled the biggest moments at the SAG Awards over the years.
Check out the most memorable SAG Awards moments through the years:
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Jane Fonda Leaves the Room Speechless (2025)
Jane Fonda wowed viewers when she took the stage at the 2025 SAG Awards to accept her Lifetime Achievement Award. In it, she looked back at her career, talked about the importance of unions and reflected on how art can inspire empathy.
“While you may hate the behavior of your character, you have to understand and empathize with the traumatized person you’re playing, right?” Fonda said. “I’m thinking Sebastian Stan in The Apprentice. Make no mistake, empathy is not weak or woke and by the way, woke just means you give a damn about other people.”
“Back to empathy, a whole lot of people are going to be really hurt by what is happening, what is coming our way,” she continued. “And even if they’re of a different political persuasion we need to call upon our empathy and not judge but listen from our hearts and welcome them into our tent because we are going to need a big tent to resist successfully what’s coming at us.”
“We mustn’t, for a moment, kid ourselves about what is happening,” she said at the end of her speech. “This is big-time serious, folks. Let’s be brave. We must not isolate. We must stay in community. We must help the vulnerable. We must find ways to project an inspiriting vision of the future.”
Kristen Bell Recreates ‘Frozen’ (2025)
At the 2025 SAG Awards, host Kristen Bell recreated her Frozen song “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” into “Do You Want to Be an Actor?”
As she sang, the screen behind her compiled some of the nominees’ first roles. Among them was Jodie Foster in a Coppertone ad, Jason Segel as “watermelon guy,” a toddler Kieran Culkin in a Pepsi ad, Keri Russell in the Mickey Mouse Club, and so on. The moment was both hilarious and so heartwarming.
The Iconic ‘The Devil Wears Prada Reunion’ (2024)
Fans of The Devil Wears Prada were quite literally freaking out when the show’s three stars, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep and Anna Hathaway reunited onstage at the 2024 SAG Awards.
“It’s an age-old question really, where does the character end and the actor begin?” Streep began. “Well, as we’ve just seen Meryl and Miranda Priestly are sort of like twins, right?” Blunt then chimed in.
“I don’t think I’m anything like Miranda Priestly,” Streep responded. Then, in a move only Priestly would pull off, Hathaway said, “No, no, that wasn’t a question.” Looks like Streep got a taste of her own medicine.
Jenna Ortega & Aubrey Plaza’s Twin Moment (2023)
Before the 2023 SAG Awards, fans might not have noticed just how similar Jenna Ortega and Aubrey Plaza could be. But when they hit the stage and stared off into the crowd, it was like we were seeing double.
“I don’t know why they paired us up together,” Plaza said first. “I know, we have nothing in common,” the Wednesday star replied.
“We should find the people who did this,” Plaza said, before the two actors recited in unison, “And curse their families and watch as misfortune follows their bloodline for the next seven generations.”
“Okay, I see it now,” Plaza joked.
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper’s Viral Embrace (2022)
After Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s undeniable chemistry in A Star is Born ignited rumors that the pair had a fling on set back in 2018, their reunion 4 years later did little to quell the speculation.
A brief embrace at the 2022 SAG Awards relit all the affair rumors once again, and people were losing it.
Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston’s Reunion (2020)
Back in 2020, the internet was set on fire when exes Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston briefly reunited backstage. Pitt congratulated Aniston on her big win and a video of him watching her speech lovingly also went viral.
Nicole Kidman Claps Back at Ageism (2018)
After Nicole Kidman won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie for Big Little Lies, she clapped back at all the ageism in Hollywood during her speech. She said, “How wonderful it is that our careers today can go beyond 40 years old.”
Only Women Presenters (2018)
In 2018, the SAG Awards had all female presenters and focused on movements like #MeToo and Time’s Up. Plus, they all looked incredible on stage too!
Kate Hudson & Goldie Hawn Presented Together (2018)
We still love the sweet mother-daughter moment back in 2018 when Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson presented together.
Kristen Bell Was the First Ever Host (2018)
Back in 2018, Kristen Bell was tapped as the first ever host of the SAG Awards and everyone loved her as the host!
Winona Ryder’s Expressions (2017)
Chances are, you remember Winona Ryder’s facial expressions on stage while the cast of Stranger Things accepted their award back in 2017. There were many memes made about it, along with a string of speculative statements about why she had such expressive reactions to nothing on stage.
Simon Helberg & Jocelyn Towne Took a Stand (2017)
The Big Bang Theory star Simon Helberg and his wife Jocelyn Towne made a statement in response to former US President Donald Trump’s Muslim Ban in 2017. On the carpet, Helberg held a sign that said “Refugees Welcome” and Towne had the words “Let Them In” written on her chest.
Idris Elba Made Awards History (2016)
Back in 2016, Idris Elba made SAG Awards history by being the first male to win two individual SAG Awards in one night.
He won the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Award for his role in Beasts of No Nation and the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for his role in Luther.
Leonardo Dicaprio & Kate Winslet’s Reunion (2016)
At the 2016 SAG Awards, Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet had a mini Titanic reunion on the red carpet, and then again when DiCaprio won his award when Winsley went to hug him.
Carol Burnett’s UGG Slippers (2016)
During the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, this picture of Carol Burnett wearing UGG slippers went viral, and it reminded everyone that comfort is key.
Carrie Fisher Presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Her Mom Debbie Reynolds (2015)
Back in 2015, a year before both passed away, Carrie Fisher presented her mother Debbie Reynolds with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Not only was my grandmother her mother, she is the grandmother to my alleged daughter,” Fisher joked in her speech. “It also turns out that we’re neighbors. And, as if all this weren’t enough, she’s also my mother.”
Cuba Gooding Jr Interrupted Ben Affleck (2014)
Back in 2014, Ben Affleck was taken aback when Cuba Gooding Jr rushed the stage during his ending remarks. For those who need a refresher, Gooding ran to the microphone, put his arm around Affleck, and shouted a salute to Martin Luther King Jr for his upcoming birthday.
Sarah Jessica Parker’s Tube Top (2001)
Sarah Jessica Parker’s two-piece Prada look turned heads, especially for the sparkling tube top that wasn’t a big thing to wear at the time on the SAG red carpet. Can you say iconic?
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