Returning with a physical ceremony after a two-year hiatus, the prestigious Golden Globe Awards was back amidst lots of controversies and some fanfare. Organised by Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the 80th edition of the Awards was held on the night of January 10 (January 11 morning in India) at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Celebrating the best works on celluloid and television in the past year, this year’s event was special in many ways.
Hosted by Jerrod Carmichael, it was peppered with random quips by the comedian, who notably began the show by announcing that the colour of his skin was the reason he had been chosen for the job. White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge delivered a rather bizarre speech on stage fright when it was her turn to present an award. Before that, a host of A-list stars had walked the red carpet. Dressed in eye-catching outfits, actresses and nominees Anya Taylor-Joy, Jenna Ortega, Viola Davis, Margot Robbie, Julia Garner, Kaley Cuoco, Angela Bassett, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Rihanna and Selena Gomez, among others, posed for photos, allaying fears that few celebrities would show up due to the controversy surrounding the Globes. Acclaimed television writer Ryan Murphy was honoured with the Carol Burnett Award for outstanding achievements in television, which he gracefully accepted as a recognition for the LGBTQ+ community. Veteran comedian Eddie Murphy was honoured with the Cecil B. DeMille Award. Actor Sean Penn introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who joined via video call, to address the star-studded gathering.
Confirming the buzz surrounding them, SS Rajamouli’s RRR, Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans and Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin made news with wins in important categories. Awards in several categories were presented by eminent Hollywood personalities including Tracy Morgan, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Billy Porter and Quentin Tarantino.
RRR director SS Rajamouli flanked by actors Jr NTR (left) and Ram Charan at the Golden Globes Awards 2023. It was a proud moment for India when RRR’s Naatu naatu won a Golden Globe in the category Best Original Song in a Motion Picture. M.M. Keeravani has composed the high-energy track from the Telugu film while its lyrics were penned by Chandrabose. Naatu naatu beat songs by Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Lady Gaga to win in the category. However, RRR, which was also nominated for Best Foreign Language Motion Picture, lost to Argentine film Argentina, 1985.
Angela Bassett won the Best Supporting Actress award for her portrayal of Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, marking the first time an individual actor has won a Golden Globe or any major award for a Marvel film. In her acceptance speech, the actress honoured the late Chadwick Boseman and dedicated her win to his memory.
Austin Butler won Best Actor in a Drama Motion Picture for Elvis. Butler, who has confessed to being obsessed with the role, delivered his speech in Elvis Presley’s famed Mississippi drawl which he employed in the film. He concluded his acceptance speech in true fanboy fashion, with a nod to the king of rock ’n’ roll: “You were an icon and a rebel, and I love you so much!” Pointing towards the sky, Butler called out, “You are remembered, and I will never forget!”
The Banshees of Inisherin was the big winner this year, winning Best Picture Musical/Comedy, Best Actor for Colin Farrell (left) and Best Screenplay for writer-director Martin McDonagh. The black comedy, which was filmed on Inis Mór and Achill Island off the Irish coast, had led the shortlist with eight nominations. Accepting his award, Farrell thanked the entire cast and crew of the Oscar-tipped film. He had previously won in the same category in 2009 for his performance in McDonagh’s In Bruges.
“Thank you very much HFPA for this prestigious award... I am very much overwhelmed...This award belongs to... my brother and director of the film SS Rajamouli for his vision. I thank him for his constant trust in my work and support... Mr Prem Rakshit, who animated the song... Kala Bhairava, who gave wonderful arrangements for the song and Mr Chandrabose for his wonderful words as a lyricist... NT Ramarao and Ram Charan, who danced with full stamina for the song”— music composer M.M. Keeravani after accepting the Best Original Song Golden Globe award for Naatu naatu, the first Asian song to win the honour.
Michelle Yeoh bagged the award for Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy for her role as Evelyn Wang, a Chinese immigrant running a failing laundromat in the sci-fi comedy Everything Everywhere All At Once. In her speech, the 60-year-old Malaysian star reflected on her early years in Hollywood. She is the second Asian actor to win the award, after Awkwafina in 2020 for The Farewell. With this win, Yeoh has raised hopes for a first-ever Asian best actress Oscar.
Ke Huy Quan took home the award for best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a motion picture for Everything Everywhere All at Once. Quan plays Waymond Wang, the husband of laundromat owner Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh). It was the actor’s first Golden Globe nomination and win. In his speech, an emotional Quan addressed Steven Spielberg, who had directed him in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1983 when he was just 12 years old.
Comedian Jerrod Carmichael made passionate speeches, gave the audience some awkward moments and tentatively acknowledged recent controversies while hosting the award ceremony.
Julia Garner claimed the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical/Comedy/Drama for her role as Ruth Langmore, a former scammer in Netflix’s Ozark, beating contenders Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown), Hannah Einbinder (Hacks), Janelle James (Abbott Elementary) and Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary).
Julia Garner claimed the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical/Comedy/Drama for her role as Ruth Langmore, a former scammer in Netflix’s Ozark, beating contenders Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown), Hannah Einbinder (Hacks), Janelle James (Abbott Elementary) and Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary).
Honour roll
- Best Supporting actor (male): Ke Huy Quan for Everything Everywhere All at Once
- Best Supporting actor (female): Angela Bassett for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Best original score: Justin Hurwitz for Babylon
- Best original song: Naatu naatu from RRR
- Best actor (TV musical/comedy): Jeremy Allen White for The Bear
- Best actress (TV musical/comedy): Quinta Brunson for Abbott Elementary
- Best actor (TV drama): Kevin Costner for Yellowstone
- Best actress (TV drama): Zendaya for Euphoria
- Best supporting actor (TV musical/comedy): Tyler James Williams for Abbott Elementary
- Best supporting actress (TV musical/comedy): Julia Garner for Ozark
- Best actor (musical/comedy): Colin Farrell for The Banshees of Inisherin
- Best actress (musical/comedy): Michelle Yeoh for Everything Everywhere All at Once
- Best TV musical/comedy: Abbott Elementary
- Best TV drama: House of the Dragon
- Best animated feature: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro
- Best actor in a drama (motion picture): Austin Butler for Elvis
- Best actress in a drama (motion picture): Cate Blanchett for Tar
- Best motion picture (foreign language): Argentina, 1985 (Argentina)
- Best screenplay (motion picture): Martin McDonagh for The Banshees of Inisherin
- Best director (motion picture): Steven Spielberg for The Fabelmans
- Best motion picture (musical/comedy): The Banshees of Inisherin
- Best motion picture (drama): The Fabelmans