SAG Awards: Barbra Streisand’s Life Achievement Speech is Movie Magic

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Everyone will be bringing Barbra Streisand flowers for this achievement. 

At the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards, the multihyphenate was awarded with its Life Achievement Award Feb. 24. For the occasion, the union recruited both Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper to review Barbra’s illustrious, 60-year career. (See all of the night’s winners here.)

“I remember dreaming of being an actress as a teenager sitting in my bed in Brooklyn with a pint of coffee ice cream, and a movie magazine,” the Funny Girl star reminisced while holding her trophy. “I didn’t like reality. I wanted to be in the movies. Even though I knew I didn’t look like the other women. My mother said you better learn to type but I didn’t listen, and somehow, some way, it all came true.”

And while remembering those who helped her early in her career—including director William Wyler and cinematographer Howard Stroud, who she said had “no problem with a young woman who had opinions”—Barbra reflected on the ways her career has personally shaped her. 

“I never went to college. I always thought acting was my education,” Barbra, whose husband James Brolin smiled on from the crowd, continued. “It’s really a privilege to be part of this profession. I can’t help but think back to the people who built this industry. They were dreamers, too, like all of us here tonight.”

The Hollywood legend also took a moment to thank those in the room with her, and the many other performers beyond, for their work. 

“I’d like to thank SAG-AFTRA, for this fabulous honor,” she added, “and to say to my fellow actors, and directors, I’ve loved working with you, playing with you, and inhabiting that magical world. And most of all, I want to thank you for giving me so much joy, just watching you onscreen. Thank you for that.”

Ahead of the presentation, the Guild shared a moving compilation of the EGOT winner’s many onscreen performances, including her role as Fanny Brice in 1968’s Funny Girl which earned the actress an Academy Award.

Matt Winkelmeyer / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

For her big onstage honor, the 81-year-old donned an elegant ensemble, composed of a matching black velvet blazer and beret, embroidered with golden sequins. Wirth this accomplishment, Barbra joins an impressive list of former honorees, including Sally FieldHelen MirrenRobert De NiroJulie AndrewsClint Eastwood, and Sidney Poitier.

Barbra is in good company at this year’s ceremony, too, with the impressive list of nominees across the film and television categories. 

Mark Davis / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Heading into the evening, Barbie and Oppenheimer earned the most nominations in the film categories with individual nods for Ryan GoslingMargot RobbieCillian MurphyRobert Downey Jr. and Emily Blunt.

On the TV side, Succession‘s Sarah SnookKieran CulkinMatthew MacFadyen and Brian CoxTed Lasso‘s Brett Goldstein and Hannah Waddingham and The Bear‘s Ayo Edibiri and Jeremy Allen White all earned nominations.

To see which stars are walking away from the 2024 SAG Awards winners, keep reading. 

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso

Bill Hader, Barry

Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear

Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso

WINNER: Jeremy Allen White, The Bear

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary

WINNER: Ayo Edebiri, The Bear

Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

Uzo Aduba, Painkiller

Kathryn Hahn, Tiny Beautiful Things

Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry

Bel Powley, A Small Light

WINNER: Ali Wong, Beef

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers

Jon Hamm, Fargo

David Oyelowo, Lawmen: Bass Reeves

Tony Shalhoub, Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie

WINNER: Steven Yeun, Beef

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction

Willem Dafoe, Poor Things

Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon

WINNER: Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer

Ryan Gosling, Barbie

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer

Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple

Penélope Cruz, Ferrari

Jodie Foster, Nyad

WINNER: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Bradley Cooper, Maestro

Colman Domingo, Rustin

Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers

WINNER: Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer

Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Annette Bening, Nyad

WINNER: Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon

Carey Mulligan, Maestro

Margot Robbie, Barbie

Emma Stone, Poor Things

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Brian Cox, Succession

Billy Crudup, The Morning Show

Kieran Culkin, Succession

Matthew MacFadyen, Succession

WINNER: Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show

WINNER: Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown

Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us

Keri Russell, The Diplomat

Sarah Snook, Succession

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

The Crown

The Gilded Age

The Last of Us

The Morning Show

WINNER: Succession

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary

Barry

WINNER: The Bear

Only Murders in the Building

Ted Lasso

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

American Fiction

Barbie

The Color Purple

Killers of the Flower Moon

WINNER: Oppenheimer

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