Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and the musical drama Emilia Perez stood out as some of the major highlights from the announcement of the 82nd annual Golden Globes nominations on Monday.
Leading the nominations with 10 nods was Jacques Audiard’s surreal narco-thriller musical centered around a Mexican drug lord’s transformation into a woman, further intensifying the competition en route to the Oscars.
Featuring transgender actress Karla Sofia Gascon in the lead role, the groundbreaking film also includes actress-singer Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldana in supporting parts.
All three are up for prizes for the Golden Globes, set for January 5, which are widely seen as a bellwether for the Academy Awards.
Smash hit Wicked, the movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, earned four nominations, including for pop sensation Ariana Grande as the bubbly pink-clad Glinda and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo as the green-skinned Elphaba.
Grande – earning her first ever Golden Globe nomination – features in the category for Best Supporting Female Actor – Motion Picture nomination courtesy of her role as Galinda Upland in the fantasy drama.
The versatile star will compete alongside close friend Selena Gomez for her role in Emilia Perez and Margaret Qualley, who won universally positive reviews for body shock horror The Substance.
Isabella Rossellini also features for her role in Concave, as does Zoe Saldana – again, for Emilia Perez.
Ahead of the nominations, Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis suggested organizers should save the last three categories of the night for comedy-musical honours, especially lead actress, which he called “the bloodbath category.”
Erivo, Emilia Perez star Karla Sofia Gascon and Anora star Mikey Madison will battle for the lead actress prize with perennial awards favorite Amy Adams for Nightbitch. Demi Moore for The Substance and Challengers star Zendaya.
Wicked also receives a nod in the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement category with hit films including Gladiator II, Deadpool & Wolverine, Twisters, Inside Out 2 and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
British star Eddie Redmayne was also among the early contenders after being named in the category for Best Television Actor in a Drama Series for his starring role in Netflix hit The Day Of The Jackal.
The actor faces stiff competition from Jake Gyllenhaal for Presumed Innocent, while Donald Glover also wins a nomination for his role in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
There’s another British face on the list, with Gary Oldman’s starring role in Disney+ series Slow Horses earning him a richly deserved nomination, while Hiroyuki Sanada and Billy Bob Thornton win respective nods for Shōgun and Landman.
British Netflix drama Baby Reindeer has also been acknowledged, with the Richard Gadd written show featuring in the category for Best Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Motion Picture and its lead actress Jessica Gunning named as Best Supporting Female Actor – Television.
The show will compete alongside the hugely popular Ripley, controversial biopic Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story, True Detective: Night Country, Ripley and The Penguin.
Elsewhere Jon M. Chu and Ridley Scott were surprise omissions from Best Director – Motion Picture category, despite respective blockbusters Wicked and Gladiator II enjoying enormous box office success.
Instead, Emilia Perez director Jacques Audiard joins Sean Baker for Anora, Edward Berger for Concave, Bradley Corbet for The Brutalist, Coralie Fareget for The Substance and Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine Is Light in a hotly contested six strong group.
Australian actress Cate Blanchett has also been acknowledged, with the serial winner earning a nomination in the Best Female Actor in a Limited Series nomination for her role in Disclaimer.
She joins Jodie Foster for her triumphant turn in True Detective: Night Country, Naomi Watts for Feud Capote Vs The Swans, Cristin Miloto for The Penguin and British star Kate Winslet for The Regime.
Baby Reindeer wins another acknowledgement in the opposing Male Actor in a Limited Series category, with the show’s principal star Richard Gadd featuring alongside Colin Farrell for The Penguin, Kevin Kline for Disclaimer, Andrew Scott for Ripley, Kevin Kline for Disclaimer and newcomer Cooper Koch for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
Jeremy Allen White lands his latest nomination for The Bear, this time in the category for Best Television Male Actor in a Musical/Comedy series.
The actor joins Adam Brody for Nobody wants This, Ted Danson for A Man On The Inside, and Steve Martin and Martin Short for Only Murders In The Building.
Hollywood legend Kathy Bates also features among this years nominees, with her role in Matlock earning a place in the category for Best Television Female Actor in a Drama Series.
Last year, the Golden Globes proved a successful night for Oppenheimer, which scored five major awards during the ceremony.
British film-maker Sir Christopher Nolan was named best director for the first time after six nominations, while Irish actor Cillian Murphy took home best actor in a drama for his work as the father of the atomic bomb.
The 82nd Golden Globes will take place at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on January 5, hosted by Nikki Glaser – the first woman to solo host the awards.
