America can stand-by for an invasion from the Brits when they host the annual Golden Globes in the New Year. Not only is funnyman Ricky Gervais lined up to present the glitzy affair in January, but several leading British actors and actresses have been nominated for awards. Eddie Redmayne, Idris Elba, Damian Lewis and Dame Helen Mirren are all in the running, as the forerunner to the Oscars appears on the horizon.
Stunning portrayal of Lili Elbe
Redmayne will be seeking to repeat the glorious success he enjoyed in 2014, when his portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything” earned him an Oscar, BAFTA and a Golden Globe.
Never one to shirk a major challenge, the 33-year-old gave a stunning performance as Lili Elbe, a transgender artist in the Film “The Danish Girl”. Elbe was something of a trailblazer in Germany in the 1930s, as the first person believed to have undergone gender-reassignment surgery.
Heavyweight opposition
He has strong opposition for the Golden Globe award though, with none other than the enigmatic Leonardo DiCaprio among his challengers. Ever since “Titanic” made DiCaprio an international superstar in 1997, the 41-year-old has never been far from the headlines in the film industry.
Ten Golden Globe nominations bear testament to the man’s on-screen appeal and the performance in his latest work, “The Revenant” is a typically eye-catching tour de force.
Other Brits nominated
Britain is doubly represented in the best supporting actor category. Elba will compete not only with fellow countryman Mark Rylance, but also has competition from Paul Dano, Michael Shannon and the evergreen tough guy actor Sylvester Stallone.
The sentimentalists among those tuning in on 10th January for the awards ceremony at the Beverley Hilton will no doubt be plumping for Stallone.
His nomination has been earned for yet another “Rocky” sequel entitled “Creed”, the movie franchise that he will be forever fondly linked with by his legion of fans around the world.
Elba is becoming a familiar face to American viewers, after the highly-acclaimed crime drama series ‘The Wire’ brought him to their attention. This time his nomination has been merited for his part in the war drama “Beasts Of No Nation”.
Highly respected thespian, Rylance is enjoying something of a renaissance in his film career, with the role of Russian spy Rudolf Abel in Steven Spielberg’s “Bridge Of Spies” ensuring his inclusion.
British television viewers will remember him from the hugely successful mini-series “Wolf Hall”, for which his depiction of Thomas Cromwell earned rave reviews. His co-star in that production, Lewis (who played Henry VIII) has received a Golden Globe nomination in the best supporting actor category.
Not forgetting the ladies
Britain’s talented female stars have also warranted their inclusion among the nominees. “Downton Abbey” star Dame Maggie Smith is in the running for the best actress in a comedy or musical, after a perceptive part playing a bag lady in “The Lady In The Van” alongside Alex Jennings.
Dame Helen and Kate Winslet have both been nominated for best supporting actress: Mirren was recognized for her role as the American actress and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper in “Trumbo”; whilst Winslet’s turn as Joanna Hoffman added to the credibility of the biographical film “Steve Jobs”.
“The Office” star, Gervais has agreed to reprise his role as the host for the Golden Globes after a three-year break, having previously performed the key task on three occasions.
