Sinners wins at Actor awards, setting up Oscar showdown

Michael B Jordan has won best male actor at the 32nd Actors Awards, upsetting category favourite Timoth?e Chalamet, and handing the 39-year-old Jordan the most significant prize of his acclaimed career.

The awards, formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, are one of the most closely watched Oscar precursors. Actors make up the largest slice of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and their choices at the Actor Awards often align.

Jordan's win, for his performance in Ryan Coogler's Sinners, was one of several surprises. Even Jordan looked shocked as the Shrine Auditorium audience in Los Angeles rose to its feet on Sunday night.

"I wasn't expecting this at all," said Jordan, who reflected on starting out as actor before he paused to appreciate the moment.

"Yeah, man, this is pretty cool."

As expected, Jessie Buckley won best female actor for her performance in Hamnet. But the other actor races have been harder to call. Sean Penn won best supporting male actor for One Battle After Another and Amy Madigan won best supporting female actor for Weapons.

Catherine O'Hara posthumously won best female actor in a comedy series for her performance as a movie executive in the showbiz satire The Studio. O'Hara died aged 71 on January 30 from a blood clot in the lungs. The crowd stood in a standing ovation after she was announced as the winner.

Seth Rogen, co-creator of The Studio, accepted the award on her behalf. He recalled a passionate collaborator who would, the night before a scene, invariably send a polite email with suggested rewrites. Rogen said O'Hara "showed that you could be a genius and you could be kind".

With two weeks to go until the Academy Awards, the 32nd Actor Awards were the final pre-Oscars showdown for One Battle After Another and Sinners.

The Actor Awards are one of the most closely watched Oscar precursors. Actors make up the largest slice of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the guild's choices often align.

The ceremony, presented by the actors guild SAG-AFTRA, was streamed live on Netflix. Kristen Bell, returning as host, kicked off the show on a light, song-and-dance note despite the war in Iran and entertainment industry upheaval.

The Actor Awards were the biggest Hollywood bash since Paramount reached an agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $US111 billion ($A156 billion). The merger, which awaits regulatory approval, sent shock waves through Hollywood. Netflix chief executive Ted Sarandos, whose company lost out to Paramount competing bid, walked the red carpet in jeans.

Before the ceremony began, the award for best stunt ensemble went to a Paramount release: Mission: Impossible ? The Final Reckoning. Among the TV awards, The Studio won for comedy series and The Pitt won for drama series. Individual winners included Keri Russell (The Diplomat), Rogen (The Studio), Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex), Owen Cooper (Adolescence) and Noah Wyle (The Pitt).

Harrison Ford was honoured with the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, presented with warm sarcasm by Woody Harrelson. The 83-year-old actor said he was humbled.

"I'm in a room with actors, many of whom are here because they've been nominated to receive a prize for their amazing work, while I'm here to receive a prize for being alive," said Ford, who called it "the half-point" of his career.

Ford teared up for much of his speech, reflecting on a career that he noted was "not an overnight success". He called the award "very encouraging".

"I'm indeed a lucky guy," Ford said.

"Lucky to have found my people. Lucky to have work that challenges me. Lucky to still be doing it."