The 75th annual Golden Globe Awards could very well have been a somber occasion. The past year has been marked by scandal and heartache in Hollywood, arguably more than the industry has ever experienced.
But actors seized the night, not to dwell on the negative, but to empower each other (and those of us watching) with hope for a brighter future. From Nicole Kidman to Oprah Winfrey and many talented men and women in between, stars used their voices to champion the greater good. Sexual misconduct was a central subject, yes, but the conversation focused on where we go from here and the stories of the women and men who’ve made that progress possible.
If you happened to miss it — or if you tuned in and just need another dose of inspiration — keep reading for the best excerpts from the big night’s acceptance speeches. You’ll have Golden Globes-size goose bumps by the end!
Elisabeth Moss, Best Actress in a TV Drama
“This is from Margaret Atwood [writer, The Handmaid’s Tale]: ‘We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edge of print. It gave us more freedom. We lived in the gaps between the stories.’ Margaret Atwood, this is for you and all of the women who came before you and after you who were brave enough to speak out against intolerance and injustice and to fight for equality and freedom in this world. We no longer live in the blank white spaces at the edge of print. We no longer live in the gaps between the stories. We are the story in print, and we are writing the story ourselves.”
Alexander Skarsgård, Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series
“I am here tonight because I had the privilege of working with a group of extraordinarily talented women [in Big Little Lies].”
Allison Janney, Best Supporting Actress
“Tonya Harding is here tonight, and I just, I’d like to thank Tonya for sharing her story with Steven [Rogers, screenwriter] and allowing him to tell all of the different sides of the story. And what I love about this movie and what Sebastian [Stan], Julianne [Nicholson], everyone in this movie [I, Tonya] did is tell a story about class in America. Tell a story about the disenfranchised. Tell a story about a woman who was not embraced for her individuality. Tell a story about truth and the perception of truth in the media and the truths we all tell ourselves when we wake up in bed every morning and go out and live our lives.”
Sam Rockwell, Best Supporting Actor
“Every actor knows [that] to say great words is a blessing, and these are such beautiful words. You’re [Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri director/screenwriter Martin McDonagh] such an actor-friendly director, and thanks for not being a dick. Frances McDormand [costar of Three Billboards], I’ve said it before: You’re a badass. You’re a force of nature. It was really fun to be your sparring partner, and thanks for making me a better actor.”
Frances McDormand, Best Actress in a Drama
“So many of you know I keep my politics private, but it was really great to be in this room tonight and to be a part of the tectonic shift in our industry’s power structure. Trust me, the women in this room tonight are not here for the food — we are here for the work.”
Nicole Kidman, Best Actress in a TV Series
“This show is so much about the life we present to the world that can be very different than the life behind closed doors, so I want to thank everyone who broke their silence this year and spoke up about abuse and harassment. You are so brave and hopefully, shows like this [Big Little Lies], more will be made, so people out there who are feeling silenced by harassment, discrimination, abuse… time is up. We see you. We hear you. And we will tell your stories.”
Gary Oldman, Best Actor in a Drama
“I am very proud of Darkest Hour. It illustrates that words and actions can change the world, and — boy, oh boy — does it need some changing.”
Laura Dern, Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series
“Many of us were taught not to tattle — it was a culture of silencing, and that was normalized. I urge all of us to not only support survivors and bystanders who are brave enough to tell their truth, but to promote restorative justice. May we also please protect and employ them. May we teach our children that speaking out without the fear of retribution is our culture’s new north star.”
Oprah Winfrey, Cecil B. DeMille Award
“I’ve interviewed and portrayed people who’ve withstood some of the ugliest things life can throw at you. But the one quality all of them seem to share is an ability to maintain hope for a brighter morning, even during our darkest nights. So I want all the girls watching here and now to know that a new day is on the horizon! And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of the women are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to ensure they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say ‘me too’ again.”
James Franco, Best Actor in a Comedy
“When I went to NYU, I always said I wanted my own Coen brother — someone to collaborate with. This year, I realized I had my own Franco brother [Dave Franco, who co-starred in The Disaster Artist]. I love him more than anything. Thanks to my mother for giving him to me.”
Rachel Brosnahan, Best Actress in a TV Musical or Comedy
“Look, this [The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel] is a story about a bold and brilliant and complicated woman, and I am endlessly proud to be a part of it, but there are so many women’s stories out there that still need and deserve to be told. So as we enter this new year, let’s please continue to hold each other accountable and invest in and make and champion these stories.”
Sterling K. Brown, Best Actor in a TV Drama
“I want to thank Dan Fogelman. Now, Dan Fogelman, throughout the majority of my career, I have benefitted from colorblind casting. Which means, ‘You know what? Hey, let’s throw a brother in this role.’ It’s always really cool. But Dan Fogelman, you wrote a role for a black man that could only be played by a black man [Randall Pearson, This Is Us]. So what I appreciate so much about this thing is that I’m being seen for who I am and I’m being appreciated for who I am. And it makes it that much more difficult to dismiss me or dismiss anybody who looks like me.”
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