Golden Globes 2021: Mank leads nominations for 78th Annual Awards

Herman Mankiewicz biopic Mank and royal drama The Crown have topped the nominations board at the 78th Golden Globe Awards, both receiving six nods a piece.

Also scoring big were Aaron Sorkin’s film The Trial of the Chicago 7 and TV comedy Schitt’s Creek, following on with five nominations each. 

Sacha Baron Cohen, Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Colman lead the actor and actress nominees, all receiving two nods as the nominations were announced on Wednesday, after the ceremony was pushed back due to the global coronavirus pandemic. 

The late Chadwick Boseman was nominated posthumously in the Best Actor category for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, his final movie, which he starred in alongside Viola Davis (who was also nominated).     

Golden Globe Awards 2021: Herman Mankiewicz biopic Mank and Netflix’s The Crown (pictured show stars Emma Corrin and Josh O’Connor as Princess Diana and Prince Charles) have topped the nominations board with six nods a piece

The nominees were announced by Sarah Jessica Parker and Taraji P Henson on The Today Show, with a surprising list of stars and shows up for honours, after last year saw the industry ravaged by lockdowns and filming restrictions. 

The nominations were revealed ahead of the virtual awards ceremony that will take place on February 28 with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler co-hosting the show virtually from opposite coasts. 

Comedian and actor Sacha found himself up for several awards, nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for the The Trial of the Chicago 7 and up for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. 

Meanwhile, actress Anya scored a nomination in both TV and film categories, for Netflix drama The Queen’s Gambit, and Emma. 

Last year’s Best Actress winner found herself nominated again in the same category, up for her same role as the Queen in The Crown. The actress has also been shortlisted for her upcoming film, The Father. 

Topping the list: Leading the way for this year’s films was Mank, David Fincher’s depiction of the behind-the-scenes battles that plagued the 1941 film Citizen Kane, starring Amanda Seyfried as Marion Davies and Gary Oldman as Herman Mankiewicz

The 2021 Golden Globes also made history with its surprising list of Best Director nominees. 

Until now there have only been five women ever nominated for best director, but the 2021 ceremony made history with three women up for the  honour – the first time more than one has been shortlisted in a year.

Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), Regina King (One Night in Miami) and Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) bagged nominations this year alongside David Fincher (Mank) and Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7).   

The female-driven nominations are in stark contrast to last year’s ceremony where women were completely excluded from the category.

Barbra Streisand – who was also nominated for The Prince of Tides in 1991- is the only woman to have earned the Best Director Golden Globe back in 1984 for romantic musical drama film Yentl. 

Bor-that’s unexpected: Sacha expressed his joy over receiving two nominations in an Instagram post

Leading the way for this year’s films was Mank, David Fincher’s long awaited depiction of the behind-the-scenes battles that plagued the 1941 classic film Citizen Kane.

The film landed nominations for best film, drama; best actor for Gary Oldman; best director for Fincher, best supporting actress for Amanda Seyfried; best score; and best screenplay for Jack Fincher, the director’s father who penned the script before dying in 2003. 

Coming in second with five nods was Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 – another Netflix release – which bagged nominations for best film, drama; best director and best screenplay for Sorkin; supporting actor for Baron Cohen; and best song.

The other nominees for best film in the drama category were Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland, Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman and Florian Zeller’s The Father.

Battling it out Motion Picture in the  Comedy or Musical category is Jason Woliner’s Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Thomas Kail’s Hamilton, Sia’s Music, Max Barbakow’s Palm Springs and Ryan Murphy’s The Prom.

In all it was another great year for Netflix, which topped all studios at the Globes last year, too, as it led with a commanding 42 nominations, with 22 coming in film categories and 20 in television. 

Despite controversy surrounding season four of The Crown – which was released last year – the Netflix series cleaned the board as the most nominated TV show. 

Among its six nods were Best TV Drama and Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series for Josh O’Connor.

Newcomer Emma Corrin, who plays Princess Diana in the series – will go head to head with Olivia Colman for her role as Queen Elizabeth in the Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series category. 

Meanwhile Gillian Anderson and Helena Bonham Carter will also be going up against each other for the Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role award portraying British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Princess Margaret respectively.   

Honoured: The late Chadwick Boseman was nominated posthumously in the Best Actor category f or his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, his final movie, which he starred in alongside Viola Davis (who was also nominated)

Amid its huge success with fans, commentators have lined up to criticise series four of The Crown.

Friends of Prince Charles launched a blistering attack on the show last year, accusing producers of the hit Netflix drama of ‘trolling on a Hollywood budget’.

Some of the Prince’s closest confidantes have accused the streaming giant of exploiting the Royal Family’s pain for financial gain and raged that ‘fiction is presented as fact’ in its twisted version of events. 

Competing against The Crown in the best television series, drama category are Lovecraft Country, The Mandalorian, Ozark and Ratched.   

Ozark has received four nominations in all, including Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series (Laura Linney), Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series (Jason Bateman) and Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role (Julia Garner).

Elsewhere, Emily in Paris – the comedy-drama series about an American marketing executive working in Paris – has been nominated in the Best Television Series and Best Performance By An Actress in a Television Series (Lily Collins) categories.

Normal People – the romantic drama series starring Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones – has received two nominations, including one for Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made For Television.

The hit show has been nominated for the coveted accolade alongside The Queen’s Gambit, Small Axe, The Undoing and Unorthodox. 

Award winner: Receiving five nods was Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 which bagged nominations for best film, drama; best director and best screenplay for Sorkin; supporting actor for Baron Cohen; and best song

Among the surprising number of nominations were a list of equally surprising snubs. 

While a number of British stars swept the board, many Twitter users were enraged at the absence of Londoner Michaela Coel and her hit drama I May Destroy You, and while not a Brit – Irish star Paul Mescal’s snub also caused anger.

On Micaela’s absence, Twitter users penned: ‘I’m confused- does Michaela Cole’s I May Destroy You not qualify for this year’s golden globes or something?…

‘Easily the best thing I’ve watched this year #GoldenGlobes… the i may destroy you snub the golden globes are sick for this.’  

What’s on the box: When it comes to TV, Ozark has received four nominations in all (left) while Emily in Paris has been nominated in the Best Television Series and Best Performance By An Actress in a Television Series (Lily Collins) categories

Others snubbed for this year’s awards ceremony include Zendaya for her role in Malcome & Marie, Matilda De Angelis for The Undoing and Meryl Streep, who was ignored this year for her lead in the film The Prom.

The actress has been nominated 32 times with eight wins but was snubbed for her work in The Prom and also in Steven Soderbergh’s Let Them All Talk. 

The Prom was directed by Ryan Murphy with Meryl starring alongside James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Kerry Washington, Ariana DeBose and Jo Ellen Pellman.  

Corden was nominated for his role in the category Best Actor, and The Prom was also nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.   

Snub: The Prom was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and James Corden (2L) is up for Best Actor but Meryl Streep (2R) was ignored this year for her lead (also pictured: Andrew Rannells and Nicole Kidman) 

Zendaya also failed to get a nom for her role in Malcom & Marie opposite John David Washington. Although the actress’ performance was praised in the romantic drama by critics, she was locked out of this year’s nominations.

Matilda De Angelis was also snubbed this year, despite her stellar performance in The Undoing.

Another shocking omission from the noms was Tom Hanks for his performance in News Of The World.

The film was nominated for Best Original Score – Motion Picture and his co-star Helena Zengel for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture.

The two-time Oscar winner and the recipient of the Cecil B de Mill award was overlooked, despite his captivating performance of Captain Kidd.  

Prior to the nominations announcement, it was revealed that Jane Fonda will be honoured with the Cecil B. deMille Award at the ceremony, which is the equivalent to a lifetime achievement award that will celebrate her 60-year career.

As the trophy is given for ‘outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment,’ Fonda is a more than worthy recipient due to her career in film, television and and being at the forefront of social issues over six decades. 

HFPA president Ali Sar said in a statement: ‘Her undeniable talent has gained her the highest level of recognition, and while her professional life has taken many turns, her unwavering commitment to evoking change has remained.’ 

Fonda made her professional debut in 1960 on Broadway and on screen, and she went on to become one of the biggest movie stars of the 1960s and 1970s with films like 1968’s Barbarella and 1971’s Klute.

She is also one of the most decorated actresses in Golden Globes history as she has earned 15 nominations throughout her career and has won seven including in 1962 for Tall Story, 1972 for Klute, 1978 for Julia, and 1979 for Coming Home. 

The actress also won the now retired Henrietta Award for World Film Favorite three times in 1973, 1979, and 1980.

Previous recipients of the Cecil B. deMille awards include Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, Sophia Loren, Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro.  

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are set to co-host the show virtually from opposite coasts on February 28, a first for the awards show.

Surprises: The nominees were announced by Sarah Jessica Parker and Taraji P Henson on The Today Show, with a surprising list of stars and shows up for honours, after last year saw the industry ravaged by lockdowns and filming restrictions

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, NBC and Dick Clark Productions have had to adjust the ceremony due to COVID-19 precautions.

Typically, the Globes officially kick off Awards season in Hollywood and are held annually on one of the first Sundays in January. 

According to Variety, Tina will broadcast from atop New York City’s Rockefeller Center, in the Rainbow Room, while Amy will fulfil her co-hosting duties from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, where the awards show is usually held. 

Shining star: Jane Fonda (pictured in 2016) is set to be honoured with the Cecil B. deMille Award at the ceremony that celebrates her 60-year career in the industry

Rising: She went on to become one of the biggest movie stars of the 1960s and 1970s with films like 1968’s Barbarella where (left) and 1971’s Klute, which earned her both the Golden Globe and Oscar for best lead actress (right) 

It’s still unclear whether presenters and winners will make in-person appearances or telecast from home, as recent awards shows have done both amid the pandemic.  

With two locations, this year’s event has the potential to feature more big names, while letting its co-hosts remain close to home.  

The Baby Mama co-stars are making their return to the Golden Globes stage, after they hosted together three years in a row, from 2013 to 2015.

Satchel and Jackson Lee, children of three-time Golden Globe nominated filmmaker Spike Lee and producer/philanthropist Tonya Lewis Lee, will serve as the 2021 Golden Globe Ambassadors. 

Going bicoastal: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are set to co-host the show virtually from opposite coasts on February 28, a first for the awards show (pictured hosting the ceremony in January, 2013)

Although the awards show usually takes place in January, this year’s event has been postponed due to the pandemic. 

The Golden Globes will air in the time slot recently made available after the Oscars were also postponed because of the COVID-19 crisis from February 28 to April 25. 

Last year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who organise the annual ceremony, met via Zoom to discuss the new date of the 93rd Oscars.

‘For over a century, movies have played an important role in comforting, inspiring, and entertaining us during the darkest of times,’ began a statement from Academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson. 

Role: Satchel and Jackson Lee, children of Spike Lee and producer/philanthropist Tonya Lewis Lee, will serve as the 2021 Golden Globe Ambassadors

‘They certainly have this year. Our hope, in extending the eligibility period and our Awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalized for something beyond anyone’s control.’

She added, ‘This coming Oscars and the opening of our new museum will mark an historic moment, gathering movie fans around the world to unite through cinema.’

The rules have also changed, as a feature film must have been released between January 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021 to be considered.

The Golden Globes are voted by journalists who make up the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.  

The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards will air live Sunday, February 28 at 8pm ET/5pm PT on NBC. 

Swapping: The Golden Globes will air in the time slot recently made available after the Oscars were also postponed because of the COVID-19 crisis from February 28 to April 25