From comeback kings to Will Smith digs – here are the best moments from the 2023 Golden Globes
After staying out of sight in 2022, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Golden Globes returned to the Beverly Hilton in all of their chaotic glory. From killer monologues to underdog stories, this year’s ceremony, once again, had it all. Here are our picks for all of the best moments from the 80th annual Golden Globe Awards.
Jarrod Carmichael’s monologue
Stand-up comedian and actor Jerrod Carmichael – who came out last year in his HBO special Rothaniel – was an inspired choice to host this year’s Golden Globes. And his monologue proved it. “I’ll tell you why I’m here,” Carmichael said in his opening monologue. “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 Hollywood Foreign Press Association which, I won’t say they were a racist organisation, but they didn’t have a single Black member until George Floyd died. So do with that information what you will.”
Ke Huy Quan makes his comeback
Ke Huy Quan is back! The actor, who played Waymond in Everything Everywhere All At Once, was both nominated for and won his first Golden Globe for the role. In accepting the award for best-supporting actor in a motion picture, Quan became the first Asian actor to do so since 1984. “When I started my career as a child actor in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, I felt so very lucky to have been chosen,” Quan said in his acceptance speech. “As I grew older, I started to wonder if that was it, if that was just luck.”
“For so many years, I was afraid I had nothing more to offer, that no matter what I did, I would never surpass what I achieved as a kid,” he continued. “Thankfully, more than 30 years later, two guys thought of me, they remembered that kid, and they gave me an opportunity to try again.”
Angela Bassett becomes first Marvel actor to win a major acting award
Angela Bassett won her second Golden Globe on Tuesday night, this one for her role as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. “The late Toni Morrison said that your life is already a miracle of chance just waiting for you to order its destiny,” Bassett said in her acceptance speech. “But in order for that destiny to manifest, I think that it requires courage to have faith.”
“It requires patience, as we just heard,” she said, referring to Ke Huy Quan’s speech. “And it requires a true sense of yourself.”
The Banshees of Inisherin wins big
The Martin McDonagh-directed flick, a dark comedy about a fractured friendship between Farrell’s character and his co-star Brendan Gleeson, was this year’s big winner. The film took home Best Picture – musical or comedy, Best Actor for Colin Farrell and Best Screenplay for Martin McDonagh. The black comedy, which was filmed on Inis Mór and Achill Island, had led the shortlist with eight nominations. Accepting his award, Farrell thanked the entire cast and crew of the Oscar-tipped film. “Martin McDonagh, I owe you so much, man,” Farrell said during his acceptance speech.
Eddie Murphy mocks Will Smith slap
While receiving one of the night’s biggest honours, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, given to an individual for outstanding contributions to entertainment, Murphy kept it brief but thanked those who had helped him along the way. “I want to say thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press for bestowing this prestigious honour on me,” Murphy said from the stage. Murphy ended his speech by claiming to offer three-pointers to up-and-upcoming performers who want to have a career similar to his own. “There is a definitive blueprint that you can follow to achieve prosperity and peace of mind,” Murphy said. “Pay your taxes, mind your business and keep Will Smith’s wife’s name out your fucking mouth.” His reference to that infamous line – which Smith delivered while seated at the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony to presenter Chris Rock after Smith slapped him – was met with laughter and applause from those in attendance.
