Golden Globes 2021: Big night for British talent with Emma Corrin, Josh O’Connor and Daniel Kaluuya among winners

Emma Corrin, Daniel Kaluuya, John Boyega and Josh O’Connor were among the British names who were triumphant at the 78th Golden Globe Awards - which took place amid controversy over a lack of diversity among the show’s voters.

Last night, the Hollywood awards season officially began with the virtual Golden Globes, hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on opposite sides of America. The ceremony was delayed by a few weeks due to the on-going coronavirus pandemic.

British royal drama The Crown was one of the biggest winners of the night, taking home four awards out of six nominations. Winners included Josh O’Connor, Emma Corrin, and Gillian Anderson, with creator Peter Morgan accepting the best TV drama series gong.

Rosamund Pike and Sacha Baron Cohen were awarded for I Care A Lot and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm respectively. Anya Taylor-Joy won for The Queen’s Gambit.

Chadwick Boseman was posthumously honoured for his portrayal of an ambitious trumpeter in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Meanwhile, Andra Day won best actress in possibly the biggest shock of the evening.

The 36-year-old actress broke down in tears as she was recognised for her role in The United States Vs Billie Holiday. She was up against Viola Davis for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Frances McDormand for Nomadland, Carey Mulligan for Promising Young Woman and Vanessa Kirby for Pieces of a Woman.

An emotional Day thanked the “amazing, transformative, dynamic Billie Holiday, who just transformed me with this role with her presence and her spirit”.

Last night, while nominees dialled in from home, the limited live audience consisted of frontline workers and first responders. Some stars - including Renée Zellweger, Byrce Dallas Howard, Cynthia Erivo and Tiffany Haddish - presented awards in person.

Diversity was a strong theme of the night - with members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) which runs the awards taking to the stage early on in the evening to address the organisation’s record on inclusivity.

It comes following the exclusion of some black-led projects - including Michaela Coel’s celebrated drama I May Destroy You - from the nominees list.

Helen Hoehne, vice president of the HFPA, said: “Tonight while we celebrate the work of artists from around the globe, we recognise we have our own work to do. Just like in film and television, black representation is vital. We must have black journalists in our organisation.”

Hosts Fey and Poehler also commented on a lack of diversity amongst the voting body.

The duo took to the stage from different locations, with Fey hosting from the Rainbow Room in New York and Poehler at the usual location at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

“The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is made up of around 90 international, no black journalists, who attend movie junkets each year in search of a better life,” they said.

Meanwhile, Veteran actress and activist Jane Fonda received the Cecil B DeMille Award for lifetime achievement and used her acceptance speech to call for greater diversity in the industry.

The first award of the night, best supporting actor in a drama film, went to British talent Daniel Kaluuya for Judas And The Black Messiah. Kaluuya plays US activist Fred Hampton, the chairman of the Black Panther Party who was assassinated in 1969 aged of 21.

In typically 2021 fashion, technical issues initially left the actor without sound.

“You’re doing me dirty,” the British star said when he eventually returned.

John Boyega was named best supporting actor in a limited series for his role Steve McQueen’s BBC television show Small Axe.

"I’m so shocked. I’ve got trackie bottoms on and I’m comfortable but this is exciting," Boyega joked.

O’Connor, who won best performance by an actor in a television series drama, for his portrayal of the Prince Of Wales in The Crown, said: “That’s quite a surprise.”

He said: “To our incredible cast, every day working with you was a masterclass.”

And addressing his co-star and fellow Golden Globe winner Emma Corrin, he said: “You’re extraordinarily talented, funny and a brilliant player of rock, paper, scissors. I love you to bits.”

Ahead of the ceremony, the Crown’s O’Connor revealed he and his co-stars were texting each other while waiting for the virtual ceremony to kick-off.

Accepting her award, Corrin said: “Thank you so much to Diana, you have taught me compassion and empathy beyond anything I could ever imagine.”

Chadwick Boseman 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.”

Chloe Zhao was the winner of the best director Golden Globe for Nomadland.

Before announcing the winner, presenter Bryce Dallas Howard said: “For the first time ever there are three women nominated for best director. May there be many many more.”

Zhao toasted with her coffee cup as she won, and said: “I want to thank the nomads who shared their stories with us.”

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm won best motion picture, musical or comedy.

“Thank you to the all-white Hollywood foreign press,” the film’s star Sacha Baron Cohen said.

He also thanked his wife, Isla Fisher, who was seated next to him.

Cohen then went on to win best actor in a musical or comedy film.

He joked: “Hang on, Donald Trump is contesting the result and he saying a lot of dead people voted, which is a very rude thing to say about the HFPA.”

Elsewhere, Rosamund Pike won the Golden Globe for best actress in a comedy or musical for I Care A Lot.

She said: “I do care a lot, thank you for recognising the dark side of comedy.”

Addressing her fellow nominees, including Borat Subsequent Moviefilm star Maria Bakalova, she said: “In my movie I had to swim up from a sinking car, I think I would rather do that than be in a room with Rudy Giuliani, I salute your bravery.”

Read the full list of winners HERE

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