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It’s two for three for Snook and Debicki

Australian starlets Elizabeth Debicki and Sarah Snook dominated the acting categories, and the Margot Robbie-produced blockbuster Barbie finally got its dues.

Sarah Snook, Margot Robbie, and Elizabeth Debicki were all winners at the 2024 Critics' Choice Awards.
Sarah Snook, Margot Robbie, and Elizabeth Debicki were all winners at the 2024 Critics' Choice Awards.

An Emmy Awards home run looks more likely than ever for Australian stars Elizabeth Debicki and Sarah Snook, with both actors taking home major gongs at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards.

Debicki cinched the best supporting actress trophy for her performance as Princess Diana in the final season of The Crown. The 33-year-old starlet is probably the only actor in awards season history to climb up a flight of stairs, accept her trophy, and announce: “I’m puffed.”

Debicki, dressed in a jewel-encrusted black jumpsuit, said that playing Diana was a “a terrifying challenge that I will always be grateful for.” “My only hope was that I would do this remarkable, incredible, glorious human proud by playing her in this show.”

Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki poses in the press room with the Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series award for "The Crown" during the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. Picture: Michael Tran/AFP
Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki poses in the press room with the Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series award for "The Crown" during the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. Picture: Michael Tran/AFP

Succession was the big winner of the night, taking out the best drama series. Adelaide’s Snook, 36, took home her first best lead actress trophy for her role as Shiv Roy. She, like most of the winners of the evening, kept her speech short and sweet. Presumably, there’s going to be a lot of double ups at the Emmy Awards tomorrow night — with shows like Beef and The Bear continuing their winning streak.

Australian actress Sarah Snook, winner of the Best Actress in a Drama Series award for “Succession” poses in the press room during the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California on January 14, 2024. Picture: Michael Tran / AFP
Australian actress Sarah Snook, winner of the Best Actress in a Drama Series award for “Succession” poses in the press room during the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California on January 14, 2024. Picture: Michael Tran / AFP

“I play dress-ups for a living. What a silly thrill that is,” Snook said. Her co-star, Kieran Culkin, also took home the best actor prize. After winning a Golden Globe last week for his performance as Roman Roy, the star decided to use most of this speech to talk about the way that both Snook and his wife have developed a habit of plucking the hairs from behind his ears.

“Barbie” went into the ceremony as the most nominated film of the evening, with 18, far eclipsing its rivals — “Oppenheimer” and “Poor Things,” with 13 each. And “Killers of the Flower Moon” with 12.

It fared much better tonight compared with last week’s Globes disappointment, taking home six trophies, including best song for the Mark Ronson-produced glam rock odyssey ‘I’m Just Ken’ and best original screenplay.

Host Chelsea Handler went off script and invited Margot Robbie and “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig up to the stage to accept their win for best comedy — an award that was not televised. After a quick thank you, Robbie palmed speech duties off to Gerwig, who praised Mattel for “letting us take their beloved icon and make something so unhinged.”

Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie accept the Best Comedy Award for "Barbie" onstage during the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association
Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie accept the Best Comedy Award for "Barbie" onstage during the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association

Robbie lost the best actress gong to Emma Stone for her performance in Yorgos Lanthimos’ deranged erotic comedy “Poor Things,” but she still got her screen time. Dressed in a dramatic, rose-adorned, custom Balmain gown, she took to the stage to present the #SeeHer award, which honours a woman who pushes “boundaries on changing stereotypes” and furthers “authentic portrayals of women across the entertainment landscape.” That honour went to her “Barbie” co-star America Ferrera, who in her speech acknowledged, “I wouldn’t be standing here without Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig.”

Margot Robbie presents America Ferrera with the #SeeHer Award onstage during the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 14, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association
Margot Robbie presents America Ferrera with the #SeeHer Award onstage during the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 14, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association

“You saw value in Barbie, an entirely female idea that most would have dismissed as too girly, too frivolous, or too problematic. You had the courage and vision to take it on. Thank you for gifting the world with Barbie.”

Oppenheimer emerged as the one to beat at the Oscars. The film won 8 of the 13 awards it was nominated for, including a best director trophy for Christopher Nolan, and a win for Best Picture.

The cast of Oppenheimer and Christopher Nolan accept the Best Picture Award onstage during the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 14, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association
The cast of Oppenheimer and Christopher Nolan accept the Best Picture Award onstage during the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 14, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association

The 2024 Critics Choice Award winners

Film

Best Picture

“Oppenheimer”

Best Actor

Paul Giamatti, “The Holdovers”

Best Actress

Emma Stone, “Poor Things”

Best Supporting Actor

Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer”

Best Supporting Actress

Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”

Best Young Actor or Actress

Dominic Sessa, “The Holdovers”

Best Acting Ensemble

“Oppenheimer”

Best Director

Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”

Best Original Screenplay

“Barbie”

Best Adapted Screenplay

“American Fiction”

Best Cinematography

“Oppenheimer”

Best Production Design

“Barbie”

Best Editing

“Oppenheimer”

Best Costume Design

“Barbie”

Best Hair and Makeup

“Barbie”

Best Visual Effects

“Oppenheimer”

Best Comedy

“Barbie”

Best Animated Feature

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”

Best Foreign-Language Film

“Anatomy of a Fall”

Best Song

“I’m Just Ken,” from “Barbie”

Best Score

Ludwig Göransson, “Oppenheimer”

Television

Best Drama Series

“Succession”

Best Actor, Drama Series

Kieran Culkin, “Succession”

Best Actress, Drama Series

Sarah Snook, “Succession”

Best Supporting Actor, Drama Series

Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”

Best Supporting Actress, Drama Series

Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”

Best Comedy Series

“The Bear”

Best Actor, Comedy Series

Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

Best Actress, Comedy Series

Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”

Best Supporting Actor, Comedy Series

Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”
Best Supporting Actress, Comedy Series

Meryl Streep, “Only Murders in the Building”

Best Limited Series

“Beef”

Best TV movie

“Quiz Lady”

Best Actor, Limited Series or TV movie

Steven Yeun, “Beef”

Best Actress, Limited Series or TV movie

Ali Wong, “Beef”

Best Supporting Actor, Limited Series or TV movie

Jonathan Bailey, “Fellow Travelers”

Best Supporting Actress, Limited Series or TV movie

Maria Bello, “Beef”

Best Foreign-Language Series

“Lupin”

Best Animated Series

“Scott Pilgrim Takes Off”

Best Talk Show

“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”

Best Comedy Special

“John Mulaney: Baby J”

Geordie Gray
Geordie GrayEntertainment reporter

Geordie Gray is an entertainment reporter based in Sydney. She writes about film, television, music and pop culture. Previously, she was News Editor at The Brag Media and wrote features for Rolling Stone. She did not go to university.

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/its-two-for-three-for-snook-and-debicki/news-story/491cabb213d30ca5373d7e7eaf9eef5f