Women win big
GOLDEN GLOBES: STARS STAND AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION AND ABUSE
Los Angeles
Oprah Winfrey became the first black woman to be awarded a Golden Globe for lifetime achievement on Sunday, delivering an impassioned speech in support of those who have exposed sexual misconduct in Hollywood and beyond.
Actress, movie and television producer, and chief executive of her own cable TV channel, Winfrey, 63, was celebrated as a role model for women and a person who has promoted strong female characters.
Her honour came in a year when the awards show, Hollywood’s first leading up to the Oscars, was dominated by a scandal that has seen the downfall of dozens of powerful men as women break years of silence.
Winfrey, who along with most of the show’s other attendees donned a black gown to show support for victims of sexual misconduct, was the first black woman to receive the annual Cecil B DeMille award, joining the likes of Meryl Streep and Barbra Streisand.
Winfrey praised women who have shared their stories of sexual abuse, and said “a new day is on the horizon” for girls and women.
“And when that new day finally dawns it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fought hard to make sure they become leaders who take us to the time where nobody has to say ‘me too’ again,” Winfrey said, referencing the social media movement raising awareness about sexual harassment.
Winfrey was raised in poverty by a single mother and went on to host the top-rated talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show for 25 years before ending it in 2011.
“I want to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay.”
The movie that many believe speaks most directly to the current moment – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri about a mother avenging the rape and murder of her daughter – emerged as the night’s top film. It won best picture, best actress for Frances McDormand, best supporting actor for Sam Rockwell and best screenplay for writer-director Martin McDonagh.
The first award of the night went to one of Hollywood’s most powerful women: Nicole Kidman, for her performance in HBO’s Big Little Lies, a series she and Reese Witherspoon also produced. Kidman chalked the win up to “the power of women”. Big Little Lies won a four awards, including best limited series and best supporting actress for Laura Dern.
Other winners continued the theme: The Marvelous Mrs Maisel about a ’50s housewife who takes up stand-up comedy, won best TV series comedy and best actress for Rachel Brosnahan. The Handmaid’s Tale won best actress and best TV series, drama.
Notably left empty-handed were Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, Jordan Peele’s Get Out and Steven Spielberg’s The Post, starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep.
New day is on horizon for women.
Dressed in black, Hollywood’s male and female stars stood together in solidarity against sexual harassment, intimidation and abuse in the entertainment industry during the annual 75th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Los Angeles.
They were showing support for the Time’s Up movement which followed the “Weinstein effect” and #MeToo trends.
This saw the naming and shaming of numerous award-winning male celebrities and movie directors who have allegedly abused their power over women, some for years or decades.
The stars’ backing of Time’s Up, launched on January 1, was monumental in the history of the awards ceremony.
Eight-time Golden Globe recipient Meryl Streep pledged her allegiance to the movement as she stood alongside American activist Ai-jen Poo.
The Beverly Hills Hilton driveway came alive in celebration and solidarity with most of the stars wearing black.
Standing out in stark elegance was Big Little Lies actress and daughter of award-winning musician Lenny Kravitz, Zoe Kravitz.
She walked onto the red carpet wearing a floor-length boobtube dress with a flat pixie haircut highlighted by emerald green teardrop earrings.
Internationally acclaimed talk show queen and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey, pictured, main, received the Cecil B DeMille Award, for individuals who have made an impact on the entertainment industry.
Winfrey gave a moving acceptance speech, thanking all those unsung heroes who have come out of the shadows and publicly announced their truth about being sexually harassed in the workplace, as well as victims of gender-based discrimination.
In her acceptance speech, Winfrey highlighted the story of Recy Taylor, a black woman who was gang-raped in 1944 by six white men, none of whom were convicted of the crime.
Taylor died last month at the age of 97.
“She lived, as we all have lived, in a culture broken by brutally powerful men,” Winfrey said.
“For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power of those men, but their time is up.”
In closing, Winfrey said: “I want all the girls watching here, now, to know that a new day is on the horizon. And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fought hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say me too again.”
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