The 98th Academy Awards was held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and celebrated the best in International Cinema from 2025 onwards till date, with the greatest actors, filmmakers, and the motion picture industry coming together to identify those films that had the greatest impact on a global scale. There were many exciting award categories, but the two that received the most attention were Best Actor and Best Actress. These two awards highlight the way two actors’ performances captured the hearts (and eyes) of the world.
Michael B. Jordan Wins Best Actor award
Michael B. Jordan won the Best Actor award for his stunning performance in the film Sinners, winning—after numerous nominations in his career—the first Academy Award of his career, and solidifying himself as one of the most significant actors in Hollywood history.
In the movie, Sinners, Michael B. Jordan plays two twin brothers, Elijah “Smoke” Moore and Elias “Stack” Moore, whose portrayal of two completely different characters in one film received critical acclaim due to the two roles being performed so well with so much complexity and emotion. The double-pronged performance of these two completely separate characters provided the Academy Award voters with an example of Jordan’s incredible range and versatility and ultimately influenced their decision to select Jordan as the Best Actor Winner.
Jordan faced stiff competition for the award from Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke in Blue Moon, and Wagner Moura in The Secret Agent.
In his acceptance speech, Jordan thanked his family, fans, and collaborators as well as Ryan Coogler, with whom he has collaborated many times. Jordan joins a growing list of distinguished Black actors who have received the prestigious award. This indicates that Hollywood is making efforts to recognise a more diverse set of actors.
Jessie Buckley triumphed as the Best Actress
As of 2026, Jessie Buckley has received the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Hamnet. She gives an exceptional performance as Agnes, a woman suffering from the loss of her husband and struggling to cope with it, while trying to find a new normal and practice resilience.
Her ability to express both complicated feelings of sadness and longing was recognized by audiences and critics alike; additionally, her ability to deliver lines in such a skillful manner contributed to Hamnet becoming a hit movie—and ultimately, winning an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Jessie Buckley was awarded Best Actress for her work in The Grand Tour. Buckley won Best Actress by taking on many strong contenders, including Emma Stone (Bugonia), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue) and Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value).
This recognition of Jessie Buckley as an emerging artist with demonstrated ability to bring alive complex, layered characters, at the 98th Academy Awards, makes this her first win for an Academy Award!
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A Night to Remember for Film
The 98th Annual Academy Awards gave out 28 awards for film and television achievements across a wide range of film-related storytelling and artistic achievements. One Battle After Another received Best Picture and Best Director honours; Michael B. Jordan and Jessie Buckley received Acting awards.
These two performers benefitted from the great platform of the 98th Annual Academy Awards and their performances illustrated, once again, just how much of an impact a good story can have on a global scale and how impactful and lasting the impressions are that can be made by great performances.
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