17 Jan 2011

Colin Firth wins Golden Globe for The King’s Speech

Colin Firth has been named best actor at the Golden Globes for his part in The King’s Speech. Elsewhere The Social Network and Glee were the big winners of the night.

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Helena Bonham Carter was nominated for a Golden Globe for The King's Speech (Reuters)

The Oscars

The Globes, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), are often seen as a guide to later Oscar success and many pundits have tipped Firth to win an Academy Award later this year.

His co-star Helena Bonham Carter, who missed out on the best supporting actress award for her performance as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, said she expected the father-of-three to win an Oscar.

Before the ceremony she said: “I’ve had a Golden Globe nomination before and then didn’t get an Oscar nomination. But I presume Colin will get one, and I presume Colin will win.”

Ricky Gervais

Some of the biggest stars from film and television descended on the Beverly Hilton Hotel for the ceremony, presented by Ricky Gervais.

The 49-year-old, who presented the show for the second year running, caused some controversy with his cutting humour that targeted some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

“It’s going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking,” Gervais began his opening monologue, sipping from a glass of what looked like beer. “Or, as Charlie Sheen calls it, breakfast.”

The comic also took a jibe at an unnamed Scientologist’s sexuality.

Alec Baldwin was seen wiping a tear from his eye at Gervais’ wisecracks, while Robert De Niro, who was handed a lifetime achievement award, dissolved in laughter.