Kristen Bell Mixes Humor and Heart in 2018 SAG Awards Opening: Watch!

The 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards promised us a little something different this year: a host, for the first time ever! Kristen Bell was tapped to do the honors, and she decided to open up the show with a little bit of industry fun, a little bit of politics, and a whole lot of laughs.

After Allison Janney, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Millie Bobbie Brown told their stories of becoming actors, the camera zeroed in on Bell, who told the audience, “When I was young, I used to record Disney movies on my cassette player. I would sing every lyric in the Disney canon, knowing and believing that one day I would be a part of that magic.”

While Janney, Ross, and Brown ended their bits by saying their names and declaring, “I am an actor,” Bell ended her intro with, “I am Kristen Bell and I am a narcissist.” After a laugh from the crowd, she corrected herself, saying, “Sorry! I am an actor.”

She went on to say that because she’s the event’s first-ever host and she happens to be a lady, that makes her the — you guessed it — first lady. “I think my first initiative as first lady will be cyber-bullying, because I have yet to see any progress made on that problem quite yet,” she quipped, throwing a little shade at real-life First Lady Melania Trump.

Bell also shouted out the “documentary” A Handmaid’s Tale, the cast of Get Out, and the ladies of GLOW. “GLOW, for those of you who are unfamiliar, is about a tour de force of powerful, strong, thoughtful ladies who get roped into doing Marc Maron’s podcast,” she quipped.

The Good Place star wasn’t just there to joke around, though. She also sent out a message of encouragement to performers who are still struggling to establish themselves, and noted the importance of what actors are able to do with their craft.

“It’s a true privilege to experience and share the wide scope of humanity through storytelling. … Everyone’s story deserves to be told, especially now,” she said. “We are living in a watershed moment in time, and as we march forward with active momentum and open ears, let’s make sure we are leading the charge with empathy and diligence, because fear and anger never win the race.” Well said!

She ended things by pointing out that “regardless of our differences, I think we can all come together and delight in one thing… Frozen 2 is coming out in 2019, you guys! I’m very excited.” We are, too!

What did you think about Kristen Bell’s 2018 SAG Awards opening? Let us know @BritandCo!

(photos via Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)