This year's Annual Actor Awards nominations were announced by presenters Janelle James and Connor Storrie. Janelle James' statement about her co-presenter Storrie is generating notable reactions across social media platforms.Janelle James gave the statement during a standard press interaction during the 2026 Actor Awards nominations reveal at the SAG-AFTRA offices in Los Angeles. James was asked whether she was thinking about the graphic 'HEATED RIVALRY' scenes while she was presenting with Storrie. James replied,"What I am thinking about his excellent Russian accent that he does. I am thinking about his characterization. I am thinking that he is adorable, and he looks like a leading man, and I am excited to see where he goes next."Netizens reacted, saying,"This is how you compliment a man without turning it into a fandom meltdown."Nancy kharb @Nancykharb2LINK@FilmUpdates This is how you compliment a man without turning it into a fandom meltdown.Janelle James is mainly known for her role as Ava Coleman on ABC's Abbott Elementary. She has also done stand-up comedy, writing, and more. Abbott Elementary is currently in its fifth season.Connor Storrie plays Russian hockey player Ilya in the queer romance series Heated Rivalry, which was released on HBO Max after being acquired from Canadian streamer Crave.Netizens' reactions to Janelle James praising Connor Storrie during the Actor Awards nominations revealFilm Updates took to its official X (formerly Twitter) page to post that,"Janelle James was asked if she thought of the graphic HEATED RIVALRY scenes when presenting the Actor Awards nominations with Connor Storrie."Netizens soon gathered under the comment section of the X post to share their thoughts on her statement. Below are some of their reactions,"I mean, that accent is pretty memorable. Gotta give him props for it.", stated an X user."This is actually a masterclass in how to shut down messy narratives without sounding defensive. She did not play into the heated rivalry bait even for one second. Instead, she redirected the entire conversation to craft his accent, his characterization, his presence, his potential.", commented another."This classy queen.", added a third.Others also chimed in:"The way she is dodging the question is so telling. It is like Hollywood is terrified of admitting they watched a show for the sm*t.", wrote a netizen."Janelle was perfect with her reply to a stupid question from an unimaginative reporter.", added another."i already respected the hell out of janelle but after her interviews with connor storrie, i love her more! thank GOD connor was paired up w her for this. a complete newbie to the scene with such a professional and classy vet like her. what a woman.", commented a third.Complete list of nominees at the 2026 Actor AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role at the 2026 Actor AwardsTimothée Chalamet, Marty Mauser, Marty SupremeLeonardo DiCaprio, Bob, One Battle After AnotherEthan Hawke, Lorenz Hart, Blue MoonMichael B. Jordan, Smoke and Stack, SinnersJesse Plemons, Teddy, BugoniaOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role at the 2026 Actor AwardsJessie Buckley, Agnes, HamnetRose Byrne, Linda, If I Had Legs I'd Kick YouKate Hudson, Claire, Song Sung BlueChase Infiniti, Willa, One Battle After AnotherEmma Stone, Michelle, BugoniaOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role at the 2026 Actor AwardsMiles Caton, Sammie Moore, SinnersBenicio Del Toro, Sensei Sergio St. Carlos, One Battle After AnotherJacob Elordi, The Creature, FrankensteinPaul Mescal, Will, HamnetSean Penn, Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, One Battle After AnotherOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role at the 2026 Actor AwardsOdessa A'zion, Rachel Mizler, Marty SupremeAriana Grande, Glinda, Wicked For GoodAmy Madigan, Gladys, WeaponsWunmi Mosaku, Annie, SinnersTeyana Taylor, Perfidia, One Battle After AnotherOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 2026 Actor AwardsFrankensteinDavid Bradley, Blind ManChristian Convery, Young Victor FrankensteinCharles Dance, Leopold FrankensteinJacob Elordi, The CreatureMia Goth, Elizabeth, and Claire FrankensteinOscar Isaac, Victor FrankensteinFelix Kammerer, William FrankensteinLars Mikkelsen, Capt. AndersonChristoph Waltz, HarlanderHamnetJoe Alwyn, BartholomewJessie Buckley, AgnesNoah Jupe, HamletPaul Mescal, WillEmily Watson, MaryMarty SupremeOdessa A’zion, Rachel MizlerSandra Bernhard, JudyTimothée Chalamet, Marty MauserEmory Cohen, Ira MizlerFran Drescher, Rebecca MauserAbel Ferrara, Ezra MishkinPenn Jillette, HoffKoto Kawaguchi, Koto EndoLuke Manley, Dion GalanisTyler Okonma, WallyKevin O’Leary, Milton RockwellGwyneth Paltrow, Kay StoneGéza Röhrig, Béla KletzkiLarry Ratso Sloman, Murray NorkinOne Battle After AnotherBenicio Del Toro, Sensei Sergio St. CarlosLeonardo DiCaprio, BobRegina Hall, DeandraChase Infiniti, WillaSean Penn, Col. Steven J. LockjawTeyana Taylor, PerfidiaSinnersMiles Caton, Sammie MooreBuddy Guy, Old SammieMichael B. Jordan, Smoke and StackJayme Lawson, PearlineDelroy Lindo, Delta SlimOmar Miller, CornbreadWunmi Mosaku, AnnieJack O’Connell, RemmickHailee Steinfeld, MaryOutstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture at the 2026 Actor AwardsF1FrankensteinMission Impossible - The Final ReckoningOne Battle After AnotherSinnersOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series at the 2026 Actor AwardsJason Bateman, Vince Friedkin, Black RabbitOwen Cooper, Jamie Miller, AdolescenceStephen Graham, Eddie Miller, AdolescenceCharlie Hunnam, Ed Gein, Monster: The Ed Gein StoryMatthew Rhys, Nile Jarvis, The Beast in MeOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series at the 2026 Actor AwardsClaire Danes, Agatha Wiggs, The Beast in MeErin Doherty, Briony Ariston, AdolescenceSarah Snook, Marissa Irvine, All Her FaultChristine Tremarco, Manda Miller, AdolescenceMichelle Williams, Molly, Dying for SexOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series at the 2026 Actor AwardsSterling K. Brown, Agent Xavier Collins, ParadiseBilly Crudup, Cory Ellison, The Morning ShowWalton Goggins, Rick Hatchett, The White LotusGary Oldman, Jackson Lamb, Slow HorsesNoah Wyle, Dr. Michael Robby Robinavitch, The PittOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series at the 2026 Actor AwardsBritt Lower, Helly, and SeveranceParker Posey, Victoria Ratliff, The White LotusKeri Russell, Kate Wyler, The DiplomatRhea Seehorn, Carol, PluribusAimee Lou Wood, Chelsea, The White LotusOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2026 Actor AwardsIke Barinholtz, Sal Saperstein, The StudioAdam Brody, Noah Roklov, Nobody Wants ThisTed Danson, Charles Nieuwendyk, A Man on the InsideSeth Rogen, Matt Remick, The StudioMartin Short, Oliver Putnam, Only Murders in the BuildingOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2026 Actor AwardsKathryn Hahn, Maya Mason, The StudioCatherine O’Hara, Patty Leigh, The StudioJenna Ortega, Wednesday Addams, WednesdayJean Smart, Deborah Vance, HacksKristen Wiig, Maxine Simmons, Palm RoyaleOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesThe DiplomatAli Ahn, Penny Downie, Rosaline Elbay, Ato Essandoh, David Gyasi, Rory Kinnear, Nana Mensah, Graham Miller, Keri Russell, Rufus SewellLandmanPaulina Chávez, Mark Collie, Sam Elliott, Colm Feore, Andy Garcia, James Jordan, Ali Larter, Jacob Lofland, Caleb Martin, Demi Moore, Michelle Randolph, Mustafa Speaks, Billy Bob Thornton, Kayla WallaceThe PittAmielynn Abellera, Shabana Azeez, Patrick Ball, Isa Briones, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif, Supriya Ganesh, Joanna Going, Gerran Howell, Michael Hyatt, Tracy Ifeachor, Katherine LaNasa, Krystel V. McNeil, Brandon Mendez Homer, Alexandra Metz, Tracy Vilar, Kristin Villanueva, Noah WyleSeverancePatricia Arquette, Sarah Bock, Michael Chernus, Zach Cherry, Dichen Lachman, Britt Lower, Darri Ólafsson, Adam Scott, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, John Turturro, Christopher WalkenThe White LotusLeslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Nicholas Duvernay, Arnas Fedaravičius, Christian Friedel, Scott Glenn, Walton Goggins, Jon Gries, Dom Hetrakul, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Yuri Kolokolnikov, Julian Kostov, Charlotte Le Bon, Lalisa Manobal, Michelle Monaghan, Sam Nivola, Morgana O’Reilly, Lek Patravadi, Shalini Peiris, Parker Posey, Sam Rockwell, Natasha Rothwell, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tayme Thapthimthong, Aimee Lou WoodOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesAbbott ElementaryQuinta Brunson, William Stanford Davis, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Tyler James WilliamsThe BearLionel Boyce, Liza Colón Zayas, Ayo Edebiri, Abby Elliott, Edwin Lee Gibson, Corey Hendrix, Andrew Lopez, Matty Matheson, Ebon Moss Bachrach, Oliver Platt, Sarah Ramos, Ricky Staffieri, Jeremy Allen WhiteHacksRose Abdoo, Dan Bucatinsky, Carl Clemons Hopkins, Paul W. Downs, Hannah Einbinder, Mark Indelicato, Jean Smart, Megan Stalter, Michaela WatkinsOnly Murders in the BuildingMichael Cyril Creighton, Beanie Feldstein, Jermaine Fowler, Selena Gomez, Jackie Hoffman, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Dianne WiestThe StudioIke Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O’Hara, Seth Rogen, Chase Sui WondersOutstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series at the 2026 Actor AwardsAndorLandmanThe Last of UsSquid GameStranger ThingsAlso Read: Annual Pollstar Awards 2026: Complete list of nominees exploredWhy is SAG-AFTRA under fire? Backlash over Actor Award nominations explained"Bro killing it with that subtle shade": Internet reacts as Jimmy Kimmel thanks "President Donald Jennifer Trump" during Critics Choice Awards speech