Julian McMahon's widow Kelly Paniagua gives emotional speech as she accepts his posthumous AACTA award

Julian McMahon was recognised posthumously at the AACTA Awards last night for his final film role before his death last year.

The late actor's widow Kelly Paniagua accepted the Best Supporting Actor in Film trophy on his behalf, for his work in The Surfer, delivering an emotional speech.

Paniagua said the recognition meant "so much after so much loss" and dedicated the award to his family.

She said McMahon loved working on the 2024 psychological thriller, also starring Nicolas Cage, because it was shot in Western Australia and allowed him to come "home".

Paniagua then ended her speech with a cheeky jab on behalf of her Sydney-born husband.

"I know he would want me to say 'go the Wallabies' and 'go the Blues' – sorry, Queensland," she said on the Gold Coast stage.

The actor, who also featured in the In Memorium section of the awards show, died last July at the age of 56 from lung metastasis, after a battle with cancer.

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The son of a former Australian prime minister, McMahon went on to become a big Hollywood name, staring in shows such as Charmed and Nip/Tuck as well as franchise films including Fantastic Four.

However, the award - handed out by two of Australia's biggest current exports - Bridgerton star Yerin Ha and The Pitt's Shabana Azeez - failed to make the TV broadcast.

Elsewhere, hot properties Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie were given honours, winning the viewer voted awards for Favourite Australian Actor and Actress, respectively.

Both were absent from the awards show as they tour the world promoting their new movie Wuthering Heights.

Elordi, who is nominated for a BAFTA and an Oscar for his role in Frankenstein, also won Best Lead Actor in a Drama for his role in The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

The TV series went on to win nine awards across the night, including Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for Heather Mitchell, Cinematography, Costume Design and Direction in Drama among others.

In the film categories, horror flick Bring Her Back was the big winner of the night, taking home 10 trophies, including Best Film, Lead Actress for British actress Sally Hawkins and Best Direction for twin filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou.

The Correspondent, a film about Australian journalist Peter Peter Greste's arrest in Cairo while reporting on the Arab Spring uprising, took home three awards, including Richard Roxburgh's Best Lead Actor win.

The audience voted Favourite Media Personality award went to US Dancing with the Stars winner and Bonds model Robert Irwin.

Sarah Snook was given the Trailblazer Award, which was introduced by her Succession co-star Brian Cox, and director Bruce Beresford was awarded the Longford Lyell Award for lifetime achievement.

AACTA AWARDS 2026 - FULL WINNER'S LIST:

FILM

• AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Film: Bring Her Back
• AACTA Award for Best Costume Design in Film: Bring Her Back
• AACTA Award for Best Direction in Film: Bring Her Back
• AACTA Award for Best Editing in Film presented by Spectrum Films: Bring Her Back
• AACTA Award for Best Film: Bring Her Back
• AACTA Award for Best Indie Film: Lesbian Space Princess
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in Film: Richard Roxburgh – The Correspondent
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in Film: Sally Hawkins – Bring Her Back
• AACTA Award for Best Original Score in Film: Bring Her Back
• AACTA Award for Best Production Design in Film: The Correspondent
• AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Film: The Correspondent
• AACTA Award for Best Sound in Film: Bring Her Back
• AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film: Julian McMahon – The Surfer
• AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in Film: Deborah Mailman – Kangaroo

TELEVISION

• AACTA Award for Best Acting in a Comedy: Miranda Tapsell – Top End Bub
• AACTA Award for Best Casting in Television presented by Casting Networks: Apple Cider Vinegar
• AACTA Award for Best Children's Program: Play School: All Together
• AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Television: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
• AACTA Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Program: Hard Quiz
• AACTA Award for Best Comedy Performer: Tom Gleeson – Hard Quiz
• AACTA Award for Best Costume Design in Television: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
• AACTA Award for Best Direction in Drama or Comedy: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
• AACTA Award for Best Direction in Nonfiction Television: The People vs Robodebt
• AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program: The People vs Robodebt
• AACTA Award for Best Drama Series: The Newsreader
• AACTA Award for Best Editing in Television: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
• AACTA Award for Best Entertainment Program presented by Gravity Media: Portrait Artist of the Year
• AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment Program: Alone Australia
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Drama presented by BINGE: Jacob Elordi – The Narrow Road to the Deep North
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama presented by BINGE: Anna Torv – The Newsreader
• AACTA Award for Best Lifestyle Program: Grand Designs Australia
• AACTA Award for Best Miniseries: Apple Cider Vinegar
• AACTA Award for Best Narrative Comedy Series: Bump
• AACTA Award for Best Original Score in Television: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
• AACTA Award for Best Production Design in Television: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
• AACTA Award for Best Reality Program presented by Network Ten: The Great Australian Bake Off
• AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Television: The Newsreader
• AACTA Award for Best Sound in Television: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
• AACTA Award for Best Stand-Up Special: Celia Pacquola: I'm As Surprised As You Are
• AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: Daniel Henshall – The Newsreader
• AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Heather Mitchell – The Narrow Road to the Deep North

DOCUMENTARY

• AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in a Documentary: The Kimberley
• AACTA Award for Best Documentary: Journey Home, David Gulpilil
• AACTA Award for Best Editing in a Documentary: Unbreakable - The Jelena Dokic Story
• AACTA Award for Best Original Score in a Documentary: Journey Home, David Gulpilil
• AACTA Award for Best Sound in a Documentary: Yurlu | Country

SHORT FILM

• AACTA Award for Best Short Film: I'm The Most Racist Person I Know

ONLINE

• AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy: A Series of Unfortunate Dates

OTHER

• AACTA Award for Best Hair and Makeup: Bring Her Back
• AACTA Award for Best Original Song: Here I Go – Lesbian Space Princess
• AACTA Award for Best Soundtrack: Mix Tape
• AACTA Award for Best Visual Effects or Animation: Tron: Ares

INDIVIDUAL

• 2026 AACTA Longford Lyell Award Recipient: Bruce Beresford

• 2026 AACTA Byron Kennedy Award Recipients: Kristina Ceyton, Samantha Jennings
• 2026 AACTA Reg Grundy Award Recipient: Kate Armon, Craig Smith
• 2026 AACTA Trailblazer Award Recipient: Sarah Snook
• 2026 AACTA Brian Walsh Award Recipient: Clare Hughes

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS

• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite TV Show: Stranger Things (Season 5)

• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Film: Wicked: For Good
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Actress: Margot Robbie
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Actor: Jacob Elordi
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Media Personality: Robert Irwin
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Podcast: Shameless
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Music Video: The Kid LAROI – A Cold Play
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Online Channel: Norris Nuts @norrisnuts
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Digital Creator: Bridey Drake @brideydrake
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Rabanne Breakthrough Artist: Mekonnen Knife

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