She Did It! Saoirse Ronan Wins Her First Golden Globe

Awards season kicked off with the Golden Globes and an all-black dress attire with Hollywood stars wearing black to honour victims of sexual assault and abuse, while our Saoirse Ronan took home the Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy gong for her critically acclaimed performance in Greta Gerwig’s Ladybird. Director Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – including best motion picture (drama) as well as best screenplay, best supporting actor and best actress (drama) for Frances McDormand – also took home four awards.

Ronan, who was the expected winner, had been nominated previously for her performance in Brooklyn but this is her first win. Her acceptance speech was charming and warm as she acknowledged the women in her life who she said were instrumental to her success. “My mam is on FaceTime over there on someone’s phone right now, so hi,” she began. “I have no time at all to say thank you, but I just want to say how inspirational it’s been to be here in this room tonight. All of the women who I love so much in my own life who support me every single day – my mother, who’s on FaceTime. Margot, all of my friends and family and actually everyone in this room.”

We may talk now of the awards and winners but it was the #MeToo and #Timesup movements combined with the outstanding display of support and sisterhood on the red carpet that radiated throughout the evening and set the stage for the politically charged evening. Highlights included:

Debra Messing calling out E! for not giving Catt Sandler equal pay — while being interviewed on E!

Debra Messing drags E! (while being interviewed on E!): “I was so shocked to hear that E! doesn’t believing in paying their female co-hosts the same as their male co-hosts” pic.twitter.com/HF3B2uhwtF

— David Mack (@davidmackau) January 7, 2018

“I was so shocked to hear that E! doesn’t believe in paying their female co-hosts the same as their male co-hosts,” Messing said to Giuliana Rancic on the carpet. Her interview quickly went viral and got the evening off to the right start. The statement was echoed by Eva Longoria.

Oprah’s speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award

The true highlight of the evening garnered Oprah a standing ovation – at least three times – and left many of the audience in tears. It was powerful, honest and exactly what needed to be said during this dramatic time of change.  “I want all the girls watching here, now, to know that a new day is on the horizon,” she said. “And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say ‘Me too’ again.”

https://youtu.be/fN5HV79_8B8

“… it is not lost on me that at this moment, there are some little girls watching as I become the first black woman to be given this award. What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have. And I’m especially proud and inspired by all the women who have felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories. Each of us in this room are celebrated because of the stories that we tell, and this year we became the story. But it’s not just a story affecting the entertainment industry. It’s one that transcends any culture, geography, race, religion, politics, or workplace.”

The end of Laura Dern’s speech for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Limited Series, or TV Movie

“Many of us were taught not to tattle…may we teach our children that speaking out is our culture’s new North Star.”- Laura Dern, winner of Best Supporting Actress, ‘Big Little Lies’ pic.twitter.com/BGxWGJJ6NO

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) January 8, 2018

Similar to her Big Little Lies co-stars, Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern’s words at the end of her speech were particularly potent.  I urge all of us to not only support survivors, but to protect and employ them,” she said. “To teach our children that speaking out without fear of retribution is our new North Star.”

Natalie Portman calling out the Globes for not having any female director nominees

DON’T MESS WITH NATALIE PORTMAN !!!! THE LOVE OF MY LIFE !! pic.twitter.com/DezCYyOIeZ

— Jonathiery (@jonathiery) January 8, 2018

This needed to be said – and not just because only 11% of films in the last year were directed by women. Gender disparity is still rife in every industry but did you know the Golden Globes haven’t given a woman an award for directing in 25 years? Yeah, it’s that bad.

And here’s the winners’ highlights: 

Best motion picture, drama: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Best motion picture, musical or comedy: “Lady Bird”

Best director, motion picture: Guillermo del Toro, “The Shape of Water”

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama: Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, drama: Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour”

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy: Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird”

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy: James Franco, “The Disaster Artist”

Best performance by an actress in a supporting role in any motion picture: Allison Janney, “I, Tonya”

Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in any motion picture: Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Best screenplay, motion picture: Martin McDonagh, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Best motion picture, animated: “Coco”

Best motion picture, foreign language: “In the Fade”

Best original score, motion picture: Alexandre Desplat, “The Shape of Water”

Best original song, motion picture: “This Is Me” — “The Greatest Showman”

See the full list HERE