Evan Rachel Wood looked positively delighted and Viola Davis was charmed.Yes, the George Clooney effect was certainly felt at the Critics' Choice Awards, at which the leading ladies and a fair few of the gents were bowled over by being in his presence.
Hollywood's most charming bachelor was on exuberant form as he celebrated a best actor win for The Descendants, supported by his proud girlfriend Stacy Keibler. Thursday night was also a triumph for the cast of The Artist, a silent movie shot in black and white. The film bagged trophies including best picture, score, costume design and director. "I made a silent movie," French director Michel Hazanavicius joked in English while accepting his accolade. "I don't like to speak so much."
Other winners included Bridesmaids as best comedy movie, Drive as best action movie, Rango as best animated feature and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 for best make-up and best sound.The Help, the adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel about black maids speaking out about their white employers during the civil rights era, followed behind The Artist with three wins.Viola was named best actress, her co-star Octavia Spencer picked up a gong in the supporting actress category and the film's cast was recognised as the best ensemble.
"I absolutely knew I wanted to be an actor because I wanted to be somebody," said an emotional Viola. "I wanted to dream big and make a mark somehow. That's something absolutely that (my character) Aibileen was not afforded. "I considered it my honour to pay homage to these women at this time period who were not allowed to dream and not allowed to find their purpose."
