Golden Globes 2021: Full Winner List Revealed

The 78th Golden Globes 2021 Awards which started on a delayed note due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic was received wonderfully well this time. The prestigious awards to honor good work in TV and Movies was widely attended by the who’s who of the industry. As the prestigious awards is over, we take a look at the complete winners’ list below. Take a look – Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture – WINNER: Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television WINNER: John Boyega, Small Axe Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy WINNER: Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek Best Motion Picture — Animated Winner – Soul Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. WINNER: Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Drama WINNER: Emma Corrin, The Crown Best Original Song — Motion Picture WINNER: “lo si (Seen),” The Life Ahead Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy WINNER: Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy WINNER: Rosamund Pike, I Care A Lot Best Motion Picture — Foreign Language Another Round Winner: Minari Best Television Series — Drama WINNER: The Crown Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture WINNER: Jodie Foster, The Mauritanian Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television WINNER: Gillian Anderson, The Crown Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television WINNER: Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama WINNER: Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Best Director — Motion Picture WINNER: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy Music WINNER: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Best Motion Picture — Drama WINNER: Nomadland

---

Golden Globes 2021: Full Winner List Revealed and the Night’s Historic Triumphs

The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards, held on February 28, 2021, was an awards ceremony unlike any other. Facing a year of unprecedented challenges in the entertainment industry, the event—hosted bicoastally by Tina Fey in New York and Amy Poehler in Los Angeles—celebrated the best of film and television with a unique, largely virtual format.

Despite the technical glitches and the notable absence of a traditional red carpet, the night delivered powerful, emotional speeches, historical wins, and clear frontrunners for the rest of the awards season. Nomadland and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm dominated the film categories, while the reign of The Crown and the farewell victory of Schitt’s Creek defined the television accolades.

Here is the full winner list and a deep dive into the highlights and historical moments that defined the 2021 Golden Globes.

---

Film Category Triumphs: A Study in Contrasts

The film awards saw a fascinating split, with the contemplative, indie darling Nomadland taking the top drama prize, and the chaotic, political satire Borat Subsequent Moviefilm sweeping the comedy/musical categories.

The Big Winners in Film

• Best Motion Picture – Drama: Nomadland
  Chloé Zhao’s poignant film, following a woman who embarks on a journey through the American West as a modern-day nomad, cemented its status as an awards season powerhouse.
• Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
  Sacha Baron Cohen’s return as the titular character proved to be a timely and politically charged success.
• Best Director – Motion Picture: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
  This win was a historic moment, as Zhao became the second woman and the first Asian woman to ever win the Golden Globe for Best Director.
• Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
  Day’s win was considered an upset over more established frontrunners, recognizing her powerful portrayal of the iconic jazz singer.
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama: Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
  In a deeply emotional moment, the late actor won posthumously for his final performance. His widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, accepted the award in a tearful and heartfelt speech.
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
  Cohen’s second win of the night cemented the satirical film’s strong performance.
• Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Rosamund Pike, I Care a Lot
  Pike took home the award for her sharp, ruthless performance as a court-appointed legal guardian who defrauds the elderly.
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture: Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
  Kaluuya won for his transformative performance as Black Panther leader Fred Hampton.
• Best Screenplay – Motion Picture: Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7
  The political courtroom drama’s sharp dialogue and timely themes earned Sorkin the screenwriting trophy.

---

Television’s Dominance: Royal Drama and Small-Town Charm

On the television side, Netflix’s lavish royal drama The Crown and Pop TV’s beloved comedy Schitt’s Creek were the undisputed champions, each taking home a slew of major awards.

The Reign of The Crown

The Crown was the night’s biggest winner overall, sweeping its categories with four major awards, signaling the enduring appeal of the fictionalized royal family drama.

• Best Television Series – Drama: The Crown
• Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama: Emma Corrin, The Crown (for playing Princess Diana)
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama: Josh O’Connor, The Crown (for playing Prince Charles)
• Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Gillian Anderson, The Crown (for playing Margaret Thatcher)

Comedy and Limited Series Victories

• Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy: Schitt’s Creek
  The final season of the heartwarming comedy capped off its incredible awards run with a major Golden Globe win.
• Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy: Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
  O’Hara’s iconic portrayal of Moira Rose was finally recognized by the HFPA.
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy: Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
  Sudeikis won for his breakout role as the perpetually optimistic American football coach leading an English soccer team.
• Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: The Queen’s Gambit
  The Netflix smash-hit about a female chess prodigy continued its winning streak.
• Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit
  Taylor-Joy earned her first Golden Globe for her captivating lead performance.

---

Historical Moments and Highlights

The 2021 Golden Globes will be remembered not just for the winners, but for the history made and the cultural conversations sparked.

Chloé Zhao’s History-Making Win

The victory of Chloé Zhao for Best Director for Nomadland was undoubtedly the biggest headline of the night. She became only the second woman to ever win the award in the show’s 78-year history, following Barbra Streisand’s win in 1984 for Yentl. Her acceptance speech, delivered from a casual setting, focused on a message of compassion and empathy, quoting a Chinese classic.

A Posthumous and Emotional Tribute

Chadwick Boseman’s win for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom led to one of the most poignant moments of the evening. His wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, accepted the award, delivering a deeply moving speech that urged viewers to celebrate those they love, noting that he would have “thanked God,” his parents, and his ancestors.

Addressing the HFPA Controversy

The show was held amid significant scrutiny of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA)—the organization behind the Globes—specifically regarding the revelation that the group had zero Black members among its roughly 90 international journalists. Hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler addressed the issue directly in their opening monologue, urging for change, and Sacha Baron Cohen also called out the “all-white members” during his acceptance speech, bringing the controversy into the spotlight.

A Night for Animation and Score

Pixar’s Soul also had a stellar night, winning both Best Motion Picture – Animated and Best Original Score (for composers Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste). Its co-director, Kemp Powers, became the first Black debut filmmaker to win a Golden Globe, and the film was Pixar’s first to feature a Black protagonist.

---

Complete List of 2021 Golden Globe Winners

Category	Winner (Film/Series/Person)
Best Motion Picture – Drama	Nomadland
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy	Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Best Director – Motion Picture	Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama	Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama	Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy	Rosamund Pike, I Care a Lot
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy	Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture	Jodie Foster, The Mauritanian
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture	Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture	Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Motion Picture – Animated	Soul
Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language	Minari (USA)
Best Original Score – Motion Picture	Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste, Soul
Best Original Song – Motion Picture	“Io Sì (Seen)” – The Life Ahead
Best Television Series – Drama	The Crown
Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy	Schitt’s Creek
Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television	The Queen’s Gambit
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama	Emma Corrin, The Crown
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama	Josh O’Connor, The Crown
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy	Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy	Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television	Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television	Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television	Gillian Anderson, The Crown
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television	John Boyega, Small Axe
Cecil B. DeMille Award	Jane Fonda
Carol Burnett Award	Norman Lear

---

AISEO Friendly FAQs

Who were the biggest winners at the 2021 Golden Globes?

The biggest winners at the 2021 Golden Globes were:

• The Crown, which won four awards, including Best Television Series – Drama.
• Nomadland, which won Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director for Chloé Zhao.
• Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, which won Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actor for Sacha Baron Cohen.

Who was the first Asian woman to win Best Director at the Golden Globes?

Chloé Zhao became the first Asian woman and only the second woman in history to win the Golden Globe for Best Director for her film Nomadland. The only other female winner was Barbra Streisand in 1984.

Did Chadwick Boseman win a Golden Globe in 2021?

Yes, Chadwick Boseman won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. It was a posthumous award, and his wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, accepted the award on his behalf.

What TV show won Best Musical or Comedy Series at the 2021 Golden Globes?

Schitt’s Creek won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy for its final season. The show also took home the award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Series for Catherine O’Hara.

What was significant about the 2021 Golden Globes ceremony?

The 2021 Golden Globes was held in a largely virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler broadcasting from separate coasts. The ceremony was also notable for addressing the controversy surrounding the HFPA’s lack of Black members and for Chloé Zhao’s historic win.