A star is scorned: Shock snub for Golden Globes favourite

The New Daily
Jan 07, 2019, updated Jan 07, 2019

Glenn Close's surprise win for best actress (film drama) gave the 2019 Golden Globes their most memorable moment. Photo: Getty

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper vehicle A Star is Born has defied all expectations by losing all but one of the categories it was nominated for at the 2019 Golden Globes.

But the upset gave audiences the night’s highlight, when an emotional Glenn Close (who beat out Gaga for best actress in a drama for her role in The Wife) brought the A-list crowd to tears with her acceptance speech.

“I’m thinking of my mother, who sublimated herself to my father,” Close said, adding that now is the time for women in the industry to “seek personal fulfilment”.

“We have to say ‘I can do that, and I should be allowed to do that’,” she said.

It was a powerful political moment in a ceremony which was otherwise mostly lighthearted, and earned three-time Golden Globe winner Close the most enthusiastic ovation of the night.

Gaga’s losses were perhaps a blessing in disguise for the actress, whose immense Valentino dress kept her from getting onto the stage without the assistance of a team of helpers.

Other highlights came from Christian Bale, who thanked Satan for inspiring his performance as former US-vice president Dick Cheney in Vice, and Olivia Colman, whose turn as Queen Anne in The Favourite earned the British actress the win in the best actress, comedy category.

Christian Bale accepting an award at the 76th Golden Globes.

Christian Bale’s acceptance speech likened Dick Cheney to Satan. Photo: Getty

“I’d like to tell you how much this film meant to me, but I can’t because I’m too excited – I had a f—ing blast,” she said, adding she got to “go on a jet” and eat all the food she wanted.

But the speeches weren’t all fun, with the likes of Green Book director Peter Farrelly continuing to give his unsolicited opinion on global race relations well after the show’s producers tried to play him off stage.

“No, no – Turn that off,” he shouted as the music came up.

Cecil B. DeMille Award recipient Jeff Bridges gave a similarly lengthy, if far more confusing speech – complete with baffling references to ship rudders and games of tag.

The dorky back-and forth between debut co-hosts Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg fell flat with all but a handful of jokes hitting their target.

Oh then gave a masterclass in over-acting after being named winner of best actress (television drama) for her role in Killing Eve.

She veered wildly between teary-eyed and ecstatic after shouting the title of the show into the microphone.

Nicole Kidman didn’t win her category (other Australian nominees Yvonne Strahovski and Tony McNamara also lost out) but still had a notable onstage moment.

Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban at the 2019 Golden Globes.

Nicole Kidman was beaten by Glenn Close for best actress (film drama). Photo: Getty

Right after Rami Malek accepted the award for best actor in a drama film, he rushed back on stage to celebrate the movie’s big win in the best drama category.

According to E!, Malek “found himself attempting to seamlessly navigate the sudden crowd of people” and tried to have “a moment” with category presenter Kidman by reaching to hug her.

“Either she didn’t notice Rami or simply wanted to give the cast of Bohemian Rhapsody their time to shine,” said the entertainment site, which noted Malek “eventually gave up on interacting with Nicole” and stood in the back while the award was accepted.

Earlier in the night, Chrissy Metz and Alison Brie reportedly had a bizarre red carpet blue after presenter Metz was allegedly caught calling Glow star Brie a “bitch” on a hot microphone.

After being told the media and Twitter was picking up her hot mic moment, Metz tweeted to clear things up.

“It’s terribly unfortunate anyone would think much less run a story that was completely fabricated,” she wrote. “I adore Alison and would never say a bad word about her, or anyone! I sure hope she knows my heart.”

Vanity Fair writer Nicole Sperling tweeted Brie had not heard Metz’s comment and seemed confused by it.

“But why?” she asked. “I know her. I saw her on the carpet and I told her how beautiful she looked.”

In an Instagram story, she later posted a photo of herself with Metz from the 2018 SAG Awards writing she has “nothing but love” for Metz.