Sandra Bernhard’s ‘withering’ side-eye to Kristen Bell explained after awkward Actor Awards moment

Sandra Bernhard was spotted glaring daggers at Actor Awards host Kristen Bell on the soap’s red carpet – and now body language expert Judi James has broken down the disturbing moment exclusively for the Daily Mail.

Bell, 45, is serving as mistress of ceremonies for the third time, after hosting the SAG Awards last year and before that in 2018.

Bernhard, 70, meanwhile, was there for his role in Marty Supreme, which is a nominee for Best Cast in a Motion Picture.

It was impossible to ignore Bell’s see-through dress that night, which revealed she had no bra underneath and was wearing only a scant piece of bare underwear, designed to give the impression that she had no underwear on.

While Bell was happily mingling with the other guests, Bernhard could be seen looking askance at him from a little distance away. DeuxMoi.

James explained: ‘In the tsunami of hands-on socialites and rictus smiles that is the Actors Awards red carpet, there’s a withering truth to be seen as Sandra Bernhard watches a show-off, show-off Kristen Bell in full-on celebrity mode.

While Bell was merrily mingling with the other guests, Bernhard could be seen giving her a withering look some distance away in footage published by DeuxMoi.

“Kristen performs a series of grooming gestures, her fingers circling her lips and cleavage in her impeccably tailored outfit, as she stands with her hand on a man’s shoulder in a flamboyant gesture aimed at capturing and maintaining the center of attention, while also flashing a massive diamond ring to the cameras to the left.

‘Kristen is looking like a star at the peak of her self-confidence here, but there are signs Sandra Berhard might not be the biggest fan of this blatant red carpet display.

‘Sandra gives Kristen a long, sidelong look, a look that moves up and down her body, much like a gesture of disapproval. His own pose is unkempt and much more relatable to the average fan, his body relaxed and his hands clasped in front of his torso.’

Bernhard and Bell have not worked together on any films or TV shows, and they are not known to have harbored any ill will towards each other in the past.

At Sunday’s celebration, Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothee Chalamet face off in a highly anticipated competition for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for their roles in One Battle After Another and Marty Supreme.

The category also includes Michael B. Jordan for a dual role in Sinners, Ethan Hawke for the Broadway biopic Blue Moon, and Jesse Plemons for the thriller Bugonia.

Meanwhile, Hamnet star Jessie Buckley and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You actress Rose Byrne are up against Bugonia’s Emma Stone and Song Sung Blue’s Kate Hudson for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.

One Battle After Another has two actors competing for best supporting actor, Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn, in a field filled by Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein, Paul Mescal for Hamnet, and Miles Caton for Sinners.

Bell is serving as mistress of ceremonies for the third time, after hosting the SAG Awards last year and before that in 2018.

Bernhard, by the way, was there for his role in Marty Supreme, which was a nominee for Best Cast in a Motion Picture.

As for female supporting performances, Ariana Grande is nominated for Wicked: For Good, Odessa A’Zion for Marty Supreme, Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another, Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners, and Amy Madigan for Sinners.

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture is a competition between Hamnet, Frankenstein, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another and Sinners.

Meanwhile, Seth Rogen’s new show The Studio competes with Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks and Only Murders in the Building for Outstanding Performance in a Comedy Series.

Sitcom performances nominated that night include Rogen and the recently departed Catherine O’Hara for The Studio, Martin Short for Only Murders in the Building, Jenna Ortega for Wednesday and Jean Smart for Hacks.

Bell’s current co-star Adam Brody was nominated for Nobody Wants This, while her former The Good Place co-star Ted Danson was nominated for A Man on the Inside.

The ensemble in the drama series category is a tough race, consisting of The White Lotus, The Pitt, Severance, The Diplomat and Landman.

Noah Wyle was nominated for his comeback in The Pitt, Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood for The White Lotus, Keri Russell for The Diplomat, Gary Oldman for Slow Horses and Billy Crudup for The Morning Show.

The revered miniseries Adolescence was recognized in the limited series and TV movie categories, with actresses Erin Doherty and Christine Tremarco and actors Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper receiving nominations.

Other nominees in these categories include Michelle Williams for Dying for Sex, Sarah Snook for All Her Fault, Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys for The Beast in Me, Jason Bateman for Black Rabbit, and Charlie Hunnam for Monster: The Ed Gein Story.

On Sunday evening, the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award is presented to 83-year-old Harrison Ford after more than half a century of stardom.

Actor Awards 2026 winners

FILM

EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE OF THE ACTORS IN A MOVIE

Frankenstein (Netflix)

Hamnet (Focus Features)

Marty Supreme (A24)

One battle after another (Warner Bros)

Sinners (Warner Bros) – WINNER

Michael B. Jordan leads the Sinners to their two biggest wins of the night

Extraordinary Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Jessie Buckley – Hamnet – WINNER

Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue

Chase Infinity – One battle after another

Emma Stone – Bugonia

Jessie Buckley became known for her work in Hamnet

EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE FROM A MALE ACTOR IN THE LEADING ROLE

Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme

Leonardo DiCaprio – One battle after another

Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon

Michael B. Jordan – Sinners – WINNER

Jesse Plemons – Bugonia

EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE FROM A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Miles Caton – Sinners

Benicio Del Toro – One battle after another

Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein

Paul Mescal-Hamnet

Sean Penn – One battle after another – WINNER

EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE FROM THE ACTRESS IN THE SUPPORTING ROLE

Odessa A’zion – Marty Supreme

Ariana Grande – Bad: For Good

Amy Madigan – Guns – WINNER

Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners

Teyana Taylor – One battle after another

Amy Madigan honored for her work on thriller Weapons

AN EXTRAORDINARY FIGHTING COMMUNITY IN A MOVIE

F1 (Apple Original Movies)

Frankenstein (Netflix)

Mission: Impossible – Final Showdown (Paramount) – WINNER

One battle after another (Warner Bros)

Sinners (Warner Bros)

TELEVISION

AN EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE FROM AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES

The Diplomat (Netflix)

Landman (Paramount+)

Pitt (HBO Max) – WINNER

Severance Pay (Apple TV)

White Lotus (HBO)

Noah Wyle and The Pitt were big winners on the television drama side

EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE FROM AN ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Sterling K. Brown – Heaven

Billy Crudup – The Morning Show

Walton Goggins – White Lotus

Gary Oldman – Slow Horses

Noah Wyle – The Pitt – WINNER

EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE FROM AN ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Britt Lower – Severance Pay

Parker Posey – White Lotus

Keri Russell – Diplomat – WINNER

Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus

Aimee Lou Wood – White Lotus

EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE FROM AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES

Abbott Elementary School (ABC)

Bear (FX/Hulu)

Hacks (HBO Max)

Just Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Studio (Apple TV) – WINNER

EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE FROM AN ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Ike Barinholtz – Studio

Adam Brody-Nobody Wants This

Ted Danson – The Inside Man

Seth Rogen – Studio – WINNER

Martin Short – Just Murders in the Building

Seth Rogen’s The Studio sweeps the television comedy division

EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE FROM AN ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Kathryn Hahn – Studio

Catherine O’Hara – Studio – WINNER

Jenna Ortega – Wednesday

Jean Smart – Hacks

Kristen Wiig – Palm Royale

EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE FROM AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES

Jason Bateman – Black Rabbit

Owen Cooper – Adolescence – WINNER

Stephen Graham – Adolescence

Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Matthew Rhys – The Monster Inside Me

EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES

Claire Danes – The Monster Inside Me

Erin Doherty – Adolescence

Sarah Snook – It’s All Her Fault

Christine Tremarco – Adolescence

Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex – WINNER

AN EXTRAORDINARY FIGHTING COMMUNITY IN A TELEVISION SERIES

Andor (Disney+)

Landman (Paramount+)

The Last of Us (HBO) – WINNER

Squid Game (Netflix)

Stranger Things (Netflix)