Golden Globe Awards 2025 RECAP: Bad night for UK actors and film-makers as Brits miss out

Golden Globes turns into a bad night for British actors and film-makers

The 2025 Golden Globes turned into a bad night for British actors and film-makers, who walked away with only a handful of gongs across film and TV categories.

Baby Reindeer creator and Scottish comedian Richard Gadd took home best limited TV or anthology series or TV movie, while his Yorkshire co-star Jessica Gunning secured her first win for the best female supporting actress in the television category for the dark comedy series at the event in California on Sunday night.

However, Gadd missed out on winning best performance by a male actor in a limited or anthology series or TV film, after Irish actor Colin Farrell took home his third Golden Globe, for playing the Batman villain Penguin in an HBO series of the same name.

Last year saw British film-maker Sir Christopher Nolan triumph with Oppenheimer, and win best director for the first time, for his drama about the work of the father of the atomic bomb, which took home a total of five Golden Globes.

This time at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, British screenwriter Peter Straughan picked up the best screenplay gong for Conclave, about scheming cardinals holding a vote for the next pope, starring British actor Ralph Fiennes.

Fiennes was beaten in the best actor – drama category by American actor Adrien Brody for The Brutalist, which focused on a Hungarian architect attempting to build a life in the US after the Second World War.

Similarly, British actresses Kate Winslet, Cynthia Erivo and Tilda Swinton, English actors Daniel Craig, Hugh Grant, Gary Oldman, Eddie Redmayne and Scottish stars Ewan McGregor and Jack Lowden did not succeed in getting past their nominations.

Shōgun major winner of the night while Wicked misses out

In the final awards of the night, Shōgun emerged as the clear winner in the television categories, sweeping up at least 4 Globes in important categories.

Meanwhile, The Brutalist could prove to be an early frontrunner for other major awards ceremonies later this year, after Adrien Brody got the gong for Best Actor, and the drama film won Best Motion Picture.

However, for the team behind Wicked and the stars on screen, the night proved to be disappointing, missing out on awards in all the categories it was nominated, bar the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award.

Winners of the final Golden Globes were:

• Anna Sawai, Shōgun - Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama
• Adrien Brody, The Brutalist - Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
• The Brutalist - Best Motion Picture - Drama
• Emilia Pérez - Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Aubrey Plaza pulled out of Golden Globes after tragedy

Aubrey Plaza did not attend the Golden Globes after her husband Jeff Baena tragically died aged 47 on Friday.

The director was unresponsive when an assistant found him at his Los Angeles home. Law enforcement offers and the fire brigade from the LA area arrived at his home at 10.25am on January 3 and he was pronounced dead on the scene. The LA County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Jeff's death as suicide.

A spokesperson for Jeff's family, including his wife Aubrey, confirmed to the Mirror that they had been left devastated by the heartbreaking news and stated that the circumstances surrounding his death remained unclear but requested that they be granted time to grieve privately.

Elton John cracks eyesight joke after recent health concern

Sir Elton John has joked about his sight loss on stage at the Golden Globes as he presented the Best Original Score prize.

The 77-year-old singer revealed in an Instagram post in September that his right eye's vision has been affected since he contracted an infection in the summer.

While presenting at the Golden Globes with Brandi Carlile, who he sang the track Never Too Late with, Sir Elton told the audience: “There has been a lot of stories going … around about my regressive eyesight, and I just want to reassure everyone it is not as bad as it seems, I’m so pleased to be here with my co-host, Rihanna.”

The brilliant Brandi Carlile and @eltonofficial are here to present the #GoldenGlobes award for Best Score – Motion Picture! pic.twitter.com/SwkcdFbKJn

— Golden Globes (@goldenglobes) January 6, 2025

Shōgun and Hacks dominate best TV series categories

Historical feudal Japan drama Shōgun has won yet another Golden Globe, winning the award for Best Television Series - Drama, while HBO's Hacks took home another prize with the gong for Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical.

Despite facing down Hollywood stars like Tilda Swinton, Kate Winslet and Angelina Jolie for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Fernanda Torres won out for her role in I'm Still Here, a drama about a 1971 military dictatorship in Brazil.

• Baby Reindeer - Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
• Hacks - Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical
• Shōgun - Best Television Series - Drama
• Fernanda Torres for I'm Still Here - Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Wicked picks up Globe for 'Cinematic and Box Office Achievement'

After missing out on the Best Actress gong, Wicked has picked up the Golden Globe for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, beating out other blockbusters like Gladiator II and Deadpool & Wolverine.

The dynamic duo of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross won their fourth Golden Globe for their propulsive, synthy score to the hot-and-bothered, threesome-adjacent tennis psychodrama “Challengers.”

“To be honest, we always thought we’d get the call, ‘Can you turn it down a little bit,’ but it never came,” Ross said in his acceptance speech. “And here we are.”

Other winners so far have included:

• Sebastian Stan for A Different Man - Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
• Flow - Best Motion Picture - Animated
• Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross for Challengers - Best Original Score - Motion Picture
• El Mal, Emilia Pérez, Music and lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille and Jacques Audiard - Best Original Song - Motion Picture
• Wicked - Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

'My heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff's family'

The winner of the Best Director - Motion Picture award, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, paid a brief tribute to Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena after the tragic news that rocked Hollywood just days ago.

Writer and director Baena was found dead at his family home, which he shares with his wife, actress Aubrey Plaza, on Friday - just days before Plaza was due to present at the Golden Globes.

Ending a heartfelt speech thanking those involved in the film and remembering those he had lost along the way, Corbet told the audience in a brief commemoration: "My heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff's family."

Brady Corbet wins Best Director - Motion Picture for #TheBrutalist at the 2025 #GoldenGlobes and sends his condolences to Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena's families. pic.twitter.com/a9Vg3Rols7

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 6, 2025

Colin Farrell wins award for The Penguin while Wicked misses out

Dublin-born Colin Farrell picked up one of the major prizes of the night for his role in The Penguin - Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television. The HBO Batman spinoff follows Colin as Oz Cobb, a Gotham gangster negotiating the city's gritty underworld.

Accepting the award, the 48-year-old said: "No one to thank on this one - I did it all by myself." Adding a more serious note, he said: "You all know it takes a village." Winning Best Performance by an Actress in the same category was Hollywood legend Jodie Foster, for playing Liz Danvers in True Detective: Night Country.

In a twist for Wicked fans, the gong for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy did not go to Cynthia Erivo, but to another Hollywood legend - Demi Moore for horror flick The Substance.

Jeremy Allen White picks up Best Performance by an Actor

The high-stakes kitchen comedy-drama The Bear has won a major award, with lead Jeremy Allen White picking up the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Comedy or Musical.

Then, Ali Wong picked up a Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television for her hilarious Netflix special, Single Lady.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the cinema world, the highly contested Globe for Best Screenplay has gone to Peter Straughan for his Pope thriller Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci.

One of the favourites at this year's Golden Globes, Emilia Pérez, was also awarded Best Motion Picture - Non-English Language.

More wins roll in at 82nd Golden Globes as Shōgun picks up gongs

Awards are coming thick and fast from the Golden Globes stage, with plenty of new faces winning major awards.

Hiroyuki Sanada won the Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama award for his complex role as a warlord in Shōgun, while Baby Reindeer's Jessica Gunning won Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role on Television.

Losing her footing as she went up the stairs, Gunning remarked: "You almost saw my Golden Globes."

But Shōgun would pick up another nod, with Tadanobu Asano picking up the Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role on Television prize, beating fellow nominee Harrison Ford.

Kieran Culkin beat out a crowded field to win Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture for his role in A Real Pain, which was directed by actor-turned-director Jesse Eisenberg, who Culkin thanked for writing "an incredible script."

Jean Smart wins Best Performance by an Actress

Host Nikki Glaser 'roasts' Golden Globes with opening Ozempic jab

This host of this year's Golden Globes, comedian Nikki Glaser, opened the awards ceremony with a jab at the ever-skinnier crowd of Hollywood actors, as well as a reference to the now-infamously awkward Ariana Grande interview with Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo.

Referencing the brand name weight loss drug that has taken Hollywood by storm, Glaser said: "Welcome to the 82nd Golden Globes, Ozempic's biggest night," before continuing her 10-minute roast of the star-studded crowd.

Say hello to your roast for the night—Oops, we mean HOST for the night... @NikkiGlaser! #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/MVa5FQ1NoS

— Golden Globes (@goldenglobes) January 6, 2025

First Golden Globe winners announced

The first gong winner of the night is Zoe Saldaña for her role in Emilia Pérez, taking home the Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture.

The nominees were:

• Selena Gomez, Emilia Pérez
• Ariana Grande, Wicked
• Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
• Margaret Qualley, The Substance
• Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
• Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

Wicked stars line up ahead of four potential wins

Superstar and Golden Globe nominee Ariana Grande has arrived, wearing a flowing golden dress.

She said she was channelling “follow the yellow brick road” with her 1966 archival Givenchy gown as she led a yellow-gold trend at the Golden Globes.

Also arriving was Wicked director Jon Chu, who said he’s happy some people see his film as subversive.

Walking the Golden Globes red carpet not long after diapering his newly arrived fifth child, Chu said, “We hope that in this time of cynicism and pessimism and maybe even cruelty we rise up for who we are and take control of the story.

"I love that we get to do those things in a delicious little musical.”

Wicked has been nominated for four Globes, including Best Musical or Comedy Film.

We have an announcement! Ariana Grande has arrived! #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/ByKY9TDyd2

— Golden Globes (@goldenglobes) January 6, 2025

Cynthia Erivo arrives on the red carpet

One of this year's nominees for Best Actress - Musical or Comedy, Wicked's Cynthia Erivo, has made an ethereal entrance on the red carpet.

Wearing a shaped black and white gown for the occasion, paired, of course, with her statement nails, the British 37-year-old would be the second black woman in history to win the award.

And if you care to find her... Cynthia Erivo is here at the #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/7ZGBgMAJ4r

— Golden Globes (@goldenglobes) January 5, 2025

Red carpet starts filling up at Golden Globes 2025

The Golden Globes red carpet is filling up with stars, like Hit Man star Glen Powell who flashed his high-wattage smile as he walked the carpet arm in arm with his mother.

Elsewhere, his old Top Gun: Maverick co-star Monica Barbaro tripped on her blush gown while walking toward a roaming photographer. She laughed about the minor stumble.

“Can we pretend I didn’t just do that,” Barbaro said. “Let’s do that again.”

Barbaro plays Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown.

Best Supporting Actress nominee Liza Colón-Zayas arrives

Star of high-tension kitchen comedy-drama and Best Supporting Actress nominee, The Bear's Liza Colón-Zayas, has arrived on the Golden Globes red carpet.

Liza has previously won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the FX series, where she plays sous chef Tina Marrero alongside Jeremy Allen White's Carmy Berzatto.

Ahead of the ceremony, Liza said: "I still can’t believe I’m nominated. Thank you to all who’ve supported me on the best job ever!"

Show some love for one of our nominees for Best Supporting Female Actor – Television, Liza Colón-Zayas #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/tI6CRfwC56

— Golden Globes (@goldenglobes) January 5, 2025

How can I watch the Golden Globes?

The awards ceremony will be broadcast on both sides of the Atlantic with US viewers able to watch the show live on the CBS network, which is airing the Globes as part of a five-year deal.

It will also stream on Paramount+ with Showtime. The ceremony starts at 01:00 GMT and usually lasts between three and four hours. UK viewers without a VPN can expect to see highlights on social media, YouTube and news bulletins on Monday morning.

Paramount+ users with the Showtime add-on can stream the Golden Globes live. Other Paramount+ subscribers can stream the show the next day. The Globes can also be watched through live TV streaming services that include CBS in their lineup, like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV or FuboTV.

Robbie Williams' Better Man won't go down a forbidden road at the Oscars

The Golden Globes are not a perfect predictor for what will happen at the Oscars, and no one should appreciate that more than Robbie Williams.

The English pop star who launched his career in the British boy band Take That knows a little something about writing a big pop tune. But according to Variety, the song 'Forbidden Road' from his cheeky monkey biopic, Better Man was disqualified from the Oscars shortlist — after initially making the 15-song cut — because it "incorporates material from an existing song that was not written for the film" and is therefore ineligible.

No matter! The song is still up for the original song trophy at the Globes.

Tight security

The line of cars to get to the Golden Globes red carpet is the great democratizer.

Everyone entering the venue has to go through an elaborate and time-consuming security check from the bomb squad. Trunks popped. Windows open. Security dog does the round in the trunk. One member of the team told The Associated Press that security hasn’t necessarily increased from years past and that they always treat the checks with the same level of seriousness.

Attendees are known to grumble about the backlog it can cause, but this year’s event is following terror incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas. There’s a heightened appreciation for the rigor, even if the line of big black SUVs is already long and slow three hours before the show.

What will the celebs eat at the Golden Globes?

The event, often hailed as the "party of the year," sees the return of the celebrated Nobu Restaurants group. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa is back at the helm, presenting an array of signature dishes including The Gold Standard Roll — an indulgent sushi creation with king crab internally adorned, salmon on top, finished with gold flakes and caviar, served with yuzu sauce aside, fetching a price of $77 within his restaurants.

Among Matsuhisa's culinary offerings are seaweed tacos, yellowtail jalapenos, sashimi salad, black cod, and a trio of sushi selections featuring tuna, white fish, and salmon. "This is kind of like harmony with the caviars and, jalapenos," remarked Matsuhisa, bringing his renowned Japanese cuisine once again to the glitzy proceedings following last year's service.

Ricky Gervais reveals controversial monologue – despite not presenting

Ricky Gervais shared his monologue for this year on Twitter.

The comedian last presented the award ceremony four years ago and left the star-studded audience completely speechless. Although he stepped back from his role of host, he's now revealed how he would open the awards if he were responsible.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Ricky has revealed that once again, he wouldn't hold back. He told his 14.9 million followers on Elon Musk's platform: "Sat in the bath wondering about what I would say if I were hosting The Golden Globes on Sunday. It's been a pretty good year for material."

He went on to say: "Hello, and welcome to the 82nd Golden Globe awards. What a year it's been. Hundreds of entertainers jumped at the chance to go to The Vatican to meet The Pope. Many from Hollywood. " In a follow-up post, The Office star said: "Justin Timberlake was convicted of Drink Driving. If he'd have gone to jail he'd have heard the words 'Sexy Back' a lot more often."

Will Aubrey Day be presenting an award?

Actress Aubrey is schedueld to present award this evening, joining the likes of Salma Hayek.

However, the actress has not publicly commented on whether this will still be the case following the death of her husband, who died on Friday.

What are the Golden Globes?

The Globes not only initiate the major awards season but are also known for their less formal atmosphere featuring a mix of heavy drinking, irreverence, and a parade of the creme de la creme from both television and film.

Though not always a direct predictor of the Oscars, a Globe win can be a stepping stone in an actor or movie's campaign for that prestigious gold statuette. As the year's first televised show of its kind preceding others like the Screen Actors Guild and Critics Choice Awards, they have the edge in setting an initial pace approximately two months before the Oscars, scheduled this time around for March 2.

Who's nominated this year?

Jacques Audiard's bold musical "Emilia Pérez," about a Mexican drug baron's journey through gender affirming surgery, has snagged the lead with an impressive 10 nominations. It's ahead of other hot favourites including the hit musical "Wicked," the gripping papal drama "Conclave" and the postwar saga "The Brutalist."

Meanwhile, "The Apprentice," capturing Donald Trump's earlier years, has earned accolades for Sebastian Stan's portrayal of Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn. On the TV front, "The Bear" is out in front with five nods. Denzel Washington secures his 11th nomination, remaining the most celebrated Black actor in Globes history.

Steve Martin, meanwhile, bags his fourth consecutive best television actor nod in a musical or comedy series for "Only Murders in the Building," aiming for his first ever win at the Globes from nine nominations in total. There's a fresh wave of contenders this year with 26 first-timers like Grande, Dakota Fanning, Glaser, Seth Meyers, Zoe Saldaña, and Pamela Anderson, the latter surprisingly noticed for "The Last Showgirl." Despite past scandals and a shake-up that saw the Hollywood Foreign Press Association back away, the embattled Globes still hope to regain their former glory.