Crowning Glory: British success at Golden Globes
The Crown's Josh O'connor and Emma Corrin led a night of triumph for British stars at the Golden Globes, which took place amid controversy over a lack of diversity among the awards show's voters.
Netflix's Charles and Diana were the toast of the largely virtual ceremony and won TV drama best actor and actress for their explosive portrayal of a royal marriage in crisis. Corrin thanked her "prince charming" while O'connor told her "I love you to bits." The lavishly produced, headline-making The Crown was named best small screen drama while its American star, Gillian Anderson, won best supporting actress for playing Margaret Thatcher.
Other British winners included Daniel Kaluuya for Judas And The Black Messiah, John Boyega for Small Axe, Rosamund Pike for I Care A Lot, Anya Taylor-joy for The Queen's Gambit and Sacha Baron Cohen, a double winner for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, which was named comedy film of the year. Also on the big screen, Nomadland won best drama.
On a night when diversity was a hot topic due to the make up of the hollywood foreign press Association (HFPA), black talent shone. Chadwick Boseman's widow delivered a tearjerking acceptance speech on his behalf after he won best actor for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Andra Day was named best actress for The United States Vs. Billie Holiday. The ceremony was starkly different to those of previous years, with no red carpet and nominees appearing from around the world. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted for a fourth time but, in another pandemic-enforced break from convention, did so from separate coasts, presenting from New York and lo san gel es. the audiences were populated by essentialworkers rather than the usual A- listers.
Introducing the show, fey and Poehler addressed the lack of diversity among the HFPA, the body which votes to decide golden Globe winners. It emerged none of its 87 members is black.
Fey said: "You gotta change that. So here's to changing it." The HFPA was quickly handed a reprieve of sorts when the night's first two awards went to black British stars in Kaluuya and Boyega. Kaluuya fell victim to technical issues and producers of the telecast had to return to him after his first acceptance speech was broadcast without sound. "You're doing me dirty," Kaluuya said when he eventually returned. Corrin appeared visibly shocked as her name was called to confirm she had won ahead of co-star Olivia Colman's turn as the Queen and Jodie Comer's performance in Killing Eve. She referred to O'connor as "my prince charming" and added: "Thank you so much to Diana, you have taught me compassion and empathy beyond anything I could ever imagine."
Boseman, who died last year aged 43 following a battle with cancer, was posthumously honoured for his portrayal of an ambitious trumpeter in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.
His wife, Simone, accepted the award for best actor on his behalf. Fighting back tears, she said: "He would thank God, he would thank his parents, he would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices."