On Sunday, Kristen Bell graced the stage once again as the host of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, kicking off her opening monologue with a musical flourish. Addressing the assembled crowd, Bell delivered a heartfelt tribute to the creative souls present, all sharing the same aspiration—the dream to become an actor. "To everyone in this room, and I truly mean everyone, from the camera operators standing vigilant on either side to the writers lurking backstage, the director ensconced in the booth, and all the actors seated before me," she began. "Each one of us embarked on this journey as a child somewhere on this vast Earth, retiring to bed and arising each dawn with the unwavering belief, 'It's going to be me.' So, yes, Justin Timberlake owes us all a little something from that song. Keep an eye out for my email petition," she quipped.
Transitioning smoothly, Bell elucidated that the evening was dedicated to "honoring the actor's journey," before breaking into a whimsical rendition of "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" from Frozen, the Disney film where she starred as Anna. Her twist on the tune asked, "Do you want to be an actor?" Simultaneously, the screen came alive with throwback snapshots of actors such as Timothée Chalamet, Harrison Ford, Selena Gomez, Jodie Foster, Elle Fanning, and many more, showcasing their early days in the industry.
During her monologue, Bell also expressed gratitude to the Los Angeles firefighters who bravely battled the devastating wildfires of the past month. Later in the ceremony, she reunited with her Forgetting Sarah Marshall co-star Jason Segel, who recreated the iconic scene from the 2008 film where he emerges from the bathroom wrapped only in a towel, proclaiming, "I got a surprise for you," before dramatically unfurling the towel. Bell responded in jest, "That doesn't quite pack the same punch with a towel covering your pants."
Bell also delighted the audience by reprising her role as the enigmatic narrator of Gossip Girl, intoning, "Hey everyone, Gossip Girl here. A tip from my trusty source, Lainey86: Spotted at table 8, Jeff Goldblum with an insatiable appetite, and peeking behind the curtain reveals he savors his green eggs with ham. And who do we have here? None other than Timothée Chalamet, the not-so-lonely boy, tucking into a perfectly medium-rare steak au poivre, accompanied by broccoli. Leighton, take note, this isn't gossip; it's all about the culinary delights!" To this, Leighton Meester, who portrayed Blair Waldorf in the series, playfully replied, "I'm sorry, I'm just ravenous," and took a hearty bite out of her sandwich.
Sunday marked Bell's second stint as the host of the SAG Awards. Though nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in the romantic comedy series Nobody Wants This, she ultimately lost to Jean Smart of Hacks. The 31st annual SAG Awards unfolded at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles, with the festivities streaming live on Netflix. Catch a glimpse of the stars who graced the red carpet and peruse the winners list for this glittering affair.
