Michael B. Jordan scores surprise victory over DiCaprio, Chalamet at Actor Awards

Michael B. Jordan said he “feels the love” after scoring a surprise win at the 32nd annual Actor Awards on Sunday night.

The 39-year-old actor takes home the prize for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his dual performance as Smoke and Stack Moore in Sinners, the vampire horror hit directed by Ryan Coogler. 

The ceremony, held at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, airs live on Netflix.

Jordan appears visibly stunned as he accepts the trophy from presenter Viola Davis, drawing raucous applause from the audience.

“I don’t even know where to begin. I wasn’t expecting this at all,” he said, before acknowledging his fellow nominees: Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Jesse Plemons.

“I’m so honored and privileged to be nominated in categories with people and actors and humans that I love,” Jordan said. “This ride has been unbelievable. So thank you for welcoming me in and making me feel seen.”

The Black Panther star reflects on his early days in the industry, recalling when he first received his SAG-AFTRA card.

“That kid from Newark, Jersey is standing here right now,” he said, thanking his mother, Donna, for driving him back and forth to New York auditions. 

“We didn’t have enough money to go through the Holland Tunnel. We were looking for gas money, parking spaces.”

Jordan also praises Coogler, calling the filmmaker a longtime collaborator who creates space for artistic risk-taking.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do and to be fearless and to create a safe space for us to find the truth,” he said.

He goes on to salute his Sinners castmates, including Delroy Lindo, Wunmi Mosaku and Hailee Steinfeld. Later in the evening, the ensemble wins the ceremony’s top honor, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.