It was a night of surprises at the always-unpredictable Golden Globe Awards last night in Los Angeles which included several wins for LGBTQ-themed projects:
Bohemian Rhapsody, the Queen biopic, picked up the statue for "Best Motion Picture Drama." Additionally, Rami Malek’s star turn as queer frontman Freddie Mercury scored a win in the "Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture" category.
Malek pointedly did not thank controversial out director Bryan Singer, who was fired from the project.
Despite mixed reviews, the film is the highest grossing music biopic in movie history.
Rami Malek dedicates his #GoldenGlobes award to Freddie Mercury pic.twitter.com/rjcDNFMyuX
— Mesut (@Tvvittergod1) January 7, 2019
Green Book, which chronicles the friendship of gay, black pianist Don Shirley and his chauffeur Tony Vallelonga in early 1960s Deep South, won “Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical,” “Best Screenplay,” and “Best Supporting Actor.”
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, which told the story of disturbed gay serial murderer Andrew Cunanan, scored as “Best Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for TV.”
Having already won the Emmy Award this year, Darren Criss picked up another trophy for “Best Actor in a Limited Series” as Cunanan.
In his acceptance speech, Assassination executive director Brad Simpson warned that although his project was set in the 1990s, the times today are not so different.
“This was the era of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ It was the Defense of Marriage Act era. Those forces of hate are still here with us. They tell us we should be scared of people who are different than us. They tell us we should put walls around ourselves. As artists we must fight back by representing those who are not represented by providing a space for people with new voices to tell stories that haven’t been told. As human beings, we can resist in the streets, resist at the ballot box. and practice love and empathy in our everyday lives. Our show is a period piece, but those forces are not historical. They are here, they are with us, and we must resist.”
Out actor Ben Whishaw won “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture” for his work as ‘Norman Scott’ in A Very English Scandal.
And Olivia Coleman’s portrayal as ‘Queen Anne,’ who indulges in romance with not one but two women, in The Favourite, took home the award for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy.”
Perhaps the biggest upset of the evening was Glenn Close’s surprise win for her role in The Wife over the much-lauded Lady Gaga turn in A Star is Born.
This was Close’s 15th Golden Globe nomination and 3rd win. The veteran actress has never won at the Oscars, though, and this may make the Academy voters take another look at Close.
In addition to her stunned reaction, Close delivered one of the most touching acceptance speeches of the night underscoring the balance of family life with personal fulfillment:
“I’m thinking of my mom, who really sublimated herself to my father her whole life. And in her 80s, she said to me, ‘I feel I haven’t accomplished anything.’ And it was so not right,” the actress said. “What I’ve learned through this whole experience is that women, we’re nurturers. That’s what’s expected of us. We have our children; we have our husbands, if we are lucky enough; and our partners, whoever. But we have to find personal fulfillment. We have to follow our dreams. We have to say ‘I can do that, and I should be allowed to do that.’ ”
Gaga fans, however, were not moved by the inspiring words.
In fact, they got downright hostile on social media.
GLEN CLOSE??? Not #LadyGaga?? I’m done with you #GoldenGlobes
You as drunk as Christian Bale and Bill Murray.#GoldenGlobeAwards #GaGaWasRobbed #WhoPaidForThisShit— Rien Forme (@rien4me) January 7, 2019
Glen close really? She is junk. She was so surprised bscause enem she knows lady gaga was better.
— Chris church (@Churchy53) January 7, 2019
Idk how a star is born didn’t win every award last night. Bradly cooper literally practiced for months and lady Gaga was incredible!
— NICOL CONCILIO (@nicolconcilio) January 7, 2019
who even is glen close i’m sorry lady gaga totally deserved that
— hads (@bonkersgabbie) January 7, 2019
And those were the tame tweets.
Gaga didn’t go home empty-handed though. She still attained the title 'Golden Globe winner' for her contribution to writing 'Shallow,' which won for “Best Original Song, Motion Picture.”
Watch this exclusive first #GoldenGlobes backstage interview with @LadyGaga and @MarkRonson as they talk about collaborating on Best Original Song "Shallows." pic.twitter.com/FegcNDIkLM
— Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) January 7, 2019
Another notable disappointment for LGBTQs was Billy Porter’s stunning work as “Pray Tell” in the acclaimed FX series Pose being overlooked, as well as the series itself.
Still, Porter was a standout on the red carpet, giving us life with a spectacular cape designed by NYC designer Randy Rahm.
Here’s a complete list of those who took home Golden Globe Awards last night:
Movies
Best Motion Picture, Drama: Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Green Book
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Christian Bale, Vice
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture: Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture: Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Best Screenplay, Motion Picture: Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie and Peter Farrelly, Green Book
Best Motion Picture, Animated: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language: Roma
Best Original Score, Motion Picture: Justin Hurwitz, First Man
Best Original Song, Motion Picture: “Shallow,” A Star Is Born
Television
Best Television Series, Drama: The Americans
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, Drama: Richard Madden, Bodyguard
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Drama: Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy: Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television: Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannemora
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television: Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Patricia Clarkson, Sharp Objects
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Ben Whishaw, A Very English Scandal
