By Jake Coyle
Australian Rose Byrne has joined the winners’ list at the Golden Globe Awards, taking out the gong for best performance by a female actor in a musical or comedy.
Byrne won for her performance as a psychotherapist in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.
Byrne joins Timothée Chalamet, who was named best male actor in a musical or comedy for his role in Marty Supreme.
“Of course I didn’t prepare anything. I didn’t sing in this movie. Thank you so much. This is such a shock!” Byrne said.
“Thanks so much to my parents for getting Paramount+ so they can watch in Sydney.”
Byrne paid tribute to If I Had Legs I’d Kick You writer-director Mary Bronstein.
“She wrote this unbelievable screenplay and she wanted me to do it, and I can’t believe you wanted me to do it … We shot this movie in 25 days for like $8.50. This is a tiny film so this is a huge thing to be up here.”
Earlier, the 83rd Golden Globes got under way with a pointedly political opening from host Nikki Glaser and an early award for the night’s favourite, One Battle After Another.
Glaser, hosting the show for the second straight year, kicked off the Beverly Hills, California, event on a note of self-aware satire.
“Yes, the Golden Globes, without a doubt the most important thing happening in the world right now,” Glaser said.
The comedian landed some punch lines on the usual subjects – the age of Leonardo DiCaprio’s dates, Kevin Hart’s height – before referencing the Epstein files, suggesting best editing should go to the Justice Department.
The night’s first award went to Teyana Taylor for her explosive supporting performance in One Battle After Another.
A teary-eyed Taylor took the stage and accepted what could be the first of many awards for Paul Thomas Anderson’s film.
“To my brown sisters and little brown girls watching tonight, our softness is not a liability. Our depth is not too much. Our light does not need permission to shine,” she said.
Best supporting actor went to Stellan Skarsgård for the Norwegian family drama Sentimental Value, defeating Australia’s Jacob Elordi who was nominated for his role in Frankenstein.
It was the first major Hollywood movie award for the 74-year-old, a respected veteran actor who drew a standing ovation.
“I was not prepared for this because I, of course, thought I was too old,” said Skarsgård.
Amy Poehler won the inaugural award for podcasting, while KPop Demon Hunters triumphed in the best song category.
One Battle After Another has a leading nine nominations, competing in the Globes’ musical or comedy category.
The most comically poignant award of the night went to Seth Rogen, whose Hollywood satire The Studio memorably included an episode devoted to drama around a night at the Globes. (Sample line: “I remember when the red carpet of the Golden Globes actually stood for something.”)
Rogen won best male actor in a comedy.
“This is so weird,” Rogen said, chuckling. “We just pretended to do this. And now it’s happening.”
FULL LIST OF WINNERS OF THE GOLDEN GLOBES
Motion picture drama – Hamnet
Motion picture, musical or comedy – One Battle After Another
Male actor, motion picture, drama – Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
Female actor, motion picture, drama – Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Female actor, motion picture, musical or comedy – Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You
Male actor, motion picture, musical or comedy – Timothee Chalamet, Marty Supreme
Female supporting actor, motion picture – Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
Male supporting actor, motion picture – Stellan Skarsgard, Sentimental Value
Motion picture, non-English language – The Secret Agent, Brazil
Motion picture, animated – KPop Demon Hunters
Director, motion picture – Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Screenplay, motion picture – Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Cinematic and box office achievement – Sinners
TV series, drama – The Pitt
TV series, musical or comedy – The Studio
Male actor, TV series, drama – Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Female actor, TV series, drama – Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus
Female actor, TV series, musical or comedy – Jean Smart, Hacks
Male actor, TV series, musical or comedy – Seth Rogen, The Studio
Limited series, anthology series or made for TV movie – Adolescence
Male actor, limited series, anthology series or made for TV movie – Stephen Graham, Adolescence
Female actor, limited series, anthology series or made for TV movie – Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex
Male supporting actor, television – Owen Cooper, Adolescence
Female supporting actor, television – Erin Doherty, Adolescence
Original song, motion picture – Golden from Kpop Demon Hunters
Original score, motion picture – Ludwig Goransson, Sinners
Stand-up comedy performance – Ricky Gervais, Mortality
Podcast – Good Hang With Amy Poehler