Australian women in Hollywood have taken over the 81st Golden Globes as Sarah Snook, Elizabeth Debicki and Margot Robbie’s Barbie nab big award categories.
Snook picked up Best Actress in a drama TV series for her role as Shiv Roy in the highly acclaimed HBO drama series Succession— the second time she’s won a Golden Globe for the role. Snook graciously thanked her entire team in her acceptance speech, saying, “This show, it’s changed my life.”
“This was a team effort, it was always that was what made the show amazing.”
“This room is so intimidating,” she added with a laugh before turning to leave the stage.
Succession also took home Best Drama series at the 2024 ceremony.
Best supporting actress in a television series went to Aussie actor Elizabeth Debicki for her portrayal of Princess Diana in The Crown. In a slew of “thank you’s” while accepting the award, Debicki dedicated her win to her “beloved Godmother who left us too soon”.
The coveted award for best actress in a musical or comedy went to Emma Stone for her role as Bella Baxter in Poor Things, a story about a young woman brought to life by an unorthodox scientist.
“Tony, our writer, I love getting to say this dialogue and I love getting to horrify you with my Australian accent,” said Stone, upon accepting the award.
“Playing Bella was unbelievable,” she said. “I think [Poor Things] is a rom-com, but in the sense that Bella falls in love with life itself … She accepts the good and bad in equal measure. That really made me look at life differently… This means the world to me.”
Missing out on the award for best actress in a musical or comedy is Australia’s own Margot Robbie for her Barbie portrayal – a shock to many who were expecting that Barbie might sweep the night’s categories.
Nevertheless, Robbie still nabbed a different win as Barbie took out the newly created award for cinematic and box office achievement – an announcement that was met with a standing ovation by the Golden Globes audience.
Greta Gerwig directed the 2023 smash hit, and Robbie was a co-producer. The two took to the stage to accept the awards with Robbie telling the audience: “We want to dedicate this to every single person on the planet who dressed up and went to the greatest place on earth: the movie theatres.”
In another Barbie win, the film’s feature song, “What Was I Made For? ” written and performed by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell claimed the award for Best Song in a Motion Picture.
“It was exactly a year ago almost that we were shown the movie, and I was extremely miserable and depressed at the time. Writing that song kind of saved me a little bit … I feel incredibly lucky and grateful,” Eilish said in her speech, adding ‘thank you’s’ to the movie’s cast and crew and “Margot for being Margot”.
American actor Ayo Edebiri’s speech for her Best Actress in a musical or comedy tv show has earned a public round of applause as she made sure to give thanks to not only to her agents and managers, but also their “assistants”.
“To the people who answer my emails,” Edebiri said to a roaring crowd. “Ya’ll are real ones.”
Edebiri received the award for her performance as Sydney Adamu in FX’s The Bear.
More stand-out women taking home 2024 Golden Globes include Ali Wong who won Best Actress in a limited series, anthology series or television motion picture for her performance as Amy Lau in Beef. Wong has made history with this win as she becomes the first actress of Asian descent to win a Golden Globe in the category.
Beef also won Best Limited series, anthology series or television motion picture.
Lily Gladstone, who has Piegan Blackfeet and Nez Perce heritage, became the first Indigenous person to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture. She starred in Martin Scorsese’s film, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, which saw her receive the historic accolade.
American actor Da’Vine Joy Randolph won Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her performance as Mary Lamb in The Holdovers.
“It’s honest”, Joy Randolf said about the film when asked after the awards what made it such an instant classic. “
Referring to her character, Mary Lamb, Joy Randolf added that “she’s every woman”.
“She’s my grandmother. She’s my aunt. She’s my mother. She’s every woman, and so I just felt really honoured to have the possibility to create this presence.”
“Women have this amazing ability– in spite of what they’re going through, their trials and tribulations– to still push on. To still be a nurturer and a caregiver to others.”
Da’Vine Joy Randolf, American Actor