‘Oppenheimer' Steamrolls Toward Oscars with SAG Award Wins

Cast members of Oppenheimer pose with the award Cast in a Motion Picture at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Cast members of Oppenheimer pose with the award Cast in a Motion Picture at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Blake
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‘Oppenheimer' Steamrolls Toward Oscars with SAG Award Wins

Cast members of Oppenheimer pose with the award Cast in a Motion Picture at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Cast members of Oppenheimer pose with the award Cast in a Motion Picture at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Historical epic "Oppenheimer" picked up more prizes on Saturday at Hollywood's Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, bolstering the movie's chances to score the best picture trophy at next month's Oscars. The film about the race to build the first atomic bomb took the top honor - best movie cast - handed out by members of the SAG-AFTRA actors union at a red-carpet ceremony in Los Angeles.

Cillian Murphy, who played scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, won best movie actor, and co-star Robert Downey Jr. best supporting actor.
Irish actor Murphy said he took up the profession after trying to make a career as a musician and often felt like an "interloper."
"This is extremely special to me because it comes from you guys," Murphy told his fellow actors as he accepted his award.
SAG-AFTRA's choices are closely watched because actors form the largest group of voters for the Academy Awards, the film industry's top prizes.
At the moment "Oppenheimer" appears unstoppable. Director Christopher Nolan's drama already has claimed trophies at the Golden Globes, the British Academy Film Awards and other ceremonies. Honors from Producers Guild of America, another key predictor of Oscars success, will be announced on Sunday.



Charli XCX, Lola Young and Wham's 'Last Christmas' Get Ivor Awards Nods

Charli XCX poses as she arrives for the BRIT Awards at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, March 1, 2025. (Reuters)
Charli XCX poses as she arrives for the BRIT Awards at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, March 1, 2025. (Reuters)
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Charli XCX, Lola Young and Wham's 'Last Christmas' Get Ivor Awards Nods

Charli XCX poses as she arrives for the BRIT Awards at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, March 1, 2025. (Reuters)
Charli XCX poses as she arrives for the BRIT Awards at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, March 1, 2025. (Reuters)

Charli XCX's hit album "Brat" and Wham!'s perennial festive hit "Last Christmas" are among the musical works nominated at next month's Ivors, Britain's annual awards honoring songwriters and screen composers.

Lola Young was in the lead on Wednesday with three nominations, her first from the Ivors Academy. They included one for rising star, while her single "Messy" was among the contenders for best song musically and lyrically.

Her record "This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway" is nominated for best album, alongside Charli XCX's "Brat", which inspired a cultural phenomenon last year, and singer Jordan Rakei's "The Loop".

Further nominations went to rappers Ghetts and Berwyn for their albums "On Purpose, With Purpose" and "Who Am I" respectively.

Wham's "Last Christmas", which was released in 1984 but regularly returns to the UK charts during the festive season, is nominated in the most performed work category. Its writer, late singer George Michael was last nominated at the Ivors 20 years ago.

Also nominated are Dua Lipa's "Houdini", Myles Smith's "Stargazing" and "Prada" by Casso, Raye and D-Block Europe. Harry Styles' 2022 "As It Was", nominated for a third year running, completes the most performed work category list.

After winning songwriter of the year at last year's Ivors, Raye is nominated for best song musically and lyrically for her single "Genesis". Also nominated in that category are "Child of Mine" by Laura Marling, "In the Modern World" by Fontaines D.C. and Orla Gartland's "Mine".

Best contemporary song contenders are Ghetts' "Double Standards (feat. Sampha)", Pa Salieu's "Allergy", Jade's "Angel of My Dreams", Sans Soucis' "Circumnavigating Georgia" and Bashy's "How Black Men Lose Their Smile".

Last month, organizers said Irish rockers U2 would receive the Ivors Academy Fellowship, the UK-based association's highest honor, at this year's awards, their 70th edition.

Named after the early 20th century Welsh composer, actor and entertainer Ivor Novello, the Ivor Awards were first handed out in 1956. This year's ceremony will be held on May 22 in London.