20 Stars Reveal How They Got Their SAG Cards

Mar. 15, 2025

Anne Hathaway during the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2007.Photo:M. Caulfield/WireImage

M. Caulfield/WireImage

During the red carpet, it’s common for stars to be asked how and when they first earned their SAG cards. Read on to learn how 20 of them got their membership!

01of 20

Padma Lakshmi

From left: Tim Allen, Padma Lakshmi and Martin Short.Padma Lakshmi/Instagram

Padma Lakshmi/Instagram

“I was credited as ‘The Snake Lady’ because of a snakeskin coat they made me wear,” theTop Chefhost continued.

“Also, who says I don’t like Republicans?” she joked about posing alongside comedian-actorsTim Allen— who previously compared being a Republican in Hollywood to 1930s GermanyonJimmy Kimmel Live!in 2017— andMartin Short.

02of 20

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence.Steve Granitz/WireImage

03of 20Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway.Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images"I got my SAG card when I was 14,“Anne Hathawaysaid during her 2013 best supporting actress speech. “It felt like the beginning of the world. I have loved every single minute of my life as an actor. And I have been the recipient of so much kindness and support from actors in this room and out of it.”

03of 20

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway.Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

“I got my SAG card when I was 14,“Anne Hathawaysaid during her 2013 best supporting actress speech. “It felt like the beginning of the world. I have loved every single minute of my life as an actor. And I have been the recipient of so much kindness and support from actors in this room and out of it.”

04of 20Kiernan ShipkaKiernan Shipka.Steve Granitz/WireImageKiernan Shipkamight be the proudest card-carrying SAG member, ever. “It was probably a commercial,” the actresstoldElleabout earning her card. “I was definitely very tiny. It was all a blur. I knew about SAG, though. I was definitely pro-SAG since [I was] a young child. I carry the card with me! Any time you ask, I’ve got my SAG card on me. I can just bust it out.”

04of 20

Kiernan Shipka

Kiernan Shipka.Steve Granitz/WireImage

Kiernan Shipkamight be the proudest card-carrying SAG member, ever. “It was probably a commercial,” the actresstoldElleabout earning her card. “I was definitely very tiny. It was all a blur. I knew about SAG, though. I was definitely pro-SAG since [I was] a young child. I carry the card with me! Any time you ask, I’ve got my SAG card on me. I can just bust it out.”

05of 20Kerry WashingtonKerry Washington.Kevin Winter/Getty Images"TheABC Afterschool Special[s]‘Magical Make-Over’ is what earned me my SAG card, and I’m back here at ABC still,“Kerry Washingtonsaid in an E! red carpet interview in 2013. “I think I was a cheerleader in it.”

05of 20

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington.Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

“TheABC Afterschool Special[s]‘Magical Make-Over’ is what earned me my SAG card, and I’m back here at ABC still,“Kerry Washingtonsaid in an E! red carpet interview in 2013. “I think I was a cheerleader in it.”

06of 20Sophie TurnerSophie Turner.Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP"Game of Thrones,“Sophie Turnershared withElle. “I felt really great. It felt I was actually a real actress. I was part of something, finally. I don’t actually know where it is — I think I lost it. But it means so much to me! I keep it in my heart.”

06of 20

Sophie Turner

Sophie Turner.Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

“Game of Thrones,“Sophie Turnershared withElle. “I felt really great. It felt I was actually a real actress. I was part of something, finally. I don’t actually know where it is — I think I lost it. But it means so much to me! I keep it in my heart.”

07of 20Benedict CumberbatchBenedict Cumberbatch.Monica Schipper/Getty"I bribed a senator, that’s how I got it,“Benedict Cumberbatchjoked. “I can’t remember when I got it. I got it [in 2013] at some point.”

07of 20

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch.Monica Schipper/Getty

“I bribed a senator, that’s how I got it,“Benedict Cumberbatchjoked. “I can’t remember when I got it. I got it [in 2013] at some point.”

08of 20Sarah PaulsonSarah Paulson.Jason Merritt/Getty Images"I got my SAG card in 1994 doing an episode ofLaw & Order, which is a rite of passage for any American actor, I think, or any actor of any kind,“Sarah Paulsonsaid. “It was called ‘Family Values.’ "

08of 20

Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson.Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

“I got my SAG card in 1994 doing an episode ofLaw & Order, which is a rite of passage for any American actor, I think, or any actor of any kind,“Sarah Paulsonsaid. “It was called ‘Family Values.’ "

09of 20

Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris.Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

10of 20

Betty White

Betty White.Phil McCarten/Reuters/Landov

11of 20

Alison Brie

Alison Brie.jimmy Kimmel Live/YouTube

jimmy Kimmel Live/YouTube

12of 20

Chris Colfer

Chris Colfer.Jason Merritt/Getty Images

13of 20Laura PreponLaura Prepon.Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images"I was doing this MCI commercial when I was 17,“Laura PrepontoldElle. “I think that made me eligible and then I got it onThat ’70s Show. I had no clue what it was because I had never acted before I got the commercial. It was one of those things that was like kismet — it kind of found me.”

13of 20

Laura Prepon

Laura Prepon.Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

“I was doing this MCI commercial when I was 17,“Laura PrepontoldElle. “I think that made me eligible and then I got it onThat ’70s Show. I had no clue what it was because I had never acted before I got the commercial. It was one of those things that was like kismet — it kind of found me.”

14of 20Ty BurrellTy Burrell.Jason LaVeris/FilmMagicModern FamilystarTy Burrellgot his start onLaw & Order— buthe jokedhe was so “unmemorable” that he got away with playing different characters on different episodes: “Nobody noticed that now I was playing an assassin.”

14of 20

Ty Burrell

Ty Burrell.Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Modern FamilystarTy Burrellgot his start onLaw & Order— buthe jokedhe was so “unmemorable” that he got away with playing different characters on different episodes: “Nobody noticed that now I was playing an assassin.”

15of 20Samira WileySamira Wiley.Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan/Sipa"The first movie I ever did was withJonah Hill,“Samira WileytoldElle, adding, “Method Manplayed my boyfriend. It was calledThe Sitter. That’s how I got my SAG card. It felt unreal. It was something I’d always heard about and felt like I was going to work my entire life to get. It was like a dream come true. I don’t know why I keep it in my wallet, but maybe in case someone is like ‘Are you?’ and then I can be like ‘Yes’ and pull it out. It’s like a detective badge: ‘SAG, please step aside.’ "

15of 20

Samira Wiley

Samira Wiley.Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan/Sipa

“The first movie I ever did was withJonah Hill,“Samira WileytoldElle, adding, “Method Manplayed my boyfriend. It was calledThe Sitter. That’s how I got my SAG card. It felt unreal. It was something I’d always heard about and felt like I was going to work my entire life to get. It was like a dream come true. I don’t know why I keep it in my wallet, but maybe in case someone is like ‘Are you?’ and then I can be like ‘Yes’ and pull it out. It’s like a detective badge: ‘SAG, please step aside.’ "

16of 20Laverne CoxLaverne Cox.Jason Merritt/Getty Images"I was eligible for many years before I actually joined. I had to join when I booked an episode ofLaw and Order: SVU,“Laverne Coxrevealed toElle. “The episode is called ‘Closet,’ I think. I joined and I didn’t have the money for the dues so they put me on a payment plan. I paid off my SAG dues in 2008 over a six-month period.”

16of 20

Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox.Jason Merritt/Getty Images

“I was eligible for many years before I actually joined. I had to join when I booked an episode ofLaw and Order: SVU,“Laverne Coxrevealed toElle. “The episode is called ‘Closet,’ I think. I joined and I didn’t have the money for the dues so they put me on a payment plan. I paid off my SAG dues in 2008 over a six-month period.”

17of 20Peter FacinelliPeter Facinelli.Getty Images"I ran into [Law & Ordercreator] Dick Wolf … I said, ‘I didn’t get my diploma because of you, but I got my SAG card because of you,“Peter Facinellisaid in a red carpet interview at the 2013 SAG Awards. “I was majoring in theater. It all worked out.”

17of 20

Peter Facinelli

Peter Facinelli.Getty Images

“I ran into [Law & Ordercreator] Dick Wolf … I said, ‘I didn’t get my diploma because of you, but I got my SAG card because of you,“Peter Facinellisaid in a red carpet interview at the 2013 SAG Awards. “I was majoring in theater. It all worked out.”

18of 20

Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Jesse Tyler Ferguson.Steve Granitz/WireImage

19of 20Rita WilsonRita Wilson.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images"It wasThe Brady Bunch,“Rita WilsontoldEsquire. “That’s how I got my Screen Actors Guild card. I played Pat Conway, the cheerleader who Greg chose to become head cheerleader. It was so much fun.”

19of 20

Rita Wilson

Rita Wilson.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

“It wasThe Brady Bunch,“Rita WilsontoldEsquire. “That’s how I got my Screen Actors Guild card. I played Pat Conway, the cheerleader who Greg chose to become head cheerleader. It was so much fun.”

20of 20Ellie KemperEllie Kemper.John Salangsang/Invision/AP"I got my SAG card for a K-Mart commercial where I had a tarantula crawling all over my face,“Ellie Kemperrecalled toElle. “It was so furry and large and it felt closer to a kitten than an insect and it was actually kind of nice — I only work with real animals.”

20of 20

Ellie Kemper

Ellie Kemper.John Salangsang/Invision/AP

“I got my SAG card for a K-Mart commercial where I had a tarantula crawling all over my face,“Ellie Kemperrecalled toElle. “It was so furry and large and it felt closer to a kitten than an insect and it was actually kind of nice — I only work with real animals.”

source: people.com