Stars from down under swept the board at Sunday night’s Golden Globe Awards, with Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe scoring big at the event considered by industry insiders as an Oscar indicator. Nicole won a best actress gong for Moulin Rouge, and her close chum and fellow antipodean Russell took home a best actor award for his work in Beautiful Mind.
A Beautiful Mind was the big winner at the LA glamfest, scoring four trophies, including best drama, best screenplay and best supporting actress for Jennifer Connelly. Russell said the film, which tells the story of a schizophrenic Nobel prize-winning genius, is “just a piece of entertainment at the end of the day”. However, he added, “Hopefully it helps us open our hearts, gives us a little more understanding, gives us a little more companssion.”
Turn of the century extravaganza Moulin Rouge made an impressive showing with three awards, including best musical or comedy, best score and best actress in a comedy or musical for Nicole. “My hands are shaking,” Kidman said as she claimed her trophy. “This is really, really special because I never thought I’d be in a musical – let alone win an award for one.” Gene Hackman, who did not attend the gala, won for best male in a comedy or musical for his role in The Royal Tennenbaums.
British actor Jim Broadbent was awarded a best supporting actor trophy for playing the husband of an Alzheimer’s disease stricken novelist in Iris. “I’m overwhelmed, I’m trembling,” said the actor as he strolled up the red carpet. “There’s Jon Voight and James Coburn, all my heroes. I might pass out.”
Sissy Spacek was named best dramatic actress for In The Bedroom at the event, Sting took home honours for best song with his romantic waltz Until from Kate & Leopold and Robert Altman won a best director prize for his Gosford Park.
TV honours were also handed out, with both newcomers and perennial favourites taking the top nods. Sex In The City won the award for best television comedy, with its star Sarah Jessica Parker winning best comedy actress. Charlie Sheen garnered a best comedy actor gong for Spin City. Kiefer Sutherland won a dramatic TV actor trophy for the new real-time thriller 24 and Jennifer Garner took home the actress award for her role on Alias.
Harrison Ford was presented with the Cecil B DeMille award for lifetime achievement. “In anticipation of tonight, I wrote two speeches, a long one and a short one,” he said as he accepted the gong from actor Ben Affleck. “I’ll give you the short one: ‘Thank you.’ But it seems like there might be enough time for the long as well, which is: ‘Thank you very much.’
Australian talent was definitely the hot ticket at the 59th annual awards, voted on by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Judy Davis won for her portrayal of legend Judy Garland in the TV biopic Me And My Shadows and Rachel Griffiths won best supporting actress for her role in the HBO series Six Feet Under. A last-minute attempt by the Australian contingent to sit together at the awards dinner was apparently thwarted by organizers. “They wouldn’t let us,” said Nicole. “We would have been too rowdy.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
