British invasion! Kate Winslet, Idris Elba and Downton Abbey earn gongs at the Golden Globes
By Baz Bamigboye
It was a triumphant night for Brits at the Golden Globes, with Kate Winslet, Idris Elba and hit TV show Downton Abbey all scoring top honours.
Winslet won the gong for Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie for her role in Mildred Pierce.
Taking to the stage, a composed Kate told the crowd: 'I'd like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for giving this award to me and for putting me in a category with such incredible heavyweights whom I feel honoured to stand alongside.'
Flying the flag: British star Kate Winslet won best actress for a miniseries or movie for her role in Mildred Pierce at the Golden Globes
She's a winner: Kate Winslet gets a congratulatory kiss from new boyfriend Ned Rocknroll as she wins a Golden Globe
In the spotlight: The star kissed and hugged Ned as it was announced she had won Best Actress in a TV series or TV movie for her role in Mildred Pierce
She dedicated her award to her 11-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son, but made no mention of her new beau, Ned Rocknroll.
But he was sat beside her throughout the ceremony and was the first to congratulate her with a kiss.
'I share this with my beautiful children Mia and Joe who light up my life every day, I'm so proud to their mum,' she said.
Stylish: The 36-year-old actress wore a Jenny Packham gown, Roger Vivier shoes,
and Fred Leighton jewelsBritish star Idris Elba won his first Golden Globe for his role in the BBC crime drama Luther.
Elba, who shot to fame in the U.S due to his stunning turn in cult TV drama The Wire, was raised in Hackney, London but divides his time between Hollywood and London.
He beat out Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville to take home the prize for Best Actor in a Miniseries.
Triumphant: Idris Elba won a Golden Globe for his role in BBC crime drama Luther
Thrilled: Downton Abbey won Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TelevisionDownton Abbey, ITV1's hit saga about the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants, has proved a huge success in the UK and its latest achievement showed it had also captivated audiences across the Atlantic.
Delighted: Peter Dinklage won the Best Supporting Actor in a TV series for his role on Game of Thrones
Accepting the award at the Beverly Hills ceremony, the show's creator, Oscar winner Julian Fellowes, said: 'How fabulous this is.
'The whole Downton adventure has been an extraordinary one. Like spotting a promising child and waking up to find they've have won the Olympics - and that's what we've lived through.'
Games Of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage won best supporting actor, for a TV miniseries drama.
In his acceptance speech he revealed how his mother kept him grounded: 'I was talking to my mother in Jersey before I came out, and she said, 'Have fun, but have you seen "Mildred Pierce"? Guy Pearce is so good. He's going to win.'
So I haven't seen Mildred Pierce but I'm sure it's really good, and I just love our moms because they keep us humble.'
And he ended it on a serious note. The "Game of Thrones" star gave a shout-out to fellow dwarf Martin Henderson but, rather then elaborating, he just said 'Google him.'
Within minutes, Henderson's name was a trending topic on Twitter.
The aspiring actor was partially paralysed on his birthday after a drunk stranger picked him up and threw him while he was having a cigarette outside a pub.
Henderson blamed the English rugby team players who recently attended a dwarf-tossing contest during the rugby World Cup in New Zealand for inspiring the attack.
The Daily Mail reported that he now faces life in a wheelchair after the incident.
Henderson was recovering from a 2010 back injury but has said that this injury has set him back in his recuperation.
Party time: Dinklage holds his award as he arrives with his wife Erica Schmidt at the HBO after party
Claiming the first prize of the night at Sunday's Globes may give 82-year-old Plummer the inside track for the same prize at next month's Academy Awards.
Oscar consideration has been elusive for Plummer, who has been nominated for Hollywood's top honour only once in his 60-year career - two years ago, for the Leo Tolstoy drama The Last Station.
Textured: Madonna wore an interesting gown to walk the Golden Globes carpet
with her award
Michelle Williams won the Golden Globe for her acclaimed portrait of Marilyn Monroe in the film My Week With Marilyn.
The actress said Monroe won the same award half a century ago.
Madonna won best song for her movie W.E.
The French George Clooney? Jean DuJardin won for his role in the critically-acclaimed movie The ArtistShe made her acceptance speech in a figure hugging gown with a neckline that showed off her ample bosom .
Nicole Kidman announced Woody Allen winner of best screenplay for his comedy Midnight In Paris .
'Come and get it Woody', Nicole said to an absent Allen who was in New York.
Jessica Lange beat Downton Abbey's Maggie Smith in the best TV supporting actress category.
True Artists: Berenice Bejo, left, and Michel Hazanavicius pose backstage with the award for Best Picture Comedy or Musical
Girl power: Winners Claire Dane and Jessica Lange pose with their awardsLange won for TV mini series American Horror Story.
Matt LeBlanc won the Best TV comedy actor Golden Globe for the BBC show Episodes which although shot in the UK is set in Hollywood .
Octavia Spencer won the best supporting film actress Golden Globe for The Help.
In the film she plays a maid who is unfairly fired but gets her revenge in a spectacular way.
Group celebration: The cast and crew of Homeland pose with their awardMartin Scorsese was the surprise best film director winner for the film Hugo.
Helen Mirren and Sidney Poitier bestowed the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's big special tribute award to Morgan Freeman.
Most people politely remained in their seats but usually the tribute award signals time for most people in the Hilton ballroom to scoot to the back to smoking section.
'Formidable': Jane Fonda was thrilled to present a Globe to the cast of The Artist, including Uggie the dog
But this year the room showed respect to Freeman.
Jane Fonda presented the best comedy film prize to The Artists .
Fonda opened the envelope and shrieked 'Oh , formidable!'
The producers brought on one of the film's stars, Uggie the dog.
Female leads: Michelle Williams and Meryl Streep received the Best Actress awards at the ceremonyNatalie Portman presented the Best Dramatic Actor Golden Globe to George Clooney for The Descendants.
He beat Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ryan Gosling and joked that nominee Michael Fassbender had taken over the male nudity roles.
The night's big award for best film drama was presented by Harrison Ford to The Descendants, which stars leading man Clooney.
At one point during the ceremony, Gervais joked: 'It's so good having a job where you can get drunk and paid for it, like me.'
Colin Firth introduced and presented the Best actress drama. It was one of the evening's most competitive categories and it went to Meryl Streep for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.
Emotional: Octavia Spencer won Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for The Help
By Baz Bamigboye
It was a triumphant night for Brits at the Golden Globes, with Kate Winslet, Idris Elba and hit TV show Downton Abbey all scoring top honours.
Winslet won the gong for Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie for her role in Mildred Pierce.
Taking to the stage, a composed Kate told the crowd: 'I'd like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for giving this award to me and for putting me in a category with such incredible heavyweights whom I feel honoured to stand alongside.'
Flying the flag: British star Kate Winslet won best actress for a miniseries or movie for her role in Mildred Pierce at the Golden Globes
She's a winner: Kate Winslet gets a congratulatory kiss from new boyfriend Ned Rocknroll as she wins a Golden Globe
In the spotlight: The star kissed and hugged Ned as it was announced she had won Best Actress in a TV series or TV movie for her role in Mildred Pierce
She had earlier walked the red carpet in a stylish black and white gown by Jenny Packham, Roger Vivier shoes, and Fred Leighton jewels.
She dedicated her award to her 11-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son, but made no mention of her new beau, Ned Rocknroll.
But he was sat beside her throughout the ceremony and was the first to congratulate her with a kiss.
'I share this with my beautiful children Mia and Joe who light up my life every day, I'm so proud to their mum,' she said.
Stylish: The 36-year-old actress wore a Jenny Packham gown, Roger Vivier shoes,
and Fred Leighton jewels
Elba, who shot to fame in the U.S due to his stunning turn in cult TV drama The Wire, was raised in Hackney, London but divides his time between Hollywood and London.
He beat out Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville to take home the prize for Best Actor in a Miniseries.
Triumphant: Idris Elba won a Golden Globe for his role in BBC crime drama Luther
Thrilled: Downton Abbey won Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Delighted: Peter Dinklage won the Best Supporting Actor in a TV series for his role on Game of Thrones
Accepting the award at the Beverly Hills ceremony, the show's creator, Oscar winner Julian Fellowes, said: 'How fabulous this is.
'The whole Downton adventure has been an extraordinary one. Like spotting a promising child and waking up to find they've have won the Olympics - and that's what we've lived through.'
Games Of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage won best supporting actor, for a TV miniseries drama.
In his acceptance speech he revealed how his mother kept him grounded: 'I was talking to my mother in Jersey before I came out, and she said, 'Have fun, but have you seen "Mildred Pierce"? Guy Pearce is so good. He's going to win.'
So I haven't seen Mildred Pierce but I'm sure it's really good, and I just love our moms because they keep us humble.'
And he ended it on a serious note. The "Game of Thrones" star gave a shout-out to fellow dwarf Martin Henderson but, rather then elaborating, he just said 'Google him.'
Within minutes, Henderson's name was a trending topic on Twitter.
The aspiring actor was partially paralysed on his birthday after a drunk stranger picked him up and threw him while he was having a cigarette outside a pub.
Henderson blamed the English rugby team players who recently attended a dwarf-tossing contest during the rugby World Cup in New Zealand for inspiring the attack.
The Daily Mail reported that he now faces life in a wheelchair after the incident.
Henderson was recovering from a 2010 back injury but has said that this injury has set him back in his recuperation.
Party time: Dinklage holds his award as he arrives with his wife Erica Schmidt at the HBO after party
Other winners on the night included Christopher Plummer, who won the supporting-actor Golden Globe for his role as an elderly widower who comes out as gay in the father-son drama Beginners.
Claiming the first prize of the night at Sunday's Globes may give 82-year-old Plummer the inside track for the same prize at next month's Academy Awards.
Oscar consideration has been elusive for Plummer, who has been nominated for Hollywood's top honour only once in his 60-year career - two years ago, for the Leo Tolstoy drama The Last Station.
Textured: Madonna wore an interesting gown to walk the Golden Globes carpet
with her award
Michelle Williams won the Golden Globe for her acclaimed portrait of Marilyn Monroe in the film My Week With Marilyn.
The actress said Monroe won the same award half a century ago.
Madonna won best song for her movie W.E.
The French George Clooney? Jean DuJardin won for his role in the critically-acclaimed movie The Artist
Nicole Kidman announced Woody Allen winner of best screenplay for his comedy Midnight In Paris .
'Come and get it Woody', Nicole said to an absent Allen who was in New York.
Jessica Lange beat Downton Abbey's Maggie Smith in the best TV supporting actress category.
True Artists: Berenice Bejo, left, and Michel Hazanavicius pose backstage with the award for Best Picture Comedy or Musical
Girl power: Winners Claire Dane and Jessica Lange pose with their awards
Matt LeBlanc won the Best TV comedy actor Golden Globe for the BBC show Episodes which although shot in the UK is set in Hollywood .
Octavia Spencer won the best supporting film actress Golden Globe for The Help.
In the film she plays a maid who is unfairly fired but gets her revenge in a spectacular way.
Group celebration: The cast and crew of Homeland pose with their award
Helen Mirren and Sidney Poitier bestowed the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's big special tribute award to Morgan Freeman.
Most people politely remained in their seats but usually the tribute award signals time for most people in the Hilton ballroom to scoot to the back to smoking section.
'Formidable': Jane Fonda was thrilled to present a Globe to the cast of The Artist, including Uggie the dog
But this year the room showed respect to Freeman.
Jane Fonda presented the best comedy film prize to The Artists .
Fonda opened the envelope and shrieked 'Oh , formidable!'
The producers brought on one of the film's stars, Uggie the dog.
Female leads: Michelle Williams and Meryl Streep received the Best Actress awards at the ceremony
He beat Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ryan Gosling and joked that nominee Michael Fassbender had taken over the male nudity roles.
The night's big award for best film drama was presented by Harrison Ford to The Descendants, which stars leading man Clooney.
At one point during the ceremony, Gervais joked: 'It's so good having a job where you can get drunk and paid for it, like me.'
Colin Firth introduced and presented the Best actress drama. It was one of the evening's most competitive categories and it went to Meryl Streep for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.
Emotional: Octavia Spencer won Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for The Help