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LOS ANGELES — The atmosphere was electric as the cast of “Conclave” made their way down the steps to backstage at the Shrine Auditorium, greeted by enthusiastic applause from the staff and crew attending the Screen Actors Guild Awards. This celebration came right after a significant round of cheers from the audience in the ballroom, acknowledging the star-studded ensemble.
Prominent figures like Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini, and John Lithgow carried enough star power to make the moment special, but their joy was amplified by the presence of Harrison Ford, who had just awarded them the coveted Best Ensemble prize, the evening’s most prestigious accolade. As they walked through the backend hall, a reporter trailed them, capturing their celebratory moments.
When a photographer shouted for Ford to join the “Conclave” cast for a quick photo, he politely declined and instead walked backward toward the stage to give them their moment. SAG staff attempted to guide the group to their next obligation, but they halted briefly when Rossellini realized she needed to retrieve her purse from the ballroom. Lithgow joined her to bring his wife back as well.
In the midst of this whirlwind, Jamie Lee Curtis made her exuberant entrance, showering the group with congratulations and kisses. Fiennes momentarily stepped away and bumped into Ariana Grande, who noted that her cast from “Wicked” had been competing against “Conclave.” “Yay, congratulations!” she exclaimed, excitement evident in her voice. She went on to introduce Fiennes to her date, Ethan Slater from Broadway’s “Spongebob SquarePants.”
As they moved on, they reached a station where the actual SAG statuettes awaited, as the ones presented on stage are merely props. Jane Fonda, distinguished for receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, approached the group, playfully wondering if they were “just hanging out at the bar.” Fiennes eagerly responded that he was waiting for her, and he took a moment to commend her powerful political speech during the ceremony. “You nailed it,” he praised, highlighting that she articulated sentiments many had been hesitant to voice.
Rossellini rejoined them, warmly embracing Fonda and introducing her to fellow “Conclave” cast member Sergio Castellitto, who portrayed the vaping Cardinal Tedesco in the film. “He was the conservative,” Rossellini pointed out, to which Castellitto humorously added, “I was the villain!”
Shortly after, Timothée Chalamet, who earned the Best Male Actor award for “A Complete Unknown,” arrived to collect his own statuette. Fiennes excitedly called out to him, and Chalamet responded with enthusiasm, expressing his anticipation to see his fellow actors. Both “Conclave” and Chalamet’s victories shook up the Oscar predictions just a week ahead of the awards, especially as Fiennes, Rossellini, and Chalamet are also nominated. The anticipated front-runner, “Anora,” had surprisingly been overlooked.
Lithgow returned to the group as Chalamet greeted him, jokingly remarking, “Hey John, not bad eh?” A photographer then suggested Lithgow pose with his award, and he humorously displayed three fingers to signify this was his third SAG win, adding with a grin, “I don’t want to boast, but…” as he shrugged at the reporter.
Moving on, the cast signed show posters before heading to the media area for their photo session. In the moments leading to the photos, many actors shared anecdotes about the weight of the SAG statuette—Culkin even made that theme a focal point in his acceptance speech. While waiting, Fiennes did some arm presses with his award, and Lithgow amusedly held his triumphantly above his head while photographers captured the moment. Near the end of the night, Lithgow’s wife, Mary Yeager, sought refuge on a bench, clearly ready for a break after such a lively evening.
The group then participated in a news conference, taking virtual questions from reporters before transitioning to the official after-party, where they would have their trophies engraved. Before departing, Lithgow took time to pose with local firefighters who had bravely battled the recent Los Angeles wildfires, acknowledging them with applause as they received a warm welcome at the ceremony.
The firefighters themselves enjoyed mingling throughout the night, making their own rounds for photos. During a break in the telecast, they approached Ford and Jeff Goldblum, who were in conversation, and later sought out Grande and her cast, likely aiming to impress their kids with star-studded snapshots. They inevitably gravitated back to Ford, who welcomed the opportunity to engage with them further before capturing a photo together.
The SAG Awards, being fundamentally a union meeting, served as a platform to rally support for striking colleagues involved in video game production, with reminders circulated through fliers, videos, and announcements from leadership. Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland emphasized the necessity for legislation that would place restrictions on the utilization of artificial intelligence in mimicking actors’ performances, humorously noting the presence of some of the most “deep-faked” individuals in the crowd, highlighting the ongoing conversation about ethics in the industry.
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