Hiroyuki Sanada Wins Outstanding Performance Award at 2025 SAG Awards

Image credits: Katie Yu/FX

The 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards have crowned this year's drama king, with Hiroyuki Sanada accepting the award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series for his role in Shōgun. Sanada, who played Lord Yoshii Toranaga in the series about 1600s feudal Japan, premiered in February 2024 to critical acclaim. His performance has already earned him an Emmy and a Golden Globe win this awards season, making history as the first Japanese actor to win outstanding actor in a drama series at the 2024 Emmy Awards.

Sanada was a first-time nominee this year, and his win is a significant milestone in his career. He was nominated alongside Tadanobu Asano, Jeff Bridges, Gary Oldman, and Eddie Redmayne, all of whom delivered outstanding performances in their respective drama series. Asano, who played Kashigi Yabushige in the critically acclaimed FX series Shōgun, also took home a trophy for best supporting actor in a TV series at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards. The show received four total nominations at this year's SAGs, including Asano and his costar Sanada's nominations in this category and a nod for Anna Sawai.

The 2025 SAG Awards also saw other notable nominations, including Outstanding Performance by an ensemble in a drama series for shows like Slow Horses and The Day of the Jackal. Gary Oldman's nomination for his performance in Slow Horses marks his fifth SAG nomination, and he previously took home a win at the show in 2018 for The Darkest Hour. Eddie Redmayne's nomination for The Day of the Jackal secured his seventh and eighth SAG nominations, with the show also earning a nod for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.

On the red carpet, Anna Sawai, who played Lady Mariko in Shōgun, delivered a stunning performance in a custom Armani Privé gown. The dress appeared to be a sharp red gown from the front but transformed into a luscious black fabric in the back, complete with a mesh panel and a deep slit on either side. Sawai's fashion sense has been making waves this awards season, with her previous appearances at the 2024 Emmy Awards and the 2025 Golden Globe Awards. She is nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series at the 2025 SAG Awards, alongside Keri Russell and Nicola Coughlan.

The 2025 SAG Awards have been a celebration of outstanding performances in the entertainment industry, with talented actors like Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, and Anna Sawai taking home top honors. The show has also highlighted the incredible work of ensemble casts, with nominations for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series. As the awards season continues, fans can expect to see more exciting performances and stunning red-carpet appearances from their favorite stars.