Michael B. Jordanโs awards are stacking up.
The โSinnersโ star won the Actor Award for lead actor for portraying the filmโs twin ex-mob enforcers turned juke joint owners, Smoke and Stack.
โI wasnโt expecting this at all,โ Jordan said as he accepted his award Sunday evening. โIโm so honored and privileged to be nominated in categories with people and actors and humans that I love.โ
โI love their work and what you contribute to to our craft, and this ride has been unbelievable,โ he said. โSo thank you for welcoming me in and making me feel seen.โ
Jordan went on to reminisce about his time as an entry-level SAG-AFTRA member, aspiring toward truly belonging to โthis club that I wanted to be in so bad.โ
โThose guys that were talking on stage with the awards and nice suits, talking, being in fancy places like that,โ the actor said. โThatโs what I always wanted and that kid from Newark, New Jerseyโs standing here right now.โ
The โCreedโ alum went on to thank his mother for driving him to his earliest auditions and director Ryan Coogler for โgiving me the opportunity to show what I can do and to be fearless and to create a safe space for us to find the truth.โ
Finally, Jordan extended gratitude to his fellow actors and his fans, โwhoโve seen me grow up in front of the camera and in these rooms.โ
Jordanโs triumph over his fellow nominees, particularly โMarty Supremeโ star Timothรฉe Chalamet, is a positive sign as the actor looks toward the Academy Awards later this month.
โSinnersโ received a record 16 nominations, many of which are sure to turn into wins at the March 15 ceremony.