Golden Globes 2021: Best Dressed, What Went Down And More
From the fashion to the technical glitches, the Golden Globes 2021 was an awards show for the pandemic era. Catch up on the news and fashion here.
Hollywood’s award season got under way on Sunday (Feb 28) at a very different Golden Globes 2021, with winners dialling in remotely to a ceremony – featuring a few early glitches.
Usually a star-packed party that draws Tinseltown’s biggest names to a Beverly Hills hotel ballroom, this pandemic edition is being broadcast from two scaled-down venues in California and New York, with essential workers and a few glamorous A-list presenters among the few in attendance.
Comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler – hosting from opposite coasts – opened the ceremony via split-screen while pretending to reach across to one another, before an opening routine that made fun of the Globes-awarding group of obscure foreign reporters, which has been under pressure for its lack of diversity.
Three senior HFPA officials took to the Globes stage early in the night, pledging "a more inclusive future", after several influential showbiz groups had piled on criticism over the weekend including Hollywood's actors and directors unions.
Despite that controversy, the Globes – which also honour the best in television – remain a coveted prize, and a high-profile source of momentum in the run-up to the season-crowning Oscars, which were pushed back this year to April 25. Here are five highlights from the event.
While most stars showed up in spiffy suits and floor-length ball gowns for a traditionally glamorous Hollywood night, there were some who opted for more casual fare.
Most notably, Jason Sudeikis picked up best actor for his sports comedy series Ted Lasso in a tie-dye hoodie. In a post-win interview, Sudeikis explained that the hoodie came from his sister's dance studio and workout space in New York City and he wore it to show support for her.
Best supporting actress in a motion picture winner Jodie Foster channelled pyjama-chic lounging at home with her wife and their dog, while John Boyega, who won for his television supporting role in Small Axe, revealed during his speech that he was wearing track pants with his suit jacket.
Despite the controversy surrounding Minari being placed in the foreign language film category despite being written, directed and filmed by Americans in America, hearts were warmed at the sight of Lee Isaac Chung's seven-year-old daughter jumping up for joy, wrapping her arms around her father's neck when his directorial feature Minari won best foreign language film.
She told him excitedly, "I prayed, I prayed," in response to his triumph. Chung hugged his daughter tightly, thanked her and said he had made the film for her.
In the most emotional moment of the night, Taylor Simone Ledward - the wife of actor Chadwick Boseman, whose death last year at the age of 43 from colon cancer shocked his fans and peers - accepted his trophy for best actor in a motion picture, drama. He won for the film Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.
Choking back tears, she said: "He would thank God. He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices."
She added that her husband would have said "something beautiful" and continued: "I don't have his words, but we have to take all the moments to celebrate those we love."
In the biggest technical glitch of the night, Daniel Kaluuya, who won best supporting actor in a motion picture for Judas And The Black Messiah, had his stream muted when he began his speech.
Just when it seemed like the show was about to cut off his stream entirely and move on, he came back on and pointed to his screen - repeating "You're doing me dirty" four times and asking: "Am I on? Is this on?"
He then continued his speech in full and honoured the character who won him the award - American activist Fred Hampton.
An earlier report by the Los Angeles Times found that there were zero Black members in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) - which is the voting body behind the Golden Globes.
Hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler roasted the body in their opening monologue, calling awards shows "stupid" but added that "even with stupid things, inclusivity is important".
When Borat Subsequent Moviefilm leading man Sacha Baron Cohen picked up the movie's award for best comedy or musical, he said without skipping a beat: "Thank you to the all-white Hollywood Foreign Press."