Cate Blanchett cements superstar status after Golden Globes win
Aussie’s third best actress Golden Globe catapults her into the ranks of legends such as Ingrid Bergman and Meryl Streep.
Cate Blanchett has cemented her status as one of the greatest screen performers of all time following her record-breaking third win for best actress at the Golden Globe Awards.
While the Australian star was not present for the ceremony, she claimed the top prize for her role as Lydia Tar in Todd Field’s icy conductor drama, Tar.
The latest addition to Blanchett’s fit-to-burst trophy cabinet catapults her to the ranks of Ingrid Bergman, Jane Fonda and Meryl Streep as three-time winners in the category of best actress (drama). But Blanchett holds a unique distinction: she’s the first to not win any of her three consecutively.
Blanchett’s previous victories in the category were for her roles in Elizabeth in 1998 and Blue Jasmine in 2013. She also holds a supporting actress Globe for I’m Not There in 2007.
With her latest win in tow, Blanchett is on track to win best actress at the Oscars in March.
Australians Margot Robbie (Babylon), Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown) and Hugh Jackman (The Son) were also up for acting awards, while Baz Luhrmann’s glitzed-out Elvis was nominated for best drama.
While those stars were unsuccessful in their respective categories, Elvis actor Austin Butler, who won best actor in a motion picture drama, used his speech to pay homage to Luhrmann.
“I owe this to a bold visionary filmmaker,” he said.
This year’s Golden Globes were plagued by controversy. US actor Brendan Fraser did not attend the ceremony after claiming he was groped by Philip Berk, former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association – the organisation that bestows the Globes – in 2003.
Berk was expelled from the HFPA in 2021, after sharing an article that described Black Lives Matter as a “racist hate group”.
Host Jerrod Carmichael didn’t shy away from the controversy, opening his monologue with: “Let me tell you why I’m here: I’m here ’cause I’m black.”
“I’ll catch everyone in the room up … This show, the Golden Globe Awards, did not air last year because the HFPA – which, I won’t say they were a racist organisation, but they didn’t have a single black member until George Floyd died.”
Despite challenges, the HFPA hosted a star-studded red carpet with Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg and Salma Hayek in attendance.
Martin McDonagh’s black comedy The Banshees of Inisherin took the most awards on the night including best film (musical or comedy). The film also picked up Globes for McDonagh’s screenplay and for Colin Farrell’s performance.
Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical family drama The Fabelmans won the Globe for best film (drama), and the award for best director. Meanwhile, A24’s dizzying Everything Everywhere All At Once was another big winner, with actors Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan both taking out prizes.
In television, Mike White’s The White Lotus won best limited series. The show’s star, Jennifer Coolidge, won her first Globe – for best supporting actress.