Ariana Grande's secret SAG Awards selfie, Jason Segel in a towel: What you didn't see on TV

USA Today

24-02-2025

Ariana Grande's secret SAG Awards selfie, Jason Segel in a towel: What you didn't see on TV
Show Caption
Hide Caption
SAG Awards: See where the 'Wicked' cast will sit during the show
USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa brings you a behind-the-scenes look at the SAG Awards, including where the cast of "Wicked" will sit during the show.
Let's be real: You probably didn't watch the SAG Awards on Netflix. And that's OK. Really, it is.
That's because, let's face it: The best part of any award show is not the award show or the red carpet. Yes, we said it. It's the little moments that happen behind the scenes.
It's when celebrities chat each other up, looking to make more famous friends and, also probably, angle for their next awards-worthy role. It's when stars forget they're famous for a second and ask another actor for a selfie, sometimes just before that actor was going to ask them for a selfie (oh, hey, Ariana Grande and Kerry Washington). It's when they mob free pizza during the show, only this pizza is topped with caviar, not pepperoni.
None of these things make it on TV − that's where we come in. Here's what we saw and heard at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Ariana Grande, Kerry Washington take selfie at secret entrance, other stars schmooze away from press
Something about Hollywood: They're never not networking. And when stars finally made it to the end of the red carpet, they really let their guard down, thinking they'd finally escaped the prying eyes of press. (Sorry, celebrities − little did you know, we were there watching it all.)
Michael Urie and Harrison Ford had a sweet heart-to-heart (in a certain light, they almost look like father and son). So did Andrew Scott and Jeremy Strong. Scott whipped around to give Strong a hug, and the two had an intense conversation in hushed tones (if only this reporter could read lips).
More: Biggest moments from the SAG Awards, from Timothée Chalamet to Colin Farrell
Grande popped through a secret side entrance, just as Washington walked by. The two jumped at the sight of each other and launched into spirited conversation, punctuated by a selfie on Washington's phone.
Timothée Chalamet, Ralph Fiennes dodge Polaroid man; others not so lucky
The celebs weren't alone − they were also in the midst of Polaroid Man, a guy whose main task, it seemed, was to take a Polaroid picture of every A-lister making their way into the Shrine Auditorium. (You know how bridges in fairy tales have a troll that asks you a riddle before you can pass? At the SAG Awards, it's a man who takes your Polaroid.)
He interrupted Scott and Strong's convo to ask the actors for a picture, which they happily obliged, as did Mikey Madison, a seemingly make-up-free Pamela Anderson, Molly Shannon, Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who shot the camera a deadly smize. Other celebrities, like Ralph Fiennes and Timothée Chalamet, however, made their way into the theater so swiftly that poor Polaroid man didn't have a chance so much as to say hello. Who knows − maybe he snagged their photos on the way out.
Kristen Bell, Sheryl Lee Ralph pay respects to police officers standing by
Two of the hottest stars of the night were a pair of young police officers stationed by the entrance. Some celebrities were quite grateful for their presence − like "Abbott Elementary" star Sheryl Lee Ralph, who brought her hands together in a prayer position and gave a short bow to them. "Thank you, all," she said.
SAG Awards host Kristen Bell went a step further, walking up to the officers and asking for a picture. The officers seemed a bit confused by the request, but they went along with it, not ones to turn down photos with a fan. "Thank you for being here," Bell told them. Before the SAG Awards officially started, the first responders present were given a 20-second standing ovation by the star-studded crowd.
Jason Segel is the guy waiting for Kristen Bell in a towel at the bar
Who could forget Sarah Marshall? Apparently, not Jason Segel and Bell. The two actors, who starred in 2008's "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," stepped back into their characters from the movie for a skit during the telecast − but only after they rehearsed it at a bar mid-show.
SAG Awards 2025 winners: Demi Moore, Timothée Chalamet, 'Conclave' take top honors
During the brief run-through, Segel wrapped an olive green towel around his waist and waited at the bar without explanation, sometimes looking suave while waving at passersby. When Bell finally showed up, the two jumped into rehearsal. "We still got it," Segel said. "Yes, we do!" Bell responded. During showtime, the skit went off without a hitch, with Segel giving the iconic towel surprise before walking off-camera. Ever a gentleman, he waited with Bell's purse until she finished.
Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña share shocked exchanges backstage after wins
Zoe Saldaña was so touched by her SAG win that even 20 minutes later, she stood offstage with her team and wiped tears, gave hugs, and then started spontaneously jumping in the air while fanning her face with one hand. When she finally collected herself, Saldaña swanned backstage, where she bumped into her equally shocked "Emilia Pérez" co-star Selena Gomez, who carried her award for "Only Murders in the Building."
Zoe Saldaña arrives at SAG Awards 2025
Zoe Saldaña arrived in style to the SAG Awards red carpet.
Entertain This!
SAG Awards best dressed stars: From Cynthia Erivo's archival Givenchy to Jane Fonda's sequin look
There was only time for the quickest of hugs before Gomez continued on her way. "I've never done this before. Where do I go?" the stunned actress said after exiting backstage. "I still can't believe it." Gomez was shortly directed along with her co-stars to waiting photographers, where the victory yells got loud.
Demi Moore forgot her glasses; Fiennes wishes he did
Demi Moore zipped into the SAG Awards afterparty to the engraving room to get her actor award personalized. Well-wishers so besieged Moore that the actress had to be informed formally that the engraving process was complete. "I don't have my glasses on," Moore said, squinting. "But thank you. Thank you all so very much."
Fiennes, however, did not forget his glasses − although he seemed to wish he did. The actor posed for photos with his engraved statue before realizing he still had his reading glasses on. "Hold on, hold on," he told the photographer, before flipping the glasses off. The engraving staff thought it was a good call, with one giving an "oh yeah," as Fiennes beamed happily with his statue, spectacles-free.
Chalamet gives his own private 'Yay!' for his SAG Award
Chalamet is not a complete award show unknown, with his first major award Sunday for best actor. The star dropped his trophy off and graciously posed for selfies with fans as his actor got engraved. When it was finished, Chalamet held up his actor trophy in one hand and the gift bottle of champagne in the other, giving a celebratory "Yay!" to his father Marc. Then he hugged his dad, telling him, "I'll probably call you in an hour." It took about an hour for Chalamet to exit, as he obliged every selfie request on his way out the door.
The real SAG Awards afterparty heroes? Jodie Foster and Keri Russell
The hardest partiers of the night? Believe it or not, Jodie Foster and Keri Russell. The former stayed late with her son Charles, who led her through a crowd as she clutched his arm. The latter got wild − dancing up a storm to "Once in a Lifetime" by the Talking Heads with her "The Diplomat" co-stars. We're talking all-out dancing: laughing, hands in the air, jumping up and down. Can she come to every award show afterparty, please?
Jodie Foster joined by son Charles at SAG Awards in rare appearance: See the photo
Perhaps ironically, one of the quietest partiers was Mark Eydelshteyn of "Anora." Despite playing the rowdy son of a Russian oligarch, at the SAG Awards the 23-year-old actor stood quietly, no drink in hand, before making a subtle exit at a demure 8:06 p.m. With a full night of sleep ahead, he just might be the real winner of the evening.