At the 2025 SAG Awards on Sunday, February 23, a playful moment between Jamie Lee Curtis and Colin Farrell had the audience in stitches. 

While presenting the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series, 

Curtis, 66, jokingly referred to Farrell, 48, as “the man who gave me COVID at the Golden Globes.” 

The remark was lighthearted, setting the tone for a fun exchange as Farrell took the stage to accept the award for his role in The Penguin, 

an HBO series based on the DC Comics character.

Farrell, who was clearly in on the joke, responded with a warm laugh and a big hug for Curtis. 

He began his acceptance speech with a playful acknowledgment of the accusation: “Guilty as charged.” He quickly added that while he may have spread the virus to Curtis, the original source of the infection was his Banshees of Inisherin co-star, Brendan Gleeson. “Brendan f—ing gave it to me, so I was just spreading the love,” Farrell quipped, referencing the chain of transmission.

The banter between the two stars was a light moment at the SAG Awards, but it also touched on their longstanding friendship. Curtis had previously opened up about her COVID diagnosis in January 2023, while she was in the midst of promoting her acclaimed performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once, which would eventually earn her an Oscar. At that time, Curtis shared with her followers that she had contracted the virus and would be unable to attend the festivities but would be cheering on her colleagues from home.

Farrell’s win for his role in The Penguin marked his first SAG Award, and the actor had strong competition in the category. He triumphed over fellow nominees Javier Bardem (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story), Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer), Kevin Kline (Disclaimer), and Andrew Scott (Ripley). Farrell’s portrayal of the titular character in the DC Comics-inspired show has garnered critical acclaim and added another prestigious accolade to his career.

Earlier in their careers, both Curtis and Farrell were nominated for several major awards in 2023 for their respective performances in Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Banshees of Inisherin. Their paths crossed during a conversation for Variety’s Actors on Actors series, where the two veteran actors reflected on their careers and shared personal insights. During their interview, Farrell and Curtis discussed their mutual experiences with sobriety, a topic close to both of their hearts.

Farrell opened up about his past struggles with self-destructive behavior and how his journey to sobriety has transformed his life. “I had suspicions, before I got sober, of how painful life could be,” he shared. “But I had no ability to hold that without being self-destructive and without living in it… I don’t live in that now.” Curtis, who has been open about her own sobriety, responded by reflecting on how important it is to her. “Being sober is going to be a legacy, for sure,” she said, emphasizing the profound impact it has had on her life.

In addition to his SAG Award win, Farrell has been the subject of other buzzworthy headlines recently, including teasing a revealing detail about the bodysuit he wore for his portrayal of Oz Cobb in The Penguin. Farrell joked that the suit even included “a penguin penis,” giving fans a glimpse of the actor’s lighthearted approach to his unique role.

As the 2025 awards season progresses, both Farrell and Curtis continue to be celebrated for their immense talent and personal growth. Farrell’s first-ever SAG Award is a testament to his dynamic acting career, and Curtis’s ongoing success as both a revered actress and a vocal advocate for sobriety continues to inspire.

The playful exchange between Curtis and Farrell at the SAG Awards not only showcased their strong friendship but also highlighted the chemistry that has developed over the years between these two talented actors. While their COVID-related banter will likely be remembered as a fun moment of the evening, their shared experiences in the entertainment industry, particularly in the realm of addiction and recovery, reveal the deeper connections they share beyond the spotlight.

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