Farrell won the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series award for “The Penguin” at the 31st Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. The ceremony was live-streamed on Netflix on February 23, 2025, a day to be remembered for Farrell’s career.
There was also a lighter moment during the ceremony when Jamie Lee Curtis, presenting the honor, welcomed Farrell with a lighthearted joke: “The actor goes to the man who gave me COVID at the Golden Globes, Colin Farrell.” This was a nod to the 2023 Golden Globe Awards ceremony when both actors contracted COVID-19. Farrell, who accepted the award, grinned and declared, “Guilty as charged!” He then playfully redirected the blame elsewhere, crying, “But I got it from Brendan [Gleesson] first.” The moment underscored the camaraderie of the actors and was a comic respite in the proceedings.
The performance of Farrell in “The Penguin,” a film that pulls from the world of Matt Reeves’ 2022 “The Batman,” has earned great accolades. His retelling of this iconic villain proved just how versatile and committed he is as an actor. Farrell thanked his fellow nominees, the cast and crew of “The Penguin,” and took a chance to thank his family in an acceptance speech. For the first time, he openly thanked his sister, Claudine, for her friendly way of helping him as a producer in his career. He also spoke about being inspired by his sister Catherine and how much he adored his brother Eamon, his parents, and his sons James and Henry.
The 2025 SAG Awards were not only remembered for Farrell’s win but for other unexpected outcomes as well. Timothée Chalamet took home the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown,” a stunning upset that disrupted most Oscar predictions. Demi Moore was awarded the Best Female Actor award for her role in “The Substance,” and the ensemble of “Conclave” won the Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture award. Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña continued their winning streaks as well, winning supporting actor awards for “A Real Pain” and “Emilia Pérez,” respectively. Period drama “Shōgun” also made a huge splash, with four wins, including Best Male and Female Actor in a Drama Series.
The ceremony was not without incident. Technical glitches, including the slow sound, interrupted several speeches, including Jane Fonda’s little speech about receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. Fonda took the opportunity to address a couple of the social issues of the time, contributing to her long tradition of activism. Also noteworthy was the unavailability of many nominees; some were sick, showing that the COVID-19 pandemic still had some serious impact on the entertainment industry.
A slew of award-winning performances and prior nominations have paved the way for Farrell to win this award. He is a triple Golden Globe Award winner and an Oscar nominee, BAFTA nominee, and SAG Award nominee three times. His performances in “The Midnight Sky” and “The Lobster” have made him one exciting actor capable of giving a strong performance in any role he takes on.
The exchange also called back to the 2023 awards season when some stars such as Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Jamie Lee Curtis contracted COVID-19 after the Golden Globe Awards. It was a time when the insurmountable task of trying to strike a balance between pressing public health safety agendas felt so gratified for these endeavors.
Discussing his career and the significance of this award, Farrell described that acting is a team effort and that support for each other is invaluable among artists. He described that the interdependence of their work has the tendency to share with them common experiences, both good and bad. His gratitude for what his family had accomplished, particularly his sister Claudine’s career as a producer, became the unsung acts of the people behind the scenes who play a significant part in an artist’s life.
Even as the entertainment world struggles to keep pace with the evolving scenario, moments such as Farrell’s emotional speech and dialogue with Curtis give us a glimpse of the resilience and solidarity that define the brotherhood of the performers. These moments not only engage fans but also humanize people outside the act, bringing the performers and their audience closer in a deeper connection.
Colin Farrell’s 2025 SAG Award is a reflection of his dedication to his craft and to the group energy that fuels the business. As he continues to take on difficult and diverse roles, fans can look forward to seeing the expansion of his already notable career.