Anna Sawai's 2025 SAG Awards Red Carpet Gown Casts a Glittering Optical Illusion

With her breakout role on FX's Shogun, Anna Sawai delivered one of the most decorated performances of the TV season. At the 2025 SAG Awards red carpet, she also added another "Best Dressed" accolade to her packed trophy cabinet.

Sawai arrived at the 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Feb. 23 glowing in a custom Armani Privé gown that was more than met the eye. From the front, it appeared stylist Karla Welch had helped her Best Actress-nominated client choose a strapless red gown coated in glittering embellishments. But when Sawai turned to the side, showing off the rest of her dress and a flash of her platform black sandal heels, the entire look changed.

From the side, Sawai's neckline hovered away from her collarbone, revealing a deep slit on either side with a sliver of a mesh panel. Then, the dress transformed into luscious black fabric in the back. Much like her character on Shogun, this dress offered quite the plot twist.

Lady Mariko was top of mind as Sawai curated her awards season wardrobe. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight on the SAG Awards red carpet, she explained that red played a major role throughout the series. "It's a powerful, meaningful color to the character I played"—so wearing it was Sawai's way of honoring the part.

Shortly after Shogun began airing on FX, Sawai was coronated a rising fashion star with an expansive designer wardrobe to match. She sat front-row at Chanel's haute couture show last summer (in a slinky leather set) and then swept into the 2024 Emmy Awards in two back-to-back custom red gowns. Her first was a Vera Wang piece she called the "dress of her dreams," featuring a strapless neckline and dreamy tulle skirt. Later in the evening, she hit the Emmys after-party in a Louis Vuitton number with an exaggerated column skirt a plunging neckline.

Sawai's fashion star only rose as the season went on. Her portrayal of Lady Mariko also earned a 2025 Golden Globe Award—the same week Sawai was named an ambassador for Dior. Fittingly, she accepted the golden statue in a white peplum two-piece by the French house.

Sawai has some tough competition in her category, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, at the 2025 SAG Awards. She's nominated alongside Keri Russell (for the political thriller The Diplomat) and Nicola Coughlan (for Bridgerton's swoony third season). Fashion editors can't predict whether she'll take home yet another trophy, but her gown says she's already made quite the awards season sweep.