Golden Globes 2021: these are the night's big winners

Los Angeles, California - Sunday night's 78th Golden Globes was a show unlike any other thanks to the coronavirus restrictions, with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosting remotely from New York’s Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center and the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, respectively. Who were the virtual award show's big winners?

Chloé Zhao (l.) takes the win as best director for Nomadland. Bryce Dallas Howard announces her nomination on-stage.
Chloé Zhao (l.) takes the win as best director for Nomadland. Bryce Dallas Howard announces her nomination on-stage.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Press

Chloé Zhao bagged the night's main directing award for best drama with her Western road movie Nomadland.

Zhao, a 38-year-old Chinese-born filmmaker, became the first woman of Asian descent to win best director, and only the second woman in the history of the awards to win after Babra Streisand. The drama based on a non-fiction book follows the story of a 61-year-old widow, played by Frances McDormand, as she navigates life on the road, working several jobs, and befriends fellow nomads in the aftermath of the Great Recession.

Amazon's Borat Subsequent Moviefilm scored a double win in the best comedy or musical category, with Sacha Baron Cohen also taking home best actor.

The 49-year-old Brit returns to the US (and A) to prank average Americans and some unsuspecting big names, including famously Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

The Crown comes out as one of the big winners of the nights

Emma Corrin as Princess Diana in the award-winning show The Crown.
Emma Corrin as Princess Diana in the award-winning show The Crown.  © IMAGO / Cinema Publishers Collection

Jodie Foster (58) won her first Golden Globe in nearly 30 years for her supporting role in The Mauritanian.

The British royal series The Crown was, as expected, among the night's big winners, bagging four awards.

The popular show took best drama series, while Josh O’Connor and Emma Corrin were honored for their roles Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

Meanwhile, Gillian Anderson took the best supporting actress award for playing Margaret Thatcher on the drama.

Streaming giant Netflix won big

Renee Zellweger announces the late Chadwick Boseman as winner of the Best Actor Motion Picture Drama award for Ma Rainey s Black Bottom.
Renee Zellweger announces the late Chadwick Boseman as winner of the Best Actor Motion Picture Drama award for Ma Rainey s Black Bottom.  © IMAGO / Cinema Publishers Collection

With Netflix productions dominating the Golden Globes, it came as no surprise that the streaming giant won the top TV awards.

The platform's mega-hit series Queen’s Gambit won best limited series, and best actress in the category for Anya Taylor-Joy's brilliant portrayal of the show's chess genius.

The record-breaking Canadian series Schitt’s Creek added to Netflix's haul at the award show, bagging the win for best comedy series, and Catherine O’Hara taking best actress in a comedy series.

Among the night's surprising winners was Rosamund Pike, who won best actress in a comedy or musical film for her role in the Netflix original film I Care a Lot.

One of Sunday's most emotional moments was the announcement of Chadwick Boseman's posthumous win for best actor in a drama film for his final performance, in the adaptation of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Boseman’s widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, broke out in tears when she accepted the Golden Globe for her deceased husband.

"There’s no Black members of the HFPA. You have to change that."

Andra Day (c.) overwhelmed with joy after Joaquin Phoenix (on stage) names her winner of the Best Actress award for The United States vs. Billie Holiday.
Andra Day (c.) overwhelmed with joy after Joaquin Phoenix (on stage) names her winner of the Best Actress award for The United States vs. Billie Holiday.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Press

Andra Day won the Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture drama, for her powerful performance in the Hulu film The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

Day made history as only the second Black woman ever to win this award, after Whoopi Goldberg over three decades ago, underlining the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's poor record of Black and POC representation, for which it recently came under fire.

The scandalous revelation that the association did not have any Black voters and the sparse nominations for Black actors and directors overshadowed much of the virtual broadcast.

"Everyone is upset with the HFPA and their choices. Look, a lot of flashy garbage got nominated, but that happens. That is their thing. But a number of Black actors and Black-led projects were overlooked," said Amy Poehler, the show's host alongside Tina Fey.

"Inclusivity is important," Fey added. "There’s no Black members of the HFPA. You have to change that."

Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Press

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