sign in sign up
<<
Home , Chiwetel Ejiofor, Emma Thompson, Greta Gerwig, Helena Bonham Carter, Janet McTeer, Kate Winslet

Xan Brooks and Jason Deans, “Golden Globes nominations: McQueen, Elba and Ejiofor head breakthrough”, , December 12, 2013

Black British film talent tops nominations and BBC dramas also hope to carry off major wins

12 Years a Slave, a harrowing account of American by the British visual artist turned film director Steve McQueen, established itself as the film to beat at the start of awards season, picking up seven nominations at the 71st annual Golden Globes. Announced at a dawn press conference in Beverly Hills, California, the nominations were a significant breakthrough for black British film talent. McQueen was nominated as best director while () and (Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom) bagged acting nominations. Other British performers up for awards include (American Hustle), (Labor Day), (Saving Mr Banks), () and (Philomena). Elba and Ejiofor will be hoping for success in both the film and TV categories, with the pair also nominated for their small screen roles in Luther (Elba) and Dancing On The Edge (Ejiofor).

Ten of the nominations in the TV categories were for the BBC, including Dancing on the Edge, Stephen Poliakoff's 1930s jazz scene, detective drama Luther, the White Queen, BBC1's adaptation of 's Wars of the Roses novels, and BBC 2's Top of the Lake, 's New Zealand-set thriller.

In the immediate wake of the announcement of the nominations, bookmakers anointed as to win the dramatic actress award for her anguished turn in 's Blue Jasmine, with tipped to win the comedy-or-musical prize for her performance in 's . Ejiofor is the runaway frontrunner for the best dramatic actor, while 77-year-old Bruce Dern looks to have the edge in the neighbouring category thanks to his role as a desperate American dreamer in 's Nebraska.

McQueen's film faces competition in the best drama from Captain Phillips, Gravity (for which is also nominated in the actress category), Philomena and Rush.

David O Russell's conman caper American Hustle dominated the Globes' comedy/musical section, while 12 Years a Slave held sway in the drama category.

Elsewhere, several of the year's most critically acclaimed pictures were left to fight it out in the best foreign language section. The sidebar is dominated by the French romance Blue is the Warmest Colour, winner of the Palme d'Or award at the , and the dark Italian The Great Beauty, which swept the European film awards last weekend. Rounding out the section is The Past (Iran), The Hunt (Denmark) and Hirokazu Miyazaki's animated epic The Wind Rises (Japan).

Voted for by approximately 90 members of the Foreign Press Association, the Golden Globes have faced criticism for what is perceived as their ramshackle structure and lowbrow sensibility. "The Globes are to the Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to the Kate Middleton," quipped host back in 2012. "Bit louder, bit trashier – and more easily bought." Nonetheless, the Globes have a reputation for establishing a consensus ahead of the Oscar nominations in January. The main winners at last year's event included the thriller Argo, Lincoln actor Daniel Day-Lewis and , star of Silver Linings Playbook. All went on to repeat their victories at the .

Among this year's TV nominations was , for her turn as in BBC4's Burton and Taylor. She faces competition for the best actress in a mini- series or TV movie category from Rebecca Ferguson, star of The White Queen, and , for Top of the Lake.

The BBC's other TV nominations are for best supporting actress in a mini-series or TV movie, for Jacqueline Bisset's performance in Dancing on the Edge and Janet McTeer's in The White Queen. Shows produced or co-funded by the BBC are eligible for the Golden Globes by dint of being broadcast on US cable TV channels such as BBC America, and Sundance Channel.

Ben Stephenson, BBC drama controller, said: "BBC Drama's 10 nominations in today's Golden Globes reinforces our international reputation and position as the very best producers of drama both at home and across the pond."

HBO has the second biggest haul of Golden Globes TV nominations, nine, including four for Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra.

The awards will be presented on 12 January. , broadcast by cable channel AMC in the US, has been nominated for best TV series – drama, against , The Good Wife, House of Cards and Masters of Sex.

Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad, is up for best supporting actor in a series, mini-series or TV movie.

The 71st Golden Globes will be announced on January 12 2013 in a ceremony presented, for the second year running, by US and .