The Critics Choice Awards 2026 kicked off awards season last night, with the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica positively packed with the biggest names in film and TV. While the red carpet was a hit online (ahem, looking at you, Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs), the brilliant acceptance speeches have already set the tone for what we can expect during the 2026 run of awards ceremonies.
Picking up the Best Actor award for his role in Marty Supreme, Timothée Chalamet made an unexpected declaration of love to Kylie Jenner, while All Her Fault star Sarah Snook admitted she wasn't expecting to win, and charmed the audience with her improvised thank yous. But it was Hamnet star Jessie Buckley who really made waves with her poetic adoration of co-star, Paul Mescal. Upon receiving the award for Best Actress, Jessie thanked those she worked with, including Hamnet's director Chloé Zhao. Then, she turned to Paul and stated, with a laugh, that she "could drink [him] like water", and his adorably awkward response is going viral.
