The Golden Globe Awards 2026 delivered a landmark moment for Timothée Chalamet, who finally secured his first Golden Globe after years of near misses, while actress Rose Byrne produced one of the ceremony’s most unexpected wins.
Held on Sunday, 11 January, the event blended star power with surprise results, but it was Chalamet’s long-awaited triumph and Byrne’s stunned reaction that dominated conversation across the UK entertainment press.
Why was Timothée Chalamet’s Golden Globe win such a big moment?
Timothée Chalamet won Best Male Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his role in Marty Supreme. This marked his first victory after being nominated four times previously, a fact often noted by critics and fans alike.
The significance lies not just in the win itself, but in the competition he faced. Chalamet beat an unusually strong line-up including Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Ethan Hawke, Lee Byung-hun and Jesse Plemons.
Industry insiders had widely described the category as one of the most competitive of the night, making the result far from guaranteed.
Chalamet’s win follows other historic achievements at the Golden Globes, like Wagner Moura making history for Brazil, showing how the awards continue to spotlight international talent alongside Hollywood favourites.
Accepting the award, Chalamet acknowledged this directly, telling the audience: “This category is stacked. I look up to all of you.”
What did Chalamet say in his acceptance speech?
Chalamet’s speech struck a careful balance between sincerity and humour, a tone UK audiences have grown to associate with the actor.
He thanked his parents, his partner Kylie Jenner, and the creative team behind Marty Supreme, reserving special praise for writer-director Josh Safdie.
Chalamet said Safdie’s belief in him had been central to the role, adding: “Thank you for believing in me, thank you for this portrait, for your mind, for your worldview.”
Timothée Chalamet’s acceptance speech for his first ever Golden Globe
“Always be grateful for what you have. It’s allowed me to leave this ceremony empty handed before head held high”
See the full winners list: https://t.co/u8RneFXtd7 pic.twitter.com/bhCo12aGCc
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 12, 2026
The speech also included a light-hearted moment when Chalamet thanked co-star Kevin O’Leary, best known to television viewers as “Mr Wonderful” from Shark Tank.
Joking about his younger self, Chalamet said he would never have believed he’d one day be thanking O’Leary on an awards stage, drawing laughter from the room.
This playful moment echoed the heartfelt emotion seen when Stephen Graham won a Golden Globe with his speech, showing the human side of the ceremony.
What does this win mean for Timothée Chalamet’s career?
From an awards-season perspective, this Golden Globe win is a turning point. Chalamet has long been considered one of Hollywood’s most talented actors of his generation, but major individual awards have largely eluded him until now.
For UK audiences, who have followed his rise from Call Me By Your Name through to blockbuster roles such as Dune, the win feels overdue rather than surprising.
It also places him in a stronger position heading into the BAFTA Film Awards, where British voters often respond favourably to critically acclaimed performances backed by international momentum.
How did Rose Byrne pull off the night’s biggest surprise?
While Chalamet’s win was celebrated, Rose Byrne’s victory arguably shocked the room even more. Byrne won Best Female Actor in a Musical or Comedy for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, beating several heavily tipped contenders.
Visibly stunned as she reached the podium, Byrne admitted she had not prepared a speech, telling the audience: “Of course I didn’t prepare anything. I didn’t sing in this movie. Thank you so much. This is such a shock!”
The reaction reflected industry expectations, with many assuming the award would go elsewhere.
Why is Byrne’s win important?
Byrne’s success stood out because of the nature of the film itself. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is a small independent production, shot in just 25 days on a modest budget.
Byrne herself joked that the film cost “like $8.50”, underlining how far removed it is from the large studio-backed contenders usually rewarded at major ceremonies.
She paid tribute to writer-director Mary Bronstein, crediting her screenplay and creative confidence as the foundation of the performance.
Byrne also added a personal moment, thanking her parents in Australia for subscribing to Paramount+ so they could watch the ceremony live.
Why wasn’t Bobby Cannavale at the Golden Globes?
One of the evening’s lighter moments came at the end of Byrne’s speech when she explained why her brother accompanied her instead of her husband, actor Bobby Cannavale.
According to Byrne, Cannavale missed the ceremony because he was attending a reptile expo in New Jersey to collect a bearded dragon, a detail that quickly became a social media favourite.
Golden Globe Awards 2026: Key outcomes
The 2026 ceremony rewarded a mix of prestige dramas and more unconventional projects. Hamnet emerged as a major winner in the drama categories, while One Battle After Another dominated elsewhere.
On the television side, The Pitt and The Studio led the field, while British comedian Ricky Gervais collected the award for Best Stand-Up Comedy Performance.
