Notable Omissions in SAG Nominations: From Angelina Jolie to Nicole Kidman
Following an unpredictable Golden Globe Awards ceremony, the upcoming Oscar race is becoming more defined.
This year’s nominees for the Screen Actors Guild awards were revealed on Wednesday, highlighting several surprising exclusions. Among those missing from the list are anticipated nominees like “The Brutalist,” “Sing Sing,” and “Nickel Boys” for the best cast category, which is SAG’s equivalent of the best picture award. Other stars such as Selena Gomez (“Emilia Pérez”), Margaret Qualley (“The Substance”), Jesse Eisenberg (“A Real Pain”), Natasha Lyonne (“His Three Daughters”), Denzel Washington (“Gladiator II”), Elle Fanning (“A Complete Unknown”), and Tilda Swinton (“The Room Next Door”) were also overlooked, despite receiving nominations from critics’ groups and other industry awards during the season.
The SAG nominations were announced quietly through a press release after the guild decided to cancel a live event due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles.
Here are more prominent figures who were left out of this year’s ceremony, which is set to stream live on Netflix on February 23 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Angelina Jolie
The renowned actress has energetically promoted her biopic “Maria” about Maria Callas, even though critics haven’t shown much enthusiasm for the film. After being overlooked by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts last week during the initial BAFTA voting, Jolie’s chances for an Oscar also faded further with SAG’s omission.
Zendaya
Zendaya showcases both resilience and sensitivity in “Challengers,” a steamy tennis drama directed by Luca Guadagnino. Although the “Euphoria” star has excelled in Q&As and actors’ discussions throughout the awards season, she unfortunately did not receive recognition from SAG following her impressive Golden Globes performance.
Nicole Kidman
Many believe Kidman gives one of her best performances in “Babygirl,” portraying a high-pressure CEO revealing her edgy side. However, the film’s erotic nature divided viewers and failed to make a significant impact at the Christmas box office, leading to the 17-time SAG nominee being overlooked this year.
Sebastian Stan
The Marvel actor recently took home a well-deserved award for best comedy actor at the Globes for his role in “A Different Man,” along with a nomination for best drama actor for the Donald Trump biopic “The Apprentice.” Yet, it was surprising to see him completely omitted from SAG nominations. Is the Trump film too controversial for most actors, or did both films split the votes? It seems likely that both factors played a role.
‘The Brutalist’
Despite “The Brutalist” being a lengthy 3½ hour film focusing on a post-war designer’s American journey, it garnered significant attention at the Golden Globes, winning best drama, and earning best actor for Adrien Brody and best director for Brady Corbet. However, only Brody received a nomination from SAG.
The SAG Awards did not recognize the cast for best ensemble, nor did it acknowledge Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones in the supporting categories, even though both were nominated for Golden Globes.
Selena Gomez
“Emilia Pérez” had a strong showing with three nominations, including best ensemble and a nod for Karla Sofía Gascón as best actress, as well as a supporting actress nomination for Zoe Saldaña, who won a Globe. However, Gomez was not nominated by SAG despite her earlier Globe nomination.
Hugh Grant
The charming British actor has turned heads this awards season thanks to his role in “Heretic,” where he plays a reclusive man who keeps Mormon missionaries captive. However, the film’s bizarre second half may have turned SAG voters away, resulting in Grant being snubbed despite his nominations at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice.
Stanley Tucci
The film “Conclave” has gained unexpected viral popularity and award recognition, notably for Ralph Fiennes. Though Tucci played a liberal cardinal in the film, he did not receive a SAG nomination for the dramatic piece.
Glen Powell
For nine months, the star of “Hit Man” has been winning hearts on his promotional tour alongside his family and dog. He received a best actor nomination at the Globes, but his luck dwindled when the SAG nominations were announced.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
We’ve been advocating for Jean-Baptiste all season, as she delivers a performance that is both funny and heartbreaking in Mike Leigh’s “Hard Truths.” This British actress has impressed critics, winning best actress awards from New York and Los Angeles groups, but her film has not gained much visibility before its January 10 release.
Fernanda Torres
The acclaimed Brazilian actress surprised many at the Golden Globes by winning best drama actress for “I’m Still Here,” defeating big names like Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet, and Nicole Kidman. Unfortunately, due to the film’s limited release scheduled for January 17, her remarkable performance remains largely unseen by U.S. audiences, leading to her omission from the SAG nominations.
Clarence Maclin and ‘Sing Sing’
Kieran Culkin has been making waves during this awards season with a standout performance in “A Real Pain.” We anticipated that Maclin might eclipse him with his down-to-earth role in “Sing Sing,” but after misses at both the SAG and Golden Globe nominations, the newcomer may struggle to stay in the running for supporting actor. The film also missed a nomination for best ensemble, receiving only one nod for Colman Domingo in best actor.
Kate Winslet
The war film “Lee” came and went in cinemas last fall, yet Winslet continues to promote this project passionately. Following her recognition on the Globe nominations and BAFTA’s long list, some speculated she could achieve the unexpected acclaim similar to Andrea Riseborough, who gained an Oscar nomination for the lesser-known film “To Leslie.” However, Winslet’s name was not found among this year’s SAG nominees.
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
We understand the marketing challenges for “Nickel Boys,” given its delicate subject matter and unique perspective, filmed predominantly through a first-person lens. Still, Amazon MGM Studios has remarkable room for improvement in promoting this film. After being overlooked last year for her role in “Origin,” Ellis-Taylor once again did not receive acknowledgment for her impactful performance in this film.
Kingsley Ben-Adir
In a year filled with subpar music biopics, “Bob Marley: One Love” stood out as a decent effort. Paramount attempted to reignite an Oscar campaign for Ben-Adir portraying the legendary reggae figure. Nevertheless, the film has all but faded from the memory of most voters since its release last February.
Felicity Jones
The talented British actress features in one of the season’s notable award contenders, “The Brutalist,” with her co-star Adrien Brody earning a SAG nomination for best actor. However, Jones appears only in the less popular second half of the lengthy 3½-hour film, potentially contributing to her omission from the nominations.
‘September 5′
The intense thriller has received positive reviews from critics after its debut at the Venice Film Festival, telling the story of the tragic events at the 1972 Munich Olympics from a journalist’s point of view. Unfortunately, the film has had a problematic release strategy, resulting in a drawn-out theatrical run, and it has not managed to make a significant impact with various awards organizations, including the SAG Awards.
‘Saturday Night’
Jason Reitman’s latest film appears to be a strong contender for the Oscars, showcasing an energetic behind-the-scenes perspective of “Saturday Night Live” and featuring an enthusiastic cast of emerging Hollywood talents such as Gabriel LaBelle, Cooper Hoffman, and Rachel Sennott. However, despite a sensational reception at the festival, the comedy quickly lost momentum after disappointing box office results and a lackluster performance in preliminary awards.